Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-04-12
CHAPTER xv-contInued.

H.
lie rolled away in his car. and Hazel
watched him from the window, a trife
puzzled. She recalled Bits remark
nc luncheon. In the light of Brooks
explanation, she could see nothing
wrong. On the other hand, she knew
BIN wagstaff was not prone to jump
at rash conclusions. II he objected to
certain manipulations Of the Free Gold
Mining company, his objection was
likely TO be based on substantial
grounds. At any rate, she hoped moth
ing disagreeable. would come Of 1t.
SO she put the whole matter out OF
her mind. She dressed, and went
whole-heartedly about her own affairs.
Dinner time was drawing close when
she returned home. She sat down by
n window that overlooked the street
TO watch for Bill. six passed. The
half-hour chime struck on the mantel
clock. Hazel grew impatient. petu-
liant. aggrieved. Dinner would be
served In twenty minutes. Still there
wns no sign of him. And for lack Of
other occupation she went into the hall
and got the evening paper, which the
carrier had just delivered.
A startling headline on the front
page stiffened her to ~scandallzed atten-
ton. Strnight across the tops Of two
columns II ran, a facetious cnption {:
WILLIAM wAesrAFF is A BEAR
INDIE that the subhead:
Husky Mining Man Tumbles Prices and
Brokers. Whips Four Men in Broad
street Office. sIugs Another on
Change. His Mighty Fists Sub /.
due society's Finest. Finally
Lands In Jail.
The body OF the article Hazel read
In what a sob sister would describe
ns a state Of mingled emotions.
william Wagstaff Is a mining gentleman
from the northern wilds Of British Column
bia. He II a big man.. a natural-born
fighter. To prove this he inflicted a black
eye and a split lip on Paul Lorimer, a
broken nose and sundry bruises on James
1. Brooks. Also Allen t. Bray and Ed
ward Quincy Parkinson suffered certain
COMMISSIONS IN the melee. The fracas &C.
NnNN0A ~ ~ ~ VI ~ AA0O y ANAAh
ing Company. 1864 Broad street. at $3.50
this afternoon While hammering the
brokers a police officer arrived on the
scene and Wagstnff was duly escorted to
the city bastiic. Prior to the general en-
counter In the Broad street office Wag-
stan walked into the Stock Exchange. and
made statements about the Free Gold Min
inE cdmpany which set all the brokers by
the ears. Lorimer was on the floor, and
received his discoiored optic there.
A reporter was present when Wagstaff
walked on the floor OF the Stock Ex-
change. He strobe up to the post where
Lorimer was transacting business.
IT serve notice IN you right now" he
said loudly and angriIy. .that IL you sell
another dollars worth Of Free Gold stock,
I'll put you out OF business"
Lorimer appeared TO lose his temper.
Some word was passed which further In
cenaed Wagstan. He smote the broker
and the broker smote the floor. Wag-
Stars punch would do credit to a cham
pion pugilist, from the execution II
wrought. He Immediately left the Stock
Exchange, and not long afterward Broad
street was electrified by sounds of combat
in the Free Gold office. 1t Is conceded
that Waestaff had the situation and his
three opponents well in hand when the
con arrived.
None OF the men concerned would dis.
cuss the matter. From the remarks drop
ped by Wagstaff, however. II appears that
the policy OF marketing Free Gold stock
was Inaugurated without his knowledge OF
consent.
Re that as II may. all sorts OF rumors
are in circulation. and Free Gold stock
which has been sold during the past week
as high as a dollar forty, found few TAX
srN at par when Change closed. There
has been q considerable speculative move
ment In the stock, and the Spectator:
are beginning 10 wonde II there Is :
screw loose IN the company affairs.
Wagstan'a case will come up tomorrow
forenoon. A charge of disturbing thu
peace was placed against him. He CAV,
a cash bond and was at once released
When the hearing comes some Of thu
parties to the affair may perchance di
vulge what lay at the bottom of the row
Any fine within the power OF the cour
70 Impose r. a mere bagatelle. compared
20 the distinction Of scientifically man
handling four Of society's finest In on
afternoon. As one bystander remarked II
the classic phraseologv OF the street:
"wagstaff's a bearl'
The brokers concerned might conside
this to have a ouble meaning.
Hazel dropped the paper. mortified
and wrathfui. The city jail scenes
the very PIT itself TO her. And tn
lurid publicity. the lifted eyebrows o
her friends. maddened her in prospect
Plain street brawling. such as on
might expect from n cabman or a tax
mahout. not from a man like her nus
hand. She Involuntary assigned III
blame to him. Not for the cause-th
was Of no Importance whateve
to her-but for the act itself. Thel
best friendsi She could hardly realiz
II. Jimmie Brooks, jovial Jimmie, wit
q broken nose and sundry bruises
And Paul Lorimer, distinguished Pau
who had the courtIy bearing whic
was the despair Of his fellows, and til
ann Of a dozen generations Of GU
ture wherewith to charm the wome
" his acquaintance. He with a blac
eve and a split lipl So the papt
stated. II was vulgar. Brutal II
nct of a ave man.
She was on the verge of tears.
And just ut that moment the do,
opened, and In walked Bill. B
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