Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-03-04
working the
Oracle"
By JAMES RUSSELL sPOERER

q
partner in crooked ways, Adrian Ray
ME. a lawyer.
It's comet" Bliss had remarked.
You mean?" questioned the other,
in his usual specious way.
I've got TO work the oracle"
HIM :" muttered Raynie gently, but
with a retrospective eye. THE old re-
source, eh?"
What else? When you meet n dead
| blank wall go around ii. Here's the
situation: l started the Blue Chip Gold
Mining company on wind. It's blown
in hundred thousand dollars in stock
subscriptions.
Naturally we have expended due
amount on organization expenses. You
can't have plate glass, mahogany and
directors banquets for nothing. Rap
id-fire stock statesmen cost money. and
I've got TO live. l find a deficit at
date"
I'm what form?"
Thirty thousand dollars overdue
notes given for mining machinery,
camp supplies, publicity campaigns
and advertising. Those we owe are
pressing. We must call creditors
meeting and get six months extension
In the meantime l can borrow on
the two hundred and sixty acres com
prising our mining claims, twenty-five
thousand dollars. 1t isn't much, but
IL will suffice to carry me TO new
field of business activity and start in
with new offices and a new company"
There is no possible prospect of the
mines turning out all right?" ques-
toned Raynie.
There is every chance, but it needs
brains and money on the spot. know
how to run an office and sell stock.
don't know how To operate mine and
dig dirt. There's young Milton Payne,
who has put ten thousand dollars in
The proposition and now superintends
the mines. He wrote me last week
that If / can send on fifteen thousand
dollars he feels sure we can uncover Il
pay streak. l can't take the risk I've
got to get out of the deal with a grub
stake"
Meantime young Milton Payne, In
every way the opposite of the men
who had lured him into the scheme,
was full of work and faith ut the dig
gings, dreaming of a lucky strike some
day and of the girl he loved-Dora
Wynne. He would have been terrified
had he overheard that shameless con-
verSatiOn between the man he trusted
and his hyena-like accOmplice. He
would have been shocked, stunned,
had he suspected that this same
smooth plotter, ever since his depar-
ture had called three times n week on
Dora Wynne, and had only two urgent
motives in View-tO leave for parts
! unknown, and with the fair Dora as
his bride.
Everything is fixed to light the
fuse" announced Raynie, the next
week. The creditors have agreed to
the extension, the papers are all made
out for the loan"
Good !" jubilated Bliss. "When will
the twenty-five thousand dollars cash
materialiZeW
You can sign up today and get your
cash tomorrow"
Gregory Bliss chuckled, whistled
and hummed a gay song as he went
to call upon Dora Wynne that eve
ming.
Miss Dora" he said, "as you know,
am a plain man. 1 have loved you
for long time. 1 want you to be my
wife. Tomorrow / shall have In my
hands twenty-five thousand dollars to
spare. propose to spend five of 1t on
the wedding, five on tour worth max
ing and let you pick out a ten thou
sand dollar mansion when we return"
"Oh, Mr.. Bliss 1 am so sorry, for
you are such a close friend to Mr..
Payne"
whats he got to do with it?" de-
manded Bliss.
81 have been engaged to him for
nearly a year. If l were single-hearted,
| Mr.. Bliss" proceeded Dora, who did
not want to antagonize a partner of
her beloved, sit might be different, al
though money would not influence me.
Uncle Marston had a chance to buy a
large block of Blue Chip stock yester-
| day, very cheap. He has faith in Mil
| ton, and consequently In the mine. He
has set aside the stock as a wedding
present for me, so you see / am rich,
myself"
Gregory Bliss groaned inwardly. He
took his departure, collapsed. Only
the day before he had put that Blue
| Chip stock on the market. He hurried
| to the office of Raynie first thing the
next morning and recited his woes.
There's been hitch" pronounced
/ Raynie.
| "Eh?"
"Yes, your oracle didn't work. The
| people lOaning the twenty-five thou
sand dollars got wise to your owing
the creditors and refuse to pay the
| cash unless it goes to settle the bills"
Gregory Bliss savagely drew out his
checkbook. There was a three-thou-
sand-doIlar balance at the bank.
'T'll divide and emigrate," he an
nounced.
Telegram" spoke messenger boy,
appearing at the open doorway, but
Bliss was through with the Blue Chip.
(, "Zoundsr' exclaimed the lawyer, as
he scanned the telegram after the de-
parture Of his baffied client. Its from
| the mine, and"
"Pay strcal uncovered. Am offered
double cur capitalization for a half
Interest. ..F- Instructions"