The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1919-01-03
CHAPTER xv-continued,

ut iuhcheou. Al tne nBnt OF bFOOkb
explanation, she could see nothing
wrong. On the other h1ind she knew
Bill 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
a 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, aggrleved. Dinner would be
served In twenty minutes. Still there
WAS 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 scandalized atten-
ton. Straight across the tops Of two
columns 1t ran. facetious caption:
WILLIAM wAGsrAFF IS A BEAR
Under that the subhead:
Husky Mining Man Tumbles Prices and
Brokers. Whips Four Men in Broad
Street Office. Slugs Another on
Change. His Mighty Fists SUBJ
due Society's Finest. Finally
Lands in jail.
The body of the article Hazel read
In what sob sister would describe
ms q state of mingled emotions.
william wagstaff IL a mining gentleman
from the northern wilds of British Column
bia He 10 big man. a natural-born
fighter. To prove this he inflicted black
eye and q split lip on Paul Lorimer, a
broken nose and sundry bruises on James
L. Brooks Also Allen T. Bray and Ed
ward Quincy Parkinson suffered certain
contusions in the melee. The fracas oc-
CURED In the office of the Free Gold Min
ing Company. 1864 Broad street. at $3.50
this afternoon. While hammertug the
brokers a police officer arrived on the
scene and Wagstaff was duly escorted to
the city bastile. Prior to tho general en-
counter in the Broad street office wag-
stan walked into the Stock Exchange. and
made statements about the Free Gold Min
ing Company which set all the brokers by
the ears. Lorimer was on the floor. and
received his discolored optic there.
reporter was present when wagstaff
walked on the floor of tho Stock Ex-
change. He strobe up to tho post where
Lormer was transacting business.
'I serve notice on you right now" he
said loudly and angrily. that II you sell
another dollars worth Of Free Gold stock.
I'll nut Won out of business"
Lormer appeared to lose his temper.
Some word was passed which further In
censed wagstan. He smote the broker
and. the broker smote the floor. Was-
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 tho Free Gold office. 1t is conceded
that Wagstaff had the situation and his
cop arrived.
None Of the men concerned would dis.
cuss the matter From the remarks drop
ped by Wagstafr. however. II appears thai
the policy of marketing Free Gold stock
was inaugurated without his knowledge Of
consent.
BE that q 1t may. all sorts of rurnor'
are IN circulation, and Free Gold stock
which has been sold during the past weei
as high as a dollar forty. found few TAX
cAS a. Pdi whCu SHuhBo Sioooo' 1900
has been a considerable speculative move
ment In the stock. and the SPECTATOR!
are beginning to wonder II there In
screw loose In the company AFFAIRS.
Wagstaff's case will come up tomorrow
forenoon. A charge of disturbing tn,
cash bond and was at once released
When the hearing comes some Of tn
parties to the AFFAIR may perchance al
vulge what lay at the bottom of the row
Any fine within the power Of the cour
to Impose is a mere bagatelle, compared
to the distinction of scientifically man
handling four Of society's finest In on
afternoon. AZ one bystander remarked II
the classic phraseoloEy Of the street:
Wagstaff's a bear!"
The brokers concerned might consNoe
this to have a double meaning.
Hazel dropped the paper. mortified
and wrathful. The city jail seemed
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 a cabman or tax
mahout, not from a man like her hus
band. She involuntarily assigned tn
blame to him. Not for the cause-th
cause was Of no Importance whateve
TO her-but for the act itself. Thei
pest friends! She could hardly realiz
IT. Jimmie Brooks, jovial Jimmie. witt
broken nose and sundry bruises
ana Paul Lorimer, distinguished Pau
VINO had the courtly bearing whicl
was the despair of his fellows, and tn,
manner Of dozen generations Of cul
lure wherewith to charm the womel
Vi MS acquaintance. He with a blacl
eye and a split lipI So the pape
s'uteo. 1t was vulgar. Brutal TIL
act of cave man.
she was on the verge of tears.
ana Just at that moment the doc
Vpehed, and In walked Bill.
CHAPTER XVI. =