Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-07-01

y
of cigar smoke and allowed his gaze
to wander about the beautiful room,
replete with soft tones and colors.
Suddenly Fitzhugh stood up. Lets
get down to business. Hunt" He
spoke very briskly and, crossing the
room, took from the round safe en-
bedded in the wall several packets of
papers secured by thick elastic bands.
These papers contained a mass of
data covering the past seven weeks,
consisting of crop reports, statistics
from many different sources newepa-
per clippings and kilograms and c.; BILE
grams that had exhausted his ready
money to the last cent. He walked to
heavy desk of solid mahogany,
switched on the light that was mini
allure of the gorgeous one on the table,
and spread the papers on the fiat top
of the desk. And while Hunt sat OPP
posite, following him with concen-
trated attention. he went over them
point by point, dwelling fully on every
detail, explaining clearly the reasons
for his belief SO lucidly did he do
this that a child might have followed
him.
My deductions are substantiated,"
he summed up, 'by the fact that Otis
and his following are not bulling the
market as you supposed they would.
What's more, they're not going to bull
it. I've put myself in their place Otis
and company will make their attack
when the enemy is in its most vulner-
able state, and that's just the condi-
ton the enemys in now"
There was conversational pause,
while Hunt reperused some of the pa
pers scattered about the desk.
$50 you think we'd better unload?"
he said finally. sitting back and mo
tioning to Haki to fill his champagne
goblet.
"As though our lives depended on
it,"
HINT watched the servant fill his
glass. then lifted it and surveyed his
host solemnly across its rim.
so be it." he rumbled in a sepul-
chral voice. The blame be upon your
head if we lose"
tltzhugh's prediction was bounti-
fully fulfilled next day. December
wheat went tumbling and crumbling.
Hunt, thanks to Fitzhugh, managed
to squirm from under with a whole
skin and few thousands profit. Hur-
rying through the outer office of Bur
ton 4 Burton. he spied Fitzhugh and
fell upon him with open arms. pressing
into his hand check for thirty thou
sand dollars.
What had we better do now, DAMP"
Sell December wheat. It's going to
zero. This slump will keep up indefi-
nitely"
"Right-o" Hunt was fairly burning
with excitement-the gamblers eS-
element, than which there is none
more feverish.
You may sell half million for me.
You'd better sell an equal amount
yourself" Fitzhugh produced a slen-
der check-book and started to fill out
a check. Abruptly he paused. bit his
lip, made as if to return his fountain
pen to his pocket. Il forgot some
thing" he said slowly.
Whats wrong, DAMP" Hunt looked
properly solicitous.
"My-a draft. Should have been
sent from New York day before yes
terday. My brother has it, but he's sud
denly fallen i'll. Probably forgot all
about it. That's all I'm sorry, Hunt,
but can offer you nothing except my
personal check and thatll be only for
few thousands"
In flash all of Hunts reverence
for wealth and his desire to toady to
it We're to the front What an oppor-
tunity to be of service to this man of
millions! He could have wished for
nothing better. Don't worry about
that for minute. Dan" He spoke
with the utmost friendliness. "Ill at
tend to your margins for you. Five
hundred thousand, l believe you said?"
Yes" Fitzhugh rapidly filed out
check for twenty thousand dollars.
Take this, anyhow, Hunt" He tore
the check from the book. Just as an
evidence of good faith" he laughed
The courtier took the check in the
same jocular spirit in which it was
offered, scarcely glancing at it's figure.
After little they parted, Hunt hasten
ing to the private Office of Burton,
senior.
Fitzhugh went straight to his bank
and deposited the thirty thousand dol
lars. Immediately afterwards he
started back to the Board of Trade
When nearly there, however, he
STOPPED, paused irresolute, then turned
and walked slowly in another direc-
ton. For over an hour he roamed
restlessly about the loop. He seemed
lntirm of purpose, aimless of destina-
ton.
once, without exactly knowing why,
he entered the post Office and strolled
absently about the dark corridors. He
was leaving by the western entrance,
when, happening to glance to his left,
he saw on the glass over doorway,
General Delivery"
He came RI a iaa6 holt hot