Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-06-01
CHAPTER VIl-Continued.
10

so you see" he wound up, there's
nothing to 1t but q bull market.
Therell be big rebound just as sure
as we're sitting; here. Symington Otis
Is my strongest point. AS / said be
fore. Pm nine-tenths certain he'll turn
bull again, now he's wallOped the
man he went after, and you know
what that means. He'll send wheat
up like 4 balLOOn-he's strong enough
TO DO 1t. All we iced do is to climb
into the basket and participate n the
grand ascension"
AS you have wisely pointed out,
Hunt" began FitZhugh. turning the
fragile stem of his wine glass between
his long fingers, Eve had better step
cautiously at first-sOrt Of feel our
way. There's never any telling what
pitfalls may Turk below tranquil wa
tiers. Afterward, we'll wade in boldly.
Merely as a starter, I'll give you my
check tomorrow for twenty-five thou
sand. I'm not saying what I'll do after
that"
AS they were leaving the club, FitZ-
hugh turned to his companion and, as
though suddenly reminded of some in
consequential thought that had Oc-
Cured to him earlier in the day, said
CarelesSly:
"Oh, by the way. Hunt I'm thinking
of opening a small banking account in
Chicago. l wish you'd introduce me
to your banker"
For once Hunt was mistaken. There
was no boom in December wheat.
True, there was reaction. for when
the bears removed the pressure the
abnOrmally low market began gradu-
ally to assume natural level. But
winter wheat. which Hunt had expect
ef to mount by leaps. dragged slowly.
ascending, to be sure. yet moving little
by little-an eighth or quarter at n
time Once or twice. in some sudden
furry, it even went off half a point.
Hunt was very much puzzled.
There's a screw loose somewhere"
he told Fitzhugh. after one of these
unexplaInable slumps; but I can't fig
ure out just where"
OF late. Fitzhugh had been studying
indefatigably the hundred and more
different conditions which. directly or
Indirectly. affect the Chicago wheat
market He devoted hours to this,
where another man would have de-
voted minutes. and his brain. so keen.
so quick to grasp every salient detail
and appraiSe its true value. enabled
him to view the present situation with
Il far clearer vision than that of Hunt
81 think | know where the wobbly
place is" he replied. land. unless I'm
mistaken. its going ia shake the whole
machine TO pieces before long. Hunt
we'll have to draw out. If we don't.
our little craft will be swamped and
she'll sink like rock. For my part
want TO sell every buShel of wheat l
own tomorrow morning.
They called Il taxicab and repaired
forthwith 10 Fitzhugh'S newly leased
apartment in Il newly erected build
ing in Lincoln parkway. II was for
bachelors exclusively. this building.
and If its smart elevators. smarter at
tendantS and potted plants and costly
appointments were any criterion. il
was also exclusively for wealthy
bachelors.
The Japanese servant served dinner.
after which Fitzhugh and his guest
sauntered 10 front room. evidently
intended for library and study. and
there enScOnced themselves before a
low bay window commanding mag
niticent view of the lake. Hunt settled
himself contentedly in chair. whose
soft cushions embraced him in de-
licious manner. lazily emitted a stream
of cigar smoke and allowed his gaze
to wander about the beautiful room.
repfete with soft tones and colors.
Suddenly Fitzhugh stood up. Lets
get down to business. Hunt" He
spoke very hriskly and. crossing "sse
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, newSpa-
per clippings and kilograms and cable
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
ature of the gorgeous one on the table,
and spread the papers on the nat 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