The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-05-06

a little su, oriSed when ii was prompt
ly granted him.
81 was thinking about increasing
your pay, FitZ." said Quigg, in his
large, careless way. you're worth
two hundred week to me-"
But when three weeks later the
CRATER was told II was four hundred
dollars a week or nothing he frowned.
pinched the pink roll of flesh under
his chin with his chubby fingers, and
rocked himself gently in his swivel
chair. "I'll tell you what, FitZ. I'm
about to tackle the biggest thing I've
ever attempted. I'm launching upon
the grandeSt little mail-Order scheme
in America. / expect to spend cou-
pie o. hundred thousands in advertiS-
ing. If it goes through, as l certainly
think ii will, I'll do the level thing by
YOU"
That's not the point" broke in the
petitioner. "Do | or do / not get my
four hundred-now?
You do not" Quigg's palms de-
scended firmly upon the arms Of his
chair. His big jaw acquired bel
ligerent aspect.
"Thats all l want to know" F1tz-
hugh stood up briskly. This Is
Wednesday. You therefore owe me
hundred dollars. I'll take 1t now"
"Sit down, Fitz. Sit down and keep
cool. | believe you're a game sport, in
spite of the low way you're acting, and
I'm going to make you gambling
proposition. Some friends o mine are
getting up nice quiet little game Of
poker tonight, and I'm going to sit in.
The pOtll run high-nO limit. Be
tween ourselves we'll cooperate in
this game. I'll finance the partner
ship with five thousand dollars. If
we double that amount you get half
the winnings and your four hundred
week. If not, you'll still contrive to
scrape along on two hundred"
The poker game that night took
place in South side hotel. 1t was
six-handed game, the players being Of
the class commonly known as "men
about town." Two were professional
gamblers, another was a wheat pit
speculator, fourth was a wealthy sa-
loon owner. The remaining two were
FitZhugh and Quigg. Playing COM
menCed shortly after eight. Compared
to subsequent betting, it was modest
at first, a tive-dollar limit having been
inn nil
limit was removed, and the game be-
gan TO warm up. Another hour, and it
had reached the point where five-and-
siX-hundred-dollar pots were the rule
and not the exception.
The Golden Goddess, Luck, smiled
upon Fitzhugh from the very start.
Perhaps it was his superior playing
that won her favor. Anyhow, he as
tonished his cOadjutor by his skill at
the game. He was a hundred differ
ent men. His fellow players never
knew how to take him--never knew
what he would do next. And while
they were wondering he continued to
take their money from them as though
it were only a matter of course that
he should.
But as Fitzhugh steadily won Quigg
as steadily lost. When the game ended
at nine a. m. it was noticeable that
of the five men sitting around the pad
ded table beneath the pail Of tobacco
smoke and the green-shaded electric
lights Fitzhugh was the only one who
showed no i'll sign of the thirteen
hours steady playing. He seemed as
fresh as when he started and appar-
emily was quite fit for another thir-
teen-hOur session. When he "cashed
in" he was winner to the extent OF
some eighteen thousand dollars. The
professional gamblers had won a few
thousands each. The rest had lost.
Quigg, who had left the game, was
not TO be found in the hotel rOtunda.
While FitZhugh was walking about
looking for him the wheat pit specula-
tor. jovial, red-faced man named
Henry Hunt, clapped him heartily on
the shoulder and wrung his hand
"Old man, I'd give million If /
could bluff like you. Where did you
learn howY
at comes naturally" smiled Fitz-
hugh.
Hunt glanced around and lowered
his voice "F'itZhugh, I'm putting
through today one Of the biggest
wheat deals I've ever handled,
and I'd like to let you in on it.
What time can | see you, and where"
ANY time at any place"
Meet me at Burton & BurtOn's,
then-brokers. you know, Board OF
Trade-at eleven sharp. Don't fail.
It's big thing. SO long. Must hurry
Upon certain of the casual acquaint-
ances he had made in La Sale street
Fitzhugh had taken pains to create
the impression of being the scion OF a
highly respected family unknown to
the newspaper columns but possessed
Of wealth. Hunt was one OF those thus
deluded. Others he had impressed in
different wise. But every man who
met him believed him to be q person
Of means. 1t was an emphatic point
y