Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-22
CHAPTER Vill.-Continued.

1T doesn't pay" he muttered pres
emily, and opened his eyes in surprise
at his own voice. He added with firm
ness: "No--nothing to 1T. 1t doesn't
bay
After while he turned over and
went to sleep.
He was wide awake at nine and was
dressing two minutes after. He rang
for his man.
said, when Hak appeared, land have
breakfast sent up"
For two weeks Fitzhugh had not
seen a newspaper, and when Haki re-
turned with one he snatched 1t from
him and turned to the financial page
with a nervous excitement he rarely
permitted himself to display. A
glance at the market quotations suf-
feed to show him that December
wheat had taken gigantic tumble,
just as he had predicted fifteen days
ago it would.
Folding the paper and tossing 1t on
the dining table. he sat down and COM
puted his winnings. Deducting every
possible outlay and expense, there was
now due to him something like one
hundred thousand dollars. BY the time
he had finished his computation an APP
petizing breakfast was spread before
him and thrusting pencil and envelope
in his pocket, he fell to with relish.
He propped the paper against the
81 nd hn t1A
an eye over the headlines. Presently
he paused midway in the act of but
tering hot roll and leaned suddenly
forward to read something that par
ticularly interested him.
1t was about Quigg and Peevy.
Quigg had inaugurated his."grand lit
tie mail-order scheme" and it had gone
swimmingly. But its fourishing
growth was not ulobserved by Uncle
Sans post Office boys and it had been
nipped before 1t bloomed In conse-
quence, the ambitious exponent of dis
illusionment and his unassumlng col
league were now undergoing imprison-
ment.
Poor Quigg." In spite Of his sym
patty, FitZhugh smiled. "He was a
pretty good sort, after ALL"
Directly after his breakfast he went
to his study and called Hunt on the
telephone.
Good morning, Mr.. Fitzhugh," came
promptly over the wire. "Eh?
Yes; have check for you. Ninety
eight thousand dollars-Oh, when did
you get back from the East, and how
is your brother?"
Fitzhugh fiicked the ash from his
cigarette and rolled it between his
long forefinger and thumb, studying
said: ~ returned last night My
brother Is much improved-almost re
covered, In fact. When may I see you
Hunt?"
Meet me at Burton's, at ten"
A few inconsequentialities and Hum
hung up" rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive
Fitzhugh thought he detected In hi.
voice note of unnaturalness, even o
unfriendiness. He seemed too polite
too precise. At Burton's these suppo
SitionS We're made certalnties. Hun
acted in very unwonted manner
After delivering. the ninety eight thou
sand dollars he fell strangely silent
speaking only when asked direc
question. and. when he thought he VIA
unuoticed watching his cooperate
with sidelong glances of suspicion
And Fitzhugh noted he was no longe
Dan" to him. but MIR. Fitzhugh.''
At last he could restrain himself n
longer.
Mr.. Fitzhugh," he began. apparen
~ absorbed In the study of his tingel
nails, Il. era funny thing happene
while you We're away. A few day
after you left | wanted to send you
wire. and as | didn't know your Ne
York address. l looked you up in tt
up In the New York Blue Book and
the New York Social Register and
the New York Business Directory"
"Well?" said Fitzhugh quietly.
We'll the fact is, couldn't find yo
tried all the Fitzhughs, from Aaro
to Zizah, but to no purpose. None I
them knew you, none of them hi
ever heard of you It's little sing
lar. isn't it?"
Fitzhugh looked down at him fro
his superior height He was smilir
engagngly. His eyes were as ingen
Gus as child's. 81 haven't any peop
in New York, Hunt. | don't know
soul in the town"
What Why, then-by George,
bet you're all bluff l thought S
You're not rich?'
.'Rich?" FitZhugh laughed "All l.
got in the world is this check and
thousand or so On deposit"
Hunt gaped at him dnmbly. 4
though his worst suspicion had be-
verified. he was none the less astoun
ed. He could not reconcile himself
the staggering fact.
I'm stop payment on that chez
M"
mo. you won't, Hunt. You cou
never prove that you're right and
wrong-never. There was only
oral agreement, you know. Besides