The Red Cloud chief., 1920-05-27
VII.

ureSSed, entered tne private once or
Qulgg, who was alone and In a black
mood. The fraudulent Spectator
swung round In his chair as Fitzhugh
entered, growled a sullen "Hello |" and
after a momentary silence growled an
unpleasant "Well?"
Fitzhugh sat down and >fanned him
self lelsurely with his Panama hat.
ut bids fair to be a warm day." he
observed.
"You know what I want" snarled
Quigg, rapping his desk with his
knuckles. "Where's my money!"
"Oh"-Fitzhugh stopped tanning,
put down his hat-"you mean the po-
ker money!"
"What about it2 Where Is it7 What
have you done with IT."
Naturally, Quigg, I played poker
with It,"
sand you doubled It too" The
CRATER leaned suddenly forward and
pointed one Of his short fingers In
Fitzhugh's face. But IL this maneuver
WIS calculated to brighten or confuse
Its mission failed.
Fitzhugh smiled easily. II more
than doubled 1t. I more than tripled
1t. / won eighteen thousand dollars"
Quigg jotted a few figures on a cal
endar pad and held out his hand.
'"There's eleven thousand five hundred
coming to me I'll take II now"
Fitzhugh shook his head smllingly.
I'm sorry" said he but I'm afraid
you'll do no such thing"
"What d'you mean?" Quigg half
rose from his chair. his puffy eyes
blinking rapidly. "You've got this
money, haven't your"
Got It'll" Ftzhugh laughed. "Why,
Lord bless you, Quigg, I haven't got
the price Of a ham sandwich"
"What'd you do with that money!"
roared Quigg, smashing his fist against
the arm Of his chair. How could you
spend over twenty thousand dollars In
two days? You're lying to met"
Ftzhugh's breath whistled through
his nostrils. He stood up quickly. His
face was very white. For the lrst
time he seemed In deadly earnest.
Don't talk too much" he advised
quietly. There are some things I
won't stand. and II you anger me I'm
liable to make that fat head Of yours
look like a plum pudding. The mon
ey's tied up In speculation. II you want
to know. You have the choice Of two
things: you a either take an equal
chance with me In the speculation, or
you can take my note. for what I owe
you. Which do you want?"
"Neither!" exploded Qulgg. II
wouldn't give a cent for any specula-
ton you'd make, or for your note
either. There's only one thing to do
with you. You've played me a dirty,
low-dOwn trick, and I'm coming back
the best way l car, You're going to
work for me two months longer, and
you're going to work for nothing. I'll
see that you have a place to eat and
sleep, but l won't promise more. At
| the end of those two months you're
going to clear out Of my sight. and
Lord help you II l ever see you again |"
Gentleman to see you, subj" an
nounced the uniformed negro"
'"o hohhS 6'c"iVu <ui6s.
didn't give none. sub. Said he
wanted to see you about some Florida
orange groves"
Tell him l am very busy but will
see him In five minutes"
"Yes, subj" The negro touched his
cap and departed.
The moment the door closed Quigg,
kaanlv animated sy,,po ro,oJ H. III.
revolving chair and spoke in a quick
voice to his lieutenant: you're q
Fifth avenue resident. Newport.
villa In France. Cotillon leader, So
ciety swell-all that. Recently you
bought fifty thousand acres Of Florida
land and turned them into q paradise.
You're tired of 1t now and want to
sell at a great sacrifice. You follow
mef"
"Tm ever ahead Of you." answered
Fitzhugh. Then his demeanOr un-
derwent q complete change. His man.
ner was now heavy with ennui, and
his voice %sin,pering when 1t drawled (:
saw, really. now, I cawn't! l really
cawn't let It 60 for less than hawlf
what ] paid for It. The thing cost me
hawlf a million. y'know, and I really
should get three hundred thousand.
because"
He dropped bis mask as suddenly as
he had assumed II, and running the
thumbs and forefngers OF both hands
into his lower vest pockets, turned
the lining inside out.
He smiled: Because" said he. II
haven't a cent"
These were ~frenZipd days In. thp