Phoenix tribune., 1920-05-29

MI
He Stole Up the Six Flights of Stairs
to His Rooms, UnobserVed, and Let
Himself In Without Awakening His
Valet.
unobserved, and let himself in without
shabby apparel, his decrepit hat, Sc
creted them in wardrobe and went
to the bathroom. When he entered his
bedroom, glowing from a brisk scrub
and attired in silk pajamas, he looked
a little tired. 1t was not, however. a
physical tiredneSs. Fitzhugh felt. men
tally, like man who had taken very
arduOus journey in search of gold only
to find he had been chasing a rainbow.
He climbed in between the snowy
sheets of his bed and lay very still.
His eyes were closed, but he was not
asleep.
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 it. 1t doesn't
pay"
After a 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.
Get me a morning newspaper" he
said, when Haki appeared, "and have
breakfast sent up"
For two weeks Fitzhugh had not
seen a newspaper, and when Hak re
turned with one he snatched it 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 a gigantic tumble,
just as he had predicted fifteen days
ago it would.
Folding the paper and tossing it 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 anap-
petiZing breakfast was spread before
him and, thrusting pencil and envelope
in his pocket, he fell to with a relish.
He propped the paper against the
shining coffee pot and as he ate ran
an eye over the headlines. Presently
he paused midway in the act of but
tering a 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 flourishing
growth was not unobserved by Uncle
Sans post Office boys and it had been
nipped before it bloomed. In conse-
quenee the ambitious exponent of dis
illusionment and his unassuming col
league were now undergoing imprison-
ment
Poor Quigg!" In spite of his SYM
pathy, 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? F. i.
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 forefnger and thumb. studying
its glowing end. After pause he
said: II returned last night. My
brother is much mproved-almost re
covered, in fact. When may see you,
Hunt?'
''Meet me at Burton's, at ten."
A few inconsequentialities. and Hunt
"hung up" rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive.
Fitzhugh thought he detected in his
voice a note of unnaturalness, even Of
unfriendliness. He seemed too polite,
too precise. At Burton's these suppo-
sitions were made certainties. Hunt
acted in a very unwonted manner.
After delivering the ninety-eight thou
sand dollars he fell strangely silent,
speaking only when asked a direct
question, and, when he thought he was
unnoticed, watching his co-operator
with sidelong glances Of suspicion.
And Fltzhugh noted he was no longer
Dan" to him, but "Mr Fitzhugh."