Cleveland County herald., 1920-05-13
The City of Purple Dreams
CHAPTER XlIi.-Continued.
By EDWIN B A I R D
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Copyright by F. c. Browne & Co.

Near the close of the days session, without exactly knowing why, he went on the floor" for a few minutes. A man shouted in his ear:
 "July'S gone to dollar and a half !"
 Without answering, without even looking at the man, he stood watch ing the monster turmoil. The uproar was deafening.
 The old speculator turned away. Very carefully, very slowly, he made his way through the hurly-burly, de- ground floor, his hand sliding jerllily along the banister When he entered his brokers office his hair was no more white than his face, and as he sat down and held his hand a moment over his eyes his fingers trembled as one af- fiicted with palsy. It was the first time in his twenty-odd years of speculating that he had been seen unnerved. He 1 looked at his broker and shook his head.
 He's dase it." he said, with pitia- ble pretense of smiling. "He's done 1 it, Howard. He's got us. He's cor nered the market"
 Authoritative news of the corner went out over the land The name of l Daniel Randolph Fitzhugh loomed 1 gigantic on the financial horizon. He controlled all the wheat. He could exact for it whatever price he wanted. l If he chose, he could get fifty dollars bushel.
 He was the King of Wheat.
 His name became household word l Scarcely a man, woman, or child in the middle West but prattled of him. The i farmers lauded him as a benefactor of 1 humanity. Others condemned him as a thief. Thousands of letters of every description flooded his mail. Leaves of bread dwindled in size. Mutterings reached him. His life was threatened.
 His wealth multiplied with prodi- gious leaps. At no time could he tell 1 how much he was worth. He knew 1t was more than fifteen millions and less than thirty.
 Then there came a day when he was l to settle with Otis. The defeated gladiator made the appointment for eleven o'clock that morning in Fftz- hugh's office.
 At five minutes to eleven FitZhugh was alone awaiting him. He had given orders that none but Otis was to be admitted. and that afterward they were not to be disturbed. As he lolled back in his cushioned chair before the mahogany desk, and gazed round the luxurious room, reverie came over him. He recalled his first venture in wheat, made with a few thousands won in poker game; he remembered the time he had worked for Quigg for four hundred dollars a month. And then. his memory slipping his control and leaping back further still, he thought of the time when-No! Had he been a dishwasher? Had he slaved in the scullery of filthy kitchen for a miserable weekly pittance?
 The door opened. Symington Otis entered.
 h these days of his monarchy Fitz- hugh saw many sorts of characters ex-
 
 saw men come cringing to him, begging and pleading. He saw others enter, clustering and trying to outface him. Otis behaved in neither manner. He walked in quietly, and closing the door, remained standing, with no greet ing whatsoever He looked ten years older than his actual age. Fitzhugh 1 ,l hi oho c,;l h 1l lasted fully half minute before he spoke.
 Tt has been agreed, Mir Otis, that l shall deal with you as 1 see fit."
 Otis nodded He did not speak
 My rule has been to give no quar- ter and ask none. I see no reason why your case should mark an exception. 1 see every reason why it should not. For eight years or more your hand has been against me. You have opposed my ventures, obstructed my path, hin- dered me in every way"
 T came here" interjected Otis cold ly, Ito talk business not to discuss our personal affairs"
 And we are going to discuss those affairs. Mir OtiS"-Fltzhugh rose, and with his hands resting on the desk in front of him, leaned toward his visitor who now stood opposite-"I will let you out of my corner on only one con- dItion"
 Which is7"
 That you tell your daughter"
 .You need not go further. I will consider nothing that involves my fam fly
 ''Tnen you refuse to deny to her.
 Absolutely"
 "-the preposterous falsehood yor repeatedly
 q repeated no falsehood. It was tht !, truth
 "Jt was lie! The woman is deat nn,y and I shall say nothing aoainS