Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19
SEES EN- RUN

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TT Z hadn't had my ear stretched.
tea I'd had something slipped over
on ma that would have lowered my
u rating ~ an Al private sec. by
several notcheA As it was Just hap
pens to catch this remark Of Old
f5ckory,s to ME Robert:
scEyen now" says he. 1--WE a good
mind - send Torchy after him."
- harm. In his trying. at least. !"
szv1 m Robert
ma wAaseyer It was they didn't
sprin1 Il for nearly an hour. SO has
plenty of time to wonder what cute
little lob this was that even now there
BE- no harm IN my tryin': DIDN'T listen ste
loen hope stun. and I'd had more'n my
sllArn q them kind of assignments late
~. But the way Old Hickory starts
Stain the = proposition to me you
wouldn't think it was anything moren't
bond clerks to attend to durin' his lunch
hour.
r.Oh. by the way, rorchy." he throws
casual over his shoulder. I'VE haven't
closed negotiations with Col Sam Roddy
for that block Of S. c. T.. you know"
sYe-e-es. he was" admits Old Hick-
cry draggy. Didn't get it, though
Managed to tumble the deal somehow"
,rBut don't you need those shares to
control the annual election. a week from
Tuesday?' asks.
He mods. Precisely" says he ''That
IS why I want you to hunt up Col.
Sam and get him to sign this transfer
agreement. You'll find certified check
envelope at me across the desk.
Il see." says l. Gust give him this
and get him to sign. eh?''
That's ALL says Old Hickory,
sQuintin' shrewd at me from under them
bushy eyebrows.
But say. I can throw a little of that
cold bluff article myself. in a pinch.
I losses of a bit now. every we'll.
sir" says I. Amy time this week, 1
SUPPOSE"
quite satisfactory" says he. and If
It hadn't been Old Hickory I'd have
It's a pet indoor sport of his. steer
in somebody up against a tough prop
osition and then watchin' EN- founder
around. But this didn't happen to be
one OF my foolish days. wanted to
collect a lot of dope on this delayed
deal before I went Dustin, into any
body's private Office to point out the
dotted line. Some of it I got from
Mr.. Piddle, our office manager; some
picked out of the financial columns,
and some from the society notes
When I was well primed I pried the
rest out Of Mr.. Robert,
what particular style of hard-boil-
ed egg is this Col. Roddy?" I asks.
'eRoddy? says he. tryin' to look as
II he was hearin' the name for the
holds that Southern transportation
we're after. Well. judge he's q trif1e
difhcult to approach"
Had our Atlanta agent run out of
his ONCE. didn't he?" says I.
mot exactly" says Mr.. Robert. at
The colonel seldom visits his various
Offices. Yes. it was from his private
car that Rothberg was-er-ejected.
But then. Rothberg has very little
tact, you know. I've no doubt he
should have handled the situation
.And worn a we'll padded football
suit. chr suggests.
Mr.. Robert grins. II understand
thar you are to have a go at the col
onel next" says he. land I've no doubt
you viii say and do just the right
That's q cheerful thought. any
way says ]. Il wouldn't say, though,
after Rothey had pestered him to the
point Of assault and battery. that he'd
&c crazy TO hear from me on the same
subject Would your"
'Oh. the. colonel will have forgot
ten that Louisville episode by this |
time" says Mr.. Robert. Besides, he's
In New York now"
That is" says /. hes out at his !
Long Island country place with his |
new wife giving q house party. That |
ought to. help center his mind on bust
ness. Ell? Or wouldn't it?''
H-m-m-m~ says Mr.. Robert, rub |
BIN his right ear. House party? |
Where did you learn all that. TorchyT'
Morning pspers." says ]: Say. just
And will say that Mr.. Robert does
his best TO sketch out all he knew J
Of him.. Seems that the colonel had
had rather hectic career. making
and losing two or three fortunes be-
mining game. Then he'd moved east
and tried buckin' the stock market
until Wall street had nicked him for |
half q million or so and he'd pulled |
put. For the last eight or ten years
where he'd retired on a big fancy
stock farm and was raisin' race |
horses as a fad. His latest move had |
been to pick this chicken bride out of |
some chorus and she'd stacked him up |
against the societyproposition. Hence |!
the Long Island estate.
Huh" says l. "Then a little invest |
ment like this block of IS. c. T. stock
wouldn't keep him awake nights won
dering whether or not he could I'M
load It ON US at a profit. eh?'
That In the main trouble" says
Mr.. Robert. I'm fact. fear that Col.
Roddy il rather indifferent to our Of
fer. He may need a lot Of persuad-
ing. That Ii why we are sending you,
Torchy."
..Thanks," says l. "And I expect I
ought to have my chest way out. But
I'd q heap rather talk business to an old
boy who was less likely to throw me
through . window. Sti1l. maybe I
have quick jump or SO left In me.
] take 1t the case IL kind Of desper-