The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-05-20


unobServed, and let himself In without
awakening his valet He removed his
shabby apparel, his decrepit hat, Sc
creted them In a wardrobe and went
70 the bathroom When he entered his
bedroom, glowing from a brisk scrub
and attired in silk pajamas, he looked
a little tired. Ii was not, however, a
physical tiredneSs, Fitzhugh felt, men
tally, like man who had taken a very
arduous journey In search Of gold only
To find he had been chasing a rainbow.
He climbed In between the snowy
sheets Of hts 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 1t. II doesn't
pay"
After a while he turned over and
went 70 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 newspaper, and when Haki re-
turned with one he snatched 1t from
him and turned 10 the financial page
with a nervous excitement he rarely
permitted himself 10 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 IL 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 an ap-
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 hot roll and leaned suddenly
forward to read something that par
ticularly interested him.
II was about Quigg and Peevy
Qulgg had inaugurated his grand lit.
tie mail-order scheme" and ii had gone
swimmingly. But its fourishing
growth was not unobServed by Uncle
Sans post office boys and II had been
nipped before II bloomed In conse
quence, 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 @
pretty good sort, after ALL"
Directly after his breakfast he went
70 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 die
you get back from the East, and how
Is your brotherT"
Fitzhugb fIcked the ash from hi
cigarette and rolled II between hi
long forefinger and thumb. studyin,
Its glowing end. After a pause h
said: II returned last night. M,
brother is much mproved-almost RI
covered. In fact. When may see you
HuntT
Meet me at Burton's, at ten"
A few inconseQuentialities and Hun
hung up" rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive
Fitzhugh thought he detected In hi
voice note Of unnaturalness, even o
unfriendliness. He seemed too polite
too precise. At Burton's these suppo
sitions were made certainties. Hun
acted In q very unwonted manner
After delivering the ninety-eight tbsr