New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

ed the colloquy between the uneasy
Sullivan and the boy and claimed the
call. "My names Oliphant. I've
been waiting here all morning for a
telephone message, and these idiots
go around bawling Sullivan! Sulli-
vanv when I bet they want Oil
phant. If you've no objection, I'll
take this call, Mr.. Sullivan
"None whatever" Sullivan said
affably. "I'm sure it's not for me-"
"Come on, boy. Show me the
phone"
AS he passed he laid his hand on
Barney's shoulder and gave him a
warning squeeze. 1t was needed, for
as soon as he was out of hearing
Sullivan turned to Barney with a
plump, suave smile. isn't this
Thomas Oliphant, Of Kansas City?''
Barney nodded cheerfully.
Il thought so. I've heard Of him.
Well, WE'LL So that's Thomas Oil
phant."
Barney grinned. 81 guess every
body out there knows Uncle Tom. u
"Did I understand that he's buy
ing mining stock?"
"Yep. l guess so. He's got money
to burn"
'You're not from Kansas City?'
Barney shook his head scornfully
81 wonder if he knows my brother
in-law, Billy Smith,"
81 dunno. You better ask him"
"What does he do?"
"What does he dol"
eyes. What business is he IMP
"Say!" Barney answered. What
are you tryin' to do to me? You
know what he does as we'll as I do
Sullivan said hastily:
"Well, l thought he might have re.
tired, and-well, we'll! I must speak
to him when he comes back. Ton
Oliphant, eh? It's a small world
we'll, well!" And Barney saw THEN
fish on the hook.
The fish proceeded to climb up the
line and fight his way into the cree
as soon as Babbing returned, anc
Babbing at first held him off, sus.
piciously. Yes, he was Thomas Oil.
plant, of Kansas City. No, not cat
tie. Leather, sir; leather William
Smith? No, he didn't know William
Smith. He thought he had heard OF
William Smith, but couldn't place
him. His brother-in-law? A pleas
urea pleasure. Much obliged to
Mr.. Sullivan for letting him take
that telephone call. 1t was pressing
business. They had been trying all
morning to get him on the phone.
In ten minutes the engaging Sui
livan had moved to the vacant chair
opposite Barney, had lighted one OF
his Padages Palmas rather gaudily
and was listening to Babbing with
a f1attering admiration showing in
his bluish-gray eyes. 1t developed
that Sullivan was interested in Co.
bait mines, heavily interested; in
fact, he owned one in partnership
with some New York mining ex-
perts. Being questioned by Babbing
upon the rating of the Bonanza
mine in the Beaver district, he re-
marked that it was a hole in the
ground, hopeless as an investment
1t was not a mine at all, but merely
trap for suckers Babbing was
much taken aback.
Sullivan blossomed and expanded
in that atmosphere of trust. He and
his partners were building a hotel
for the tourist trade near their
nline. He had been working on the
plans for the building. They had
discovered one of the finest, if not
the finest, springs of mineral water
on the continent. And so forth.
He leaned back in his chair, max
ing large gestures with his cigar
and smiling broad, indulgent smile
He fiattered Barney. ga mighty
bright boy, your nephew. "A mighty
bright boy. I'd like to have a boy
like that in my business"
"Not much!" Barney said pertly
"I'm goin' m with uncle"
Some of Babbing's coffee got in
his windpipe at that moment, and
he coughed himself red in the face
Barney kept straight mouth.
Sullivan eSacted promise from,
Babbing that he should go no fur
ther in the matter of the Bonanza
mine until he had come to the office
Of Sullivan's friends, with Sullivan
to look into the proposition" there
Excuse me q moment" he said,
when Babbing had paid the waiter
"Ill just run upstairs and get the
plans of our hotel. I want to take
them with me. III meet you at the
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