The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-07-08
CHAPTER VIII.-continued.

emily. and opened his eyes in surprise
at his own voice. He added with nrin-
ness: "No-nothing to it. 1t doesnt
pay"
After q while he turned over ana
went to sleep.
He was wide awake at nine ana was
dressing two minutes after. He rang
for his man.
"Get me a morning newspaper ne
said, when Haki appeared, "and nave
breakfast sent up"
For two weeks Fitzhugh had not
seen newspaper, and when HaRl 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 1t 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 eve 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-
quence. the ambitious exponent of dis
illusionment and his unassuming col
league were now undergoing imprison-
ment.
'Poor Quigg!" In spite of his SYM
patty, 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? :.
Yes; I 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 forefinger and thumb, studying
it's glowing end. After a pause he
said: 81 returned last night. My
brother is much improved re-
covered, in fact. When may ! see you,
Hunt?"
"Meet me at Burton's, at ten."
A few inconsequentialities and Hunt
chung up, rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive,
i 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 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-opersttor
with. sidelong glances of suspicion.
And Fitzhugh noted ne Was no longer
Dan" to him, but ''Mr. Fitzhugh."
At last he could restrain himself NO
longer.
'AIr. Fitzhugh, he began, apparent
ly absorbed in the study of his finger
nails, 81, era funny thing happeped
while you were away. A few days
after you left wanted to send you 2
wire, and as l didn't know your New
York address, I looked you up in the
New York directory. / also looked you
up in the New York Blue Book and in
the New York Social Register and in
the New York Business Directory
"Well?" said Fitzhugh quietly.
"Well, the fact is, / couldn't find you.
| I tried all the Fitzhughs. from Aaron
to Zizah, but to no purpose. None OF
them knew you; none Of them had
ever heard of you. It's little singu-
! lar, isn't it?
F'itzhugh looked down at him from
| his superior height. He was smiling
engagingly. His eyes We're as ingenu-
/ ous as a child's. II haven't any people
| in New York, Hunt. ] don't know q
soul in the town."
| WHAT Why, then-by George, ]
bet you're all bluff / thought so
You're not rich?"
"Rich?'' Fitzhugh laughed. "All I've
got in the world is this check and q
| thousand or so on deposit
Hunt gaped at him dumbly. AL
though his worst suspicion had beer
verified. he was none the less astound
ed. He could not reconcile himself te
the staggering fact.
'Tll stop payment on that check
I'll"
mo, you won't, Hunt. Y0u could
never prove that you're right and
wrong--never. There was only al
oral agreement, you know. Besides,
gave you my check for twenty thou
sand when we planned the deal.
have the voucher in my pocket now
Care to see it? No? All right. But
YOU see, of course, there's no chftnc'
Cor Won We were partners as M,