The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-10-22

~ H.
CHAPTER viIi.-continusd.
III
TT doesn't pay he muttered pres
emily. and opened his eyes in surprise
at his own voice. He added with firm-
less "No-nothing to It. It doesn't
pay"
After q while he turned over and
went to sleep.
He was wide awake at nine and was
dressing two minutes after. He rang
for his man.
sGet me a morning newspaper" he
said, when Haki appeared, 'and have
breakfast sent up"
For two weeks Fitzhugh had not
see a newspaper, and when Haki re
turned with one he snatched 1t 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-
nced to show him that December
wheat had taken a gigantic tumble.
just Is he had predicted fifteen days
ago 1t would.
Folding the paper and tossing 1t on
the dining table, he sat down and CON-
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 AZ he ate a
an eye 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.
It was about Quigg and Peevy.
Quigg had inaugurated his grand lit
tie mail-order scheme" and 1t had gone
swimmingly. But Its fiourishing
growth was not unobserved by Uncle
Sans post Office boys and it had been
nipped before 1t bloomed. In conse-
quence, the ambitious exponent Of dis
illustonment and his unassuming col
league e now undergoing imprison-
ment.
"P0or Quigg" In spite of his SYM
pathy, 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.. Fltzhugh," came
promptly v the wire. Eth? -.
Yes; I have q check for you. Ninety
eight thousand dollars-Oh, when did
you get back from the East, and how
is your brotherf"
Fitzhugh flicked the ash from his
cigarette and rolled it between his
long forefinger and thumb. studying
its glowing end. After a pause he
said: II returned last night. My
brother is much improved-almost re-
covered, In fact. When may l see you,
Huntf"
Meet me at Buttons, at ten"
A few inconseQuentialities. and Hunt
'hung up" rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive,
Fitxhugh thought he detected in his
voice a note Of unnaturalness, ever of
unfriendliness. He seemed too polite.
too precise. At Buttons these suppO-
sitions were made c%ertainties. Hunt
acted in a 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-operator
with sidelOng glances of suspicion.
And Fitzhugh noted he was no longer
Dan" 10 him, but "Mr. Fitxhugh."
At last he could restrain himself no
longer.
Mr.. Fitzhugh." he began, apparent.
ly absorbed in the study of his finger
nails, II, era funny thing happened
while you were away. A few days
after you left l wanted to send you q
wire, and as l didn't know your New
York address, l looked you up in the
New York directory. I 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.
We'll, the fact Is, I couldn't And you
l tried all the Fitzhughs, from Aaron
to Zizah, but to no purpose. None OF
them knew you; none Of them hat
eve heard Of you. It's a little singu
lar. isn't It'll"
Fitzhugh looked down at him from
his superior height. He was smilin,
engagingly. His eyes were as ingenu
Gus as a child's. ~ haven't any peopl,
in New York, Hunt. / don't know
soul in the town."
"What! Why, then-by George,
bet you're all bluff! l thought so
You're not rich?"
"Rich?" Fitzhugh laughed. "All Nv,
got in the world is this check and
thousand or so on deposit"
Hunt gaped at him dumbly. Al
though his worst suspicion had beel
verified. he was none the less astound
ed. He could not reconcile himself t,
the staggering fact.
I'm stop payment on that check
I'll"