The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-08-19
CHATTER xiIl.-continued.


without exactly knowing why, he went
on the floor" for a few minutes. A
man shouted in his ear:
"Iuly's gone to a dollar and half'
Without answering, without even
looking at the man, he stood watch
ing the monster turmoil. The uproar
was deafening.
The old Spectator turned away.
Very carefully, very slowly, he made
his way through the hurly-burly, de-
seconded the steps that led to the
ground floor, his hand sliding jerlSily
along the banister When he entered
his brokers' office his hair was no more
white than his face, and as he sat
down and held his hand moment over
his eyes his fingers trembIed as one af-
flicted with palsy. Ii was the first time
I'm his twenty-odd years of specializing
that he had been seen unneryed. He
looked at his broker and shook his
head.
He's done it." he said, with a pitia-
BILE pretense of smiling. Hes done
it. Howard. He's got us. He's cor
uefeu the market.
Authoritative news Of the corner
went out over the land. The name Of
Daniel Randolph Fitzhugh doomed
gigantic on the financial horizon. He
controlled all the wheat. He could
exact for it whatever price he wanted.
If he chose. he could get fifty dollars
bushel
He was the King OF Wheat
His name became household word.
Scarcely man, woman, or child in the
middle West but prattled of him. The
farmers lauded him as benefactor of
humanity. Others condemned him as
q thief. Thousands of letters of every
description flooded his mail. Loaves
of bread dwindled in size. Mutterings
reached him. His life was threatened.
His wealth multiplied with prodi-
gioGs leaps. At no time could he tel
how much he was worth. He knew it
was more than fifteen millions and less
than thirty.
Then there came day when he was
TO settle with Otis. The defeated
gladiator made the appointment for
eleven o'clock that morning in Fitz-
hughs Office.
t At FIVE minutes to eleven Fitzhugh
was alone awaiting him. He had given
orders that none but Otis was to be
admitted. and that afterward they
weresnot to be disturbed. As he lolled
back in his cushioned chair before the
mahogany desk, and gazed round the
luxurious room, a reverie came over
him. He recalled his first venture in
wheat, made with few thousands
won i'm poker game; ne remembered
the time he had worked for Quigg for
four hundred dollars month. And
then, his memory slipping his control
and leaping back further still, he
thought Of the time when-No. Had
he been a dishwasher? Had be shaved
in the sculIery of a filthy kitchen for d
miserable weekly pittance?
The door opened. Symington Otis
entered.
In these days of his monarchy Fitz-
hugh saw many sorts of characters ex-
posed raw and naked to his gaze. He
saw men come cringing to him. begging
asad pleading. He saw others enter,
clustering and trying to OUTAGE him.
Otis behaved in neither manner. He
walked in quietly. and, closing the
ioor, remained standing. with no greet
ng whatsoever. He looked ten years
idcr than his actual age Fitzhugh
1eturned TO his chair. The silence had
asted fully half minute before he
poke.
1T has been agreed, Mr.. Otis, that I
hall deal with you as see fit"
Otis nodded. He did not speak.
Ny rule has been TO give no quar-
fer and ask none. see 70 reason why
your case should mark an exception. l
see every reasoH why it should not.
For eight years or more your hand has
been against ne. You have opposed
my ventures. obStructed my path, him
dercd me IN every way"
81 came here" INTERCEPTED CHS cold
~, ito talk business; not to discuss
our personal affairs"
land we are going to discuss those
affairs. Mr.. Otis"-Hitzhugh rose, and,
with his hands resting on the desk in
front of him. leaned toward his visitor,
who now stood opposite-sI will let
you out of my corner on only one con-
dition"
(Which isl"
"That you tell your daughter-"
You need not go further! l will
consider nothing that involves my fam
fly"
"Then you refuse to deny TO her.
! Absolutely"
the preposterous faIsehood you
repeated"
- repeated no falsehood 1t WAS the
truth"
ct was liel The woman is dead
now. and | shall say nothing against
her. But you. and you only, can undo
tie wrane she did me-"
mir. Fitzhugh. must ask you to
come at once to business
''For the final time. viii you tell
her
'Ncl Absolutely. mol"
s~Then you viii take the alternative"
Fitzhngh turned and pressed che of
fhe pearl buttons On his desk. His ex-
preston was one many Chicagoans
had seen 10 their sorrow since last
T,,tu. tI,a foaiaI roucciac taaSp tho