Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1920-06-24

freely, but as he became more intox.
icated there was decided reluctance
to the advances. At length he was
fatty refused and advised to go to
bed.
At this point Fitzhugh. who so far
had loaned him nothing, removed the
requested number of chips from his
generous heap and showed them across
the table to The tipsy one. who with
much difficulty counted them and gave
in exchange his l o q for Eve hun
bred dollars. They soon went the
way Of the rest, and he sat slumped
down In his chair. his arms dangling
Imply ut either side. his head sunken.
his mouth open. leering stupidity from
under dropping lids,
Fitzhugh caught his wandering eye
Better try another stack, Sparkle"
he invited In friendly way, and be-
gan cutting Off o small section of his
chip pile. "How many may help
you to. Sparkle?"
Artie struggled valiantly to speak
distinctly. "A thou--a thou--a hic !
thousan'. OF shap."
With considerable slowness and de-
liberation the transaction was made.
and Fitzhugh pocketed Arties | . y
for thousand dollars,
The early winter darkness had closed
In before the game ended. and most
Of the gamblers were ready for bed.
Very quietly Fitzhugh wen: in turn
to all those who had taken Artie's
/ O U's and bought them In. In all
they amounted to over eight thousand
dollars and the ones he himself held
brought the total to ten thousand 1--we
hundred.
Fitxhugh was alone In private
compartment of his brokers' office on
Monday morning when, promptly at
ten. Otis entered. With a brief "Good
morning" the capitalist came straight
to the point.
"You are with us. Fitzhugh2"
"Sit down, Otis. Make yourself com.
Portable. Try one of these cigars
You'll find them of an excellent tia
vor."
Otis took cigar from the pvof'
fered case and sat on the edge OF the
only remaining chair In the small
room. Resting long hand on his
knee, he tapped his wiry fingers I'm
patiently against his leg. He was u
little annoyed BY Fitzhugh's easy cor
diality. lie never liked to mix good
fellowship with business.
"Welli You are coming in with
usf'
"For oil am sorth."
-Goodi" OtisA back little far
Their on his i ssmiled his sat
isfaction. ~GocNH.afor you"
"What we want most OF all Just
now Is cash7"
| "Yes. and lots of It."
| Fitzhugh took out his check book
rested 1t on the small writing table
dipped pen In the ink. II will give
you my check now for two hundred
thousand"
! Otis returned to the edge Of his
chair. 1--WE must have Mt least half a
million now. and perhaps five millions
altogether. ! thought we went into all
that Saturday night"
$50 we did. And repeat / am
with you for all I am worth"
Otis removed the glasses from his
aQuiline nose. and, .wirllng them on
his finger, looked at the younger ma,
inqulringly.
Il don't believe quite understand
you,' he said.
didn't speak distinctly? say
again | am ready to pool my interests
with yours to the last cent possess
He opened his check book, filed In
the date. stopped with pen poised
"Will you take my check for two hun
dred thousandT
While Fitzhush talked great light
had been dawning upon his caller. Il
now burst upon him effuIgently ant
he saw the truth. He stood up.
II understand" he said Jelly. -,
hardly think there Is need fer further
words"
He turned to go. But suddenly the
thought of how simply he had beer
''taken In" became too much even FOL
his haif-starved sense of humor. He
stopped at the door.
at was very cleveriy DONE" he con
graduated. "You are gifted actor
"Then you won't accept my check p
mo. This Is no game for rabbits
TO play In"
Fitzhugh smiled. $50 you think
am a rabbltf
Otis deemed the question unworthy
an answer. and the door closed behind
him.
CHAPTER TX.