Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-06-08

II dOeSn I pay, he muIIeEeu PRES
emily, and opened his eyes in surprise
at his own voice. He added with firm
ness: 'No-nothing to il. 1t doesn t
pay"
After while ne turned over and
went to sleep.
He was wide awake at nine and was
dressing two minutes after. He rang
for his man.
Get me morning newspaper, ne
said, when Haki appeared. land have
breakfast sent up"
For two weeks FitZhugh had not
seen a newspaper, and when Haki re
turned with one he snatched it from
him and turned to the financial page
with nervous excitement he rarely
permitted himself to display. A
glance at the market quotations suf-
feed TO show him that December
wheat had token a gigantic tumble,
just as he had predicted fifteen days
ago it would.
Folding the paper and tossing it on
the dining table, he sat down ans COM
putsd 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
hi and, thrusting pencil and envelope
in his pocket, he f 80. 10 with a relish.
He prOpped the paper against the
shining coffee pot and as he ate ran
IN 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.
1t was about Quigg and Peevy.
Quigg had inaugurated his grand lit
tie mail-Order scheme" and it had gone
swimmingly. But its tlourishing
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
iIlusionment and his unassnming col
league were now undergoing imprison-
mcnt.
Poor Quigg" In spite of his sym
pathy, Fitzhush smiled. lie was a
pretty good sort, after all"
Directly after his breakfast he went
to his study ami called Hunt on the
telephone.
Good morning. Mr.. Fitzhugh," came
promptly over the wire "Eh?
Yes; l nave a check for You Ninety
eight thousand dOllarS-Oh. when did
you get back from the East, and how
is your brothcr?"
Ftzhugh licked the ash from his
cigarette and rolled it between his
long forefEger ana thumb, studying
its glowing end. After a pause he
said: Il returned last night. My
brother is much mproved-almOst r.
covered, in fact. When may | see you
Hunt?"
Meet me at BurtonS. at ten"
A few incOnSequpntiaities and Hunt
chung up" rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive.
Fitzhugh thought he detected in his
voice Il note of unnatura;nesS. even OF
unfriendlineSs He seemed too polite.
too precise. At Burton'S these sxppo-
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 direct
question. ard. when he thought he was
unnoticed. watching his co-operatnr
with sidelong Chances of suspicion
And Fitzhugh noted he was no longer
Dan" to him. but Mr. Fitzhugh."
At last he could restrain himself no
longer.
MIR. Fit2hugh." he began apparent
ly absorbed in the study of his finger
nails, 81, era funny thing happened
while you were away. A few days
after you left | wanted to send you
wire and as | didn't know your New
York address, 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"
"Wellf" said Fitzhugh quietly.
We'll, 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?'
FitZhugh looked down ut him from
his superior height He was smiling
cngaglngly. His eyes were as ingenu-
Gus as a child'S. 81 haven't any people
in New York, Hunt. don't know
soul in the town"
What Why. then-by George. l
bet you're all bluff! l thought so.
You're not rich?"
"Rich?" Fitzhugh laughed "All I've
got in the world is this check and
thousand or So on deposit"
Hunt CAPPED nj him dumbly. AL
though his worst suspicion had been
verified. he was none the less astound-
Ell He could not reconcile himself to
the staggering fact.
I'll stop payment on that check.
III"
No, you won't, HUNT You could
never prove that you're right and
wrong-never. There was only all
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 10 see II? No? All right. But.
You see. of course there's no chance
for you. We vera partners. as my
voucher ShowS-and YOU know the
law Id thought " all OF these ll:tle
things long ago, Hunt"
Hunt doubled his fists and glared
nj Fitzhugh. Yet even in that anSry
moment, he could NOT but admire the
shrewdneSS of the man.
Fitzhugh leaned across the table. his
face grown suddenly very earnest. IF
you wnut TO ger rich-immenSely rich
you'll hold oa to me. l shan't for
get what you've done for me in a hur.
ry. and some day I'm going TO be able
10 repay you a hundred times over