Cleveland County herald., 1920-04-01
CHAPTER VIIl.-continued.
--1 l.

Si'FNA -ta SIiIs--SSiIIiiGCNs
 H.
 Tt doesn't pay" he muttered pres ently, and opened his eyes in surprise at his own voice. He added with firm ness: "No-nothing to it. It doesn't pay"
 After a 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.
 "Get me q morning newspaper" he said, when Haki appeared, "and 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 8 nervous excitement he rarely permitted himself to display. A glance at the market quotations sui 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 it 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 relish He propped the paper against the shining coffee pot and as he ate ran 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 ticularIy interested him.
 It was about Quigg and Peevy. Quigg had ipaucurated his grand lit tie maiI-order scheme." and it had gone swimmingly. But its flourishing growth was not ulobserved by Uncle Sam's 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 pathy, Fitzhugh smiled. 'sHe was a pretty good sort, after all"
 Directly after his breakfast he went to his study and called Hunt on the telephone.
 Good morning, Mir. Fitzhugh," came promptly over the wire. "Eh? Yes; have a check for you. Ninety eight thousand dollars-Oh, when did you get back from the East, and how is your brother?"
 Fitzhugh flicked the ash from his cigarette and rolled it between his long forefinger and thumb, studying it's glowing end. After a pause he said: "I returned last night. My brother is much mproved-almost re- covered. in fact. When may I see you, Hunt?'
 Meet me at Burton's, at ten"
 A few inconseQuentialities and Hunt "hung up," rather abruptly.
 :, Fitzhugh thought he detected in his voice note of unnaturalness, even of unfriendliness. He seemed too polite, too precise. At Burtons 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 unn9ticed watching his co-operator with sidelong glances of suspicion And Fitzhugh noted he was no longer Dan" to him, but "NTr. Fitzhugh."
 At last he could restrain himself no longer.
 "NIr. Fitzhugh," he began, apparent ly absorbed in the study of his finger nails. q. er-a funny thing happened while you were away A few days after you left I wanted to send you q wire, and as I didn't know your New York address, I looked you up in tho New York directory. ! also looked you up in the New York Blue Book and in the New York Social Register and ir the New York Business Directory"
 "Well?" said Fitzhugh quietly.
 ''Well, the fact is, I couldn't find you I tried all the FitZhughs, from AaroT to Zizah, but to no purpose. None o1 them knew you; none of them hat ever heard of you. It's q little singu lar isn't it?"
 Fitzhugh looked down at him iron his superior height. He was smiling engagingly. His eyes were as ingenu ous as chlld's T haven't any people in New York, Hunt. l don't know { soul in the town"
 What Why, then-by George, bet you're all bluff I thought so You're not rfch?'
 "Rich?" Fitzhugh laughed. "All I've got in tue world is this check and { thousand or so on deposit.'
 Hunt ganed at him dumbly Al though his worst suspicion had beer verified. he was none the less astound ed He could not reconcile himself tt the Stagwt4finn fact