Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-07-08
Meet me at Burton's, at ten"

Meet me at Burton's, at ten"
A few incOnsequentalites and Hunt
"hung up" rather abruptly.
Although he was not quite positive,
Fitzhugh thought he detected in his
voice note of unnaturalnesS, even of
unfriendliness. He seemed too polite.
too precise. At Burton's these suppo-
sitions were made certainties. 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" to him, but "Mr. Fitzhugh."
AT last he could restrain himself no
longer.
mir. 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 | wanted to send you a
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"
"Well?" said Fitzhugh quietly.
We'll, the fact is. | couldn't find you
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 a little singu-
lar, isn't it?"
Fitzhugh looked down at him from
his superior height. He was smiling
engagingly. His eyes We're as ingenu-
Gus as child's. 81 haven't any people
In New York, Hunt. don't know a
soul in the town."
what! Why, then-by George,
bet you're all bluff! thought so.
You're not rich?"
"Rich?" Fitzhugh laughed. "All I've
got in the world is this check and a
thousand or SO on deposit"
AAuHt Supeu Ut llllu uuluDly. AL
though his worst suspicion had been
verified. he was none the less astound-
ed. He could not reconcile himself to
the staggering fact.
"Tll 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 an
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 to see it? No? All right. But,
you see, of course, there's no chance
for you. We We're partners, as my
voucher shows-and you know the
law. I'd thought of all of these little
things long ago, Hunt"
Hunt doubled his fists and glared
at Fitzhugh. Yet, even in that angry
moment, he could not but admire the
shrewdness of the man.
Fitzhugh leaned across the table, his
face grown suddenly very earnest. "If
you want to get rich-immensely rich
you'll hold on to me. shan't for
get what you've done for me in hur-
ry, and some day I'm going to be able
to repay you hundred times over.
About year ago on capital of one
dollar, given to me, l made turning
point in my life. Today am worth,
roughly, one hundred thousand dollars.
Some years from today will be worth
millions. 1t is coming as sure as fate.
What are you going to do. Hunt? Are
you going to stand by me, or are you
going to break with me? Give me your
answer now-this minute"
Hunt did not meet the speakers
eyes. but looked away, his gaze wan
dering about the glittering grill. Then,
rs the needle is drawn by the magnet,
he turned back and looked into the
powerful young face opposite. And
who shall say?-perhaps, by some
flash of prescience, he saw Fitzhugh
not as he was then, but as he would be
in after years, a juggler of millions.
Perhaps he saw that here was a man
IA UW///