Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-09-01
CHAPTER viII-contInusd.

II
ut doesn't pay" he muttered ores
entity, and opened his eyes in surprise
at his own voice He added with firm
ness: "No-nothing to it. II 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 morning newspaper" he
said. when Haki appeared. "and have
breakfast sent up"
For two weeks Fitzhugh had not
seen newspaper. and when Haki re-
turned with one he snatched II from
him and turned to the financial page
with a nervous excitement he rarely
permitted himself to display. A
glance at the market quotations suf-
feed - show him that December
wheat had taken a gigantic tumble,
just as he had predicted fifteen days
ago II would.
Folding the paper and tossing II on
the diuing 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 APP
petiZing breakfast was spread before
him and, thrusting pencil and envelope
I'm his pocket, he fell TO with a relish.
lie pr0pped 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 hot roll and leaned suddenly
forward to read something that par
ticularly interested him.
It was about Quigg and Peevy.
Quigg had inaugurated his grand lit
tie mail-order scheme and II had gone
swimmingly. But It's hourlshing
growth was not unobserved by Uncle
Sans post office boys aud it had been
nipped before II bloomed. In conse-
Quence. the ambitious exponent of dis
illusionment ara his unassuming col
league were now undergoing imprlson-
ment
poor Qulggl" In spite of his sym
pathy, Fitzhugh smiled "He was "a
pretty good sort, after ALL"
Directly after his breakfast he went
TO bis study and called Hunt on the
telephone.
Good morning. Mr.. Fltzhugh," came
promptly over the wire "I1h?
Yes; / have check for you Ninety
eight thousand dollars--Oh. when did
you get back from the East, aud how
Is your brother?"
Fitzhugh hlcked the ash from his
cigarette and rolled It between his
long forefngS and thumb, studyA,g
its glowing end. After pause he
said; II returned last night. My
brother Is much mproved-almost r.
covered, In fact. When may see you.
Hunt?'
Meet me at Burton's, Mt ten"
A few inconsequentialities and Hunt
shung up" rather abruptly.
ySAlthough he was not quite positive
Fitzhugh thought he detected In his
voice a note of unnaturalness. even Of
unfriendliness. He seemed TOO polite.
too precise At Burtons these suppo-
sitions were made certalnties. Hunt
acted In very unwonted manner.
After delivering the nlnety-eight thou
sand dollars he fell strangely silent,
speaking only when asked direct
question. and, when he thought he was
unnotlced. watching his co-opera'or
with sidelong glances of suspicion.
And Fltzhugh noted he was no Longer
'Dan" TO him. but "Mr, Fltzhugh."
At last he could restrain himself no
longer.
'Air, Fitzhugh." he began, apparent.
ly absorbed in the study Of his finger
nails, 81. ere funny thing happened
while you were away. A few days
after you left | wanted to send you =
wire. and ms | didn't know your New
York address, looked you up In the
New York directory, l also looked you
up In the New York Blue Book and in
the New York Social Register and IN
the New York Business Directory"
"Well7" said Fitzhugh quietly.
well. the fact is, couldn't find you.
tried all the Fltzhughs, 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 itY'
Fltzhugh looked down at him from
his superior height He was smiling
engaglngly. His eyes were as ingeuu.
Gus MS child's. II haven't any people
in New York. Hunt. dom know a
soul in the town"
what! Why, then-by George,
bet you're all blum! thought so
You're not rich?"
"Richf" Fitzhugh laughed AN I've
got in the world is this check and q
thousand or so on deposit"
Hunt CAPPED at HIN dumbly Al.
though his worst suspicion had been
verified. he WIS none the less astound
ed He could not reconcile himself Ia
the staggering fact
"I'l stop payment on thas check
I'll"
"No, you won't, Hunt. You could
never prove that you're right and
wrong-never. There was only ar
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
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