The Starkville news., 1920-03-26
The City
of Purple
Dreams
By
EDWIN
3 A I r D
e$+*:*:et:'+:'..*
Copyright by r. G. Browne g. Co.
CHAPTER vlii.-continued.


III
ut doesn't pay" he muttered pres
emily, and opened his eyes in surprise
at his own voice. He added with firm
ness: "No-nothing to 1t. 1t doesn't
pay"
After 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 nervous excitement he rarely
permitted himself to display. A
glance at the market quotations suf-
feed to show him that December
wheat had taken gigantic tumble.
just us he had predicted fifteen days
ago il would.
Folding the paper and tossing 1t 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, thrustng pencil and envelope
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
ticularly interested him.
1t was about Quigg and Peevy
QUigg had inaugurated his grand lit.
tie mai-order scheme" and 1t had gone
sw'mmingly. But its fourishing
growth was not unobserved by Uncle
Sans post Office boys and it had been
nirped before 1t bloomed. In conse.
qucnce, the ambitious exponent of dis
illusionmeht and his unaSSulnng col
league were now undergoing imprison-
ment.
'Poor Quigg!" In spite of his sym.
pathy, Fitzhugh smiled. "IIe was a
pretty good sort, after ALL"
Directly after his breakfast he went
to his study and called Hunt on the
telephone.
Good morning, Mr.. Fitzhugh," came
promptly over the wire. "Eh?
Yes; have check for you. Ninety
eight thousand dollars-Oh. when did
you get back from the East, and how
Is your brother?"
Fitzhugh f:cked the ash from his
cigarette and rolled it between his
long forefiEger and thumb, studying
its glowing end. After a pause he
said: 81 returned last night. My
brother Is much mproved-almost r.
covered, in fact. When may see you,
Hunt?"
Meet me at Burton's. at ten."
A few inconsequentialities, and Hunt
"hung up" rather abruptly.
Although 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 Burton's these suppo-
sltions were made certaintes. Hunt
acted In q 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-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.
"Mr. 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 q
wire, and as I 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"
"WellT said Fitzhugh quietly.
swell, 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 it2"
Fitzhugh looked down at him from
his superior height. He was smiling
ensngingly. His eyes were as ingenu-
GUS as q childs. 81 haven't any people