The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-06-10


1--WE dine at eight" were OTIS part
ing words
While Fitzhugh entered his brokers'
office a minute Or two later his mind
dwelt not upon the wheat deal he had
on hand, not upon the whirligig Of
Fate, nor yet upon the man whom he
had just left. He was thinking solely
of Kathleen Otis.
He dressed with such extraordinary
care that Haki despaired of ever
pleasing him.
Yet it was scarcely seven when. at
last satisfied that his appearance
could not be improved upon, he
swung out of the marble entrance OF
the apartment building and walked up
the drive toward Otis home, a quar-
ter OF mile away. The same stout
butler whom he had once roughly
treated met him at the door. Otis re-
ceiyed him in the library. In a little
while dinner was announced, and
host and guest repaired to the spa
cious dining room, furnished in the
style of the Elizabethan period, and
dined-alone,
A black pail enveloped F'ftzhugh
All his sparkle and snap vanished. He
could not, or would not, conceal his
chagrin, admirable actor though he
was.
Not until dessert was over did Otis
reveal the basis of his hospitality. 81
had purpose in meeting you today.
Mr.. Fitzhugh, as / had in inviting
you here tonight"
81 had surmised as much"
Otis lighted a cigarette and extin.
guished the wax match with elabO-
rate care. 81 understand, Mr.. Fitz.
hugh, that you are a very wealthy
man.
Fitzhugh inclined his head.
Briefly what have to say is this:
In the Chicago wheat pit there is a
certain clique Of bulls whom and
| three other men desire to rout. Al
ready we have them on the run, but
to make our victory complete and
! thorough we must have more capital
five millions more, at the least" He
stood up. eff you will pardon me
moment 1 have something I should
like to show you"
He went out, returning presently
with a large envelope and a pad Of
writing paper. Taking a seat near his
guest, he removed the contents of the
envelope and spread them upon the
table, now cleared Of everything save
a vase of flowers and some brandy
and cigarettes. With characteristic
precision he began detailing his rea-
sons for believing the then panic
stricken condition Of the wheat mar
ket would continue until May, or even
beyond, selecting, as he talked, divers
papers from the array before him,
submitting them to his auditor, or re-
ferring to them for confederation.
Fitzhugh, however, seized some
slight excuse for soon interrupting
him, and taking up the thread of the
argument where he had broken It
carried it along with a sureness that
displayed an irreproachable knowledge
of the subject in hand. When he I'm
ished several sheets of the paper were
covered with figures and Otis was
regarding him In quite new light.
You show most thorough knowl-
edge of the wheat market, Mr.. Fftz-
hugh. I can see you have studied it
very exhaustively."
'T've studied it for a little over II
year."
Otis smiled. "of course you are
jestng?"
81 sOlemnly assure you that all ]
know about wheat I have learned in
that length Of time. There are some
men, Mr.. Otis, who can learn more
about given subject in few months
than others can In as many years. It's
as much a matter Of work as it is of
brains. Now, when I am sufficiently
enthused over thing apply myself
to it. concentrating upon it every fac
uIty of my mind for eighteen, yes,
twenty, hours a day, and begrudge the
few hours 1 must give to sleep. That |
sounds egotistical, doesn't it2 But |
I want you to know the truth Of the |
matter"
CTO BE CONTINUED)