Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-02-24

superior initiative and energy. You
must expect to pay for your lack of
acumen. have my price"
"How--how did you find out about
thisT sputtered sHadman.
"Ask me no questions, I'll tell you
no lies" replied the visitor pleasantly
1--WE seem to be wasting time. Let us
proceed"
Hadman seemed about to burst into
storm of wrath, but Gibney inter
rupted him.
"This youngsters perfectly right,
Jim. We slipped up, and he has US
where he wants us. If he feels like
putting on the screws, why, 1 suppose
Wen have to stand for 1t. May ask
your price on this stock?"
The young man was suddenly af-
flicted with a violent fit of coughing.
When he recovered he asked that
Jevons, the buyer he had beaten out,
be sunt for. Neither Hadman nor
Gibney could see the necessity for this,
but thsy acceded to his request. Jevons
entered.
Good morning, Mr. Jevons," said
the young man. "Tm glad to see you
are looking so well. The last time /
saw you you were feeling strained a
bit, think"
II never saw you before ~ said Jew
ons angrily, displeased at the badi-
mage.
That's quite trse Mr.. Jevons; but
| saw you. 1t was at the Biltmore, in
the tea-room. You were talking to a
lady--a very beautiful lady. Mr.. Jew
Ons."
"What on earth" began Hadman
but glance from his partner silenced
him. Jevons had suddenly dropped his
air of buster, and was as pale as the
white wall behind him. He made a
move TO go, but with a lightning-like
movement the young man intercepted
him. His air of pleasantly was gone.
II was at the next table, behind the
palm. i heard you when you planned
to acquire the stock yourself with
your employers money, and bleed
them for it. heard you make your
plans-and you were incautiOus
enough to give the address of the man
who held the stock / should have
exposed you then, but l thought it was
better to beat you to it. T." but Jew
ons waited TO hear no more. He fed
through the door and the partners
heard the outer door of the office
slam.
1.-THE most thorough scoundrel
have ever had the pleasure Of know
Ing" said the young man calmly. "And
now that we have disposed of that mat
ter, let us take up the other. Mr..
Hadman, would like to ask you to
step out for a moment, If you please.
want word with Mr.. Gibney
alone"
Hadman left, though with no good
grace. When Gibney was alone with
the stranger he said: II don't know
how can thank you for exposing that
villain; but will try. And now, your
price"
"By George!" broke in the stranger.
Look at that! He was pointing out
the window. Involuntarily Gibney
turned to look. and when he returned
his gaze to the room the young man
stood before him-transformed. Gone
was the swathing bandage; gone the
derby hat, and with its going a cas-
cade Of golden hair fell ripping to the
young mans waist, and Gibney looked
into the face Of
"Alicer he cried. "What-how--
why"
"Oh, Phil, darling, wanted to tell
you at first, but you were so cross
and grouchy that / thought I'd give
you little wee lesson. And oh. Phil,
ii, was such fun! Here's your old
stock-I bought it with my own money.
and it's-guess what? My birthday
present to you'll And oh, Phil, darling.
kiss me, won't your"
Hadman, impatient at the delay,
opened the door and started to enter.
He got as far as the threshold, then
paused with a look of utter amaze
ment on his face. The look gradually
faded to grin of understanding,
and he tiptoed out, closing the door
softly behind him.