The Press., 1921-11-03
Business Is Business
By FREDERICK HART


 Have you had our tracers on the job P
 "I should say l have!' Roger Had mans voice was weary. 'FOr the past three months JevOns and HarrOd have been on the road. They've combed the country, nearly but they can't account for the three thousand shares we need. That block"
 But surely there's d record of its original saIe!" snapped Gibney.
 "Of course! We traced it to a little town in Pennsylvania-a funny old chap with whskers- held the whole block. JevOns got wind of il and flew down to get it at any price, but he was too late. Somebody beat him to it by less than three hours. The old duffer didn't know who it was simply said man came along and offered him twice what the stock was worth, and he sold for spot cash. JevOnS even went so far as to put detectives on the job, but they couldn't get any trace except that the fellow was slim and g0Od-lOOking, wore a light suit. and bought ticket for
 
 train went right up in air then, and there's absolutely no further trace"
 "Well-" Gibney's voice was thought full, "We've got to get that stock sOme- how. wonder if whoever bought it is holding out for big price? He must know what we're planning, and what control of R. x X. will mean to us. I suppose he thinks he can get whatever prize he asks"
 "The worst of it is that he's pretty nearly right, at that" rejOined Had man. "When our deal comes off it's absolutely necessary to have the con- trol, and we can't have it without those three thousand shares, and this fellow knows it-and that's all there is to it. We pay"
 eve do, I suppose -and-yet-"
 And yet-what?"
 Ut strikes me as being rather queer that this chap, whoever he is, hasn't tried to make a dicker. We are going to pull our stunt at the end of the week, and he must know that we want the stock as soon as we can get 1t. He has inside information, that's sure. Well, the result would naturally be that he would come around here and point his block of stock at our heads and say Stand and deliver!' But he hasn't made mOve-and tOday'S Wednesday. I don't understand it."
 Gibney was d sadly worried man when he went home that night, and his pretty wife, who was waiting for him with her usual smile, received a scan ty greeting. During the evening meal she tried to make conversation, but failed disma!'y. Once she asked what was worrying him.
 "NOthing you'd understand" replied Gibney shortly. Alice opened her mouth as though to reply, but thought better of it and confined her attentions to tHr salad. The evening passed si- lently for both.
 Next morning, sthe day before Gib- ney x Hadman's big coup was slated to come off, Gibney was informed by the girl at the door that young man wanted to see him. On inquiring his business, he was informed that the visitor would make no statement, merely saying that he wanted to see the head of the firm at oncP. Gibney told the girl to show him in, and called Hadman from his office.
 "DollHrS to cOlIar-buttOnS it's the chap with the R. & X. stock, Jim," he said. T want you here-WeIl meet him together. Maybe the two of us can get reasonable figures out of him. But oh. how he has us."
 The man who entered the office seemed hardly more than boy. He was dressed in a light-cOlOred suit, and wore d derby hat which he did not remove. A white bandage GOV cred most Of his right cEeck and curved we'll under the chin.
 Good morning, ;"entlemcn," he said in voice that betrayed d cold ill the head. I'm sorry to come around looking such wreck, but the fact is I've met with an accident-autOmObiI and Pm little smashed as to the face" A one, sided grin accompanied this information. '"rhe dOctOr\ tells me to keep my hat on, too. And now, if you've quite done staring at the handage and things, we might as we'll get down to business. have here -" he tapped his lneast-pOcket-"a block 0f three thousand shares Of R. & x. stock. which represents the balance of pOwer-the amount needed for con- trOI of the road. You want it-I have it. What do you say?"
 You young scoundrel!" roared Had i man. "This is blackmail!"
 Hardly MT. Hadman. This is l business. You were too slow to get ! what you wanted-I succeeded by my 1 superior initiative and energy. You must expect to pay for your lack of l lcumen. I have my price,"
 "HOw-hOw did you find out about ] his?" sputtered Hadman. . "Ask me no questions, I'll tell you 10 lies" replied the visitor pleasantly. We seem to be wasting time. Let us 
 Hadman seemed about 10 burst into | storm of wrath but Gibney inter 1 'upted him.
 "rhis youngsters perfectly right ''m., We slipped up, and he has us Ii'.'c he wants us. If he feels like
 ''. on the screws. why, I suppose we'll have to stand for it. May ask our price on this stOck?"
 The young man was suddenly af- licted with violent fit of coughing. When he recovered he asked that eVOnS. the buyer he had beaten out. 'e sent for. Neither Hadman nor iibney could see the necessity for this, ut they acceded to his request. Jevons ntered. .s... ....
 Good morning, MT. JevOns," said he young man. "I'm glad to see you re looking so well. The last time I aw you you were feeling strained it. think"
 T never saw you before !'' said Jev- ms angrily, displeased at the badi- age.
 O11iAo 4r,,o.