The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-15
Eoenin'g Story
Business Is Business,
BY FREDERICK HART.

BY FREDERICK HART.
'.I can't figure what's happening in
r. & X.," said Philip Gibney. senior
partner of Gibney & Hadman, brokers.
1--WE can't seem to get majority of
the stock; someone's holding out on
us. Have you had our tracers on the
job 2"
st should say haven Roger Had
mans voice was weary. For the past
three months Jevons and Harrod have
ibeen 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 a record of its
original sale!' snapped Gibney.
"Of course! We traced it to a little
town in Pennsylvania funny old
chap with chin hiskers-farmer-
held the whole block. Jevons got wind
of It and flew~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 a man came along and Of
fered him twice what the stock was
worth, and he sold for spot cash. Jew
onS even went so far as to put detec-
tives on the job, but they couldn't get
any trace except that the fellow was
slim and good-looking, wore a light
suit, and bought a ticket for Philadel-
phia at the local station. The trail
there's absolutely no further trace"
"Well-" Gibney's voice was
thoughtful, we've got to get that
stock somehow. I wonder if whoever
bought it is holding out for big
price? He must know what we're plan
ming, and what control of R. & K. will
mean to us. I suppose he thinks he
thinks he can get whatever price he
asks"
1.-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-
troll 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"
| 1--WE do, suppose-and-yet-
| "And yet-what?"
| at strikes me as being rather queer
that this chap, whoever he is, haSn'
I 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 it.
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 a sadly worried man
when he went home that night. and
his pretty wife, who was waiting for
him with her usual smile, received
a scanty greeting. During the evening
meal she tried to make conversation.
but failed dismally. Once she asked
what was worrying him.
Nothing you'd understand" replied
Gibney shortly. Alice opened her
mouth as tho to reply, but thought
better of It and confined her attention
to the salad. The evening passed
silently for both.
Next morning, the day before Glib
ney & Hadman's big coup was slated
to come off, Phillip Gibney was in
formed by the girl at the door that
a young man wanted to see him. On
inquiring his business, he was in
formed that the visitor would make no
wanted to see the head of the firm at
once. Gibney told the girl to show
him in, and called Hadman from his
office.
Dollars to collar-buttons it's the
chap with the r. & x. stock, Jim he
said. 81 want you here-well meet
him together. Maybe the two of US can
get reasonable figures out of him
But oh, how he has u.s."
The man who entered the office
seemed hardly more than a boy. He
was dressed in a light-colored suit
and wore a derby hat which he did
not remove. A white bandage COW
cred most of his right cheek and
curved well under the chin.
Good morning, gentlemen" he said
in voice that betrayed a cold in the
head. I'm sorry to come around
looking such a wreck, but the fact is
I've met with an accident-automo-
I bile-and I'm a little smashed as TIC
panied this information. THE doctor
tells me to keep my hat on, too And
now, if you've quite done staring at
the bandage and things. we might as
well get down to business. L have
here he tapped his breast pocket
"a block of three thousand shares OF
r. & x. stock, which represent the
balance of power-the amount needed
for control of the road. You want
i'll have it. What do you say?''
you young scoundrel!'' roared
Hadman. This is blackmail!'
Hardly, Mr.. Hadman. This is bust
ness. You were too slow to get what
you wanted succeeded by my SUI
lperior initiative and energy. You must
lexpect to pay for your lack of acumen.
have my price,"
"How-how did you find out about
this?' sputtered Hadman.@
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
a storm of wrath, but Gibney inter-
rupted him.
This youngsters perfectly right
Jim. We slipepd u, and he has us
where he wants us. If he feels like
Iputting on the screws, why, I suppose
lwe'll have to stand for it. May 1 ask
your price on this stock?'
The young man was suddenly at
flicted with a violent fit of coughing
When he recovered he asked that Jew
ions. the buyer he had beaten out, be
fsent for. Neither Hadman nor Gibney
could see the necessity for this but