The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-10-20
Burton's Wheat
Deal
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By HAROLD SINCLAIRE.
20, 1921, western Newspaper Union)

!
"Get out and stay Quit" yelled ole
Peter Griscom, irate and aggressive
"And never come back again " h'
yelled additionally after his manager
that had been, but was never to be
again.
Paul Burton took it all quietly anc
without resentment II was a rude
dismissal, but he was used to the OLD
fellows furious ways.
81 am sorry Mr. Griscom," he said
simply. Certainly, however, ! have
not exceeded my instructions
Exceeded p shouted Grlscom
why, you've acted like an idiot. Here
leave you, on the first vacation of my
life for two weeks l come back TO
find that during my absence, for the
first time In six years, wheat jumps
up to 81. You know that ! had
| 10000 bushels In the elevator, bought
at S1.37. Think Of It! And you sat
by like stoughton bottle and let the
golden chance of a lifetime go by.
Here wheat mas dropped TO Sl.35, and
may 90 lower. oh, I'd like to fight
| sOmebOdyw
"You left M orders to sell, sir re-
minded Paul.
~ won't talk about 1t. Get out
Stay outw and old Grscom slammed
! the door of his office and Paul Burton
went his way.
III 1t wasn't for Edna" said the
young man to himself. this would be
almost amusing"
Paul hung around Easton the rest
of the day, hoping for a sight of Edna.
The next morning he went to another
village BY the end Of the week he
had made q circuit Of all the county
towns, but had not found employ
ment.
Suddenly his attention was called
TO noisy tumult in the next room.
Two persons had entered it. They
seemed to be strangers on their way
to the city after a long western trip.
Paul could not help but hear what
they said. AS he did so his mind be-
came intent.
wen wait till we get to the city
before we write up our reportT asked
one of them.
81 have the data for three states"
remarked the other ut shows up,
with blight and rust, nearly 80 per
cent"
prices will go up"
Eyes, that is certain"
And then the two men went over a
lot of details immensely interesting
to the listener. Paul realized that un-
expectedly there had been disclosed
to him facts regarding the coming
crop report that were Of immense
value. He was not an intentional
eavesdropper, but he could not escape
receiving the valuable information.
With daylight he was out on the
street. He took the first train for
Marshall. He recalled a shrewd,
sharp trader living there who seemed
Just the man to impress with the i'm
pOrtant knowledge he had acquired.
Before noon this man, John Lane,
was in his confidence and a sort of
provisional cO-partnership was ce-
mented.
II now became the mission Of Paul
to buy up all the grain he could. A.
great many discerning this, held on
for good prices, and the quotation rose
in the district
One day Paul went to Easton. He
boldly faced the lion in his den. In a
businessike, matter-of-fact way he
lntruded on Mr.. Grscom.
az have come to buy your wheat,
he announced "if it is for sale"
"How much?" inquired the old man,
ungraciously and suspiciously.
Because you fancy my being "a
stoughton bottle lost you big
profit" observed Paul ~ will offer
you $175"
WHAT shouted Gnscom incred-
ulously.
81 mean IT," nodded Paul, planning
to make the trade his own person
ally. "As IT is, | advise you to hold
on to your wheat 1t viii go still
higher"
The papers were full Of the sue
cessful coup Of the enterprising part
ners. Dropping off the train at East
on one day, Paul met with a most
gracious reception from old Griscom.
well" said the latter Il wish /
had held on TO that wheat"
you got a pretty good price for
It as it was" reminded Paul
That's So" agreed Grlscom. "See
here, Mr.. Burton, ] was rather hasty
when | let you go. ! suppose you
are too well fixed now to think Of
coming back?'
Paul thought Of Edna, ana silently
unused.
AS a partner of COURSE" explained
Griscom,
even, Mr.. GrIscom" replied Paul
slowly, 81 was thinking of taking a
partner-lf ! could get her"
"Her?" repeated Griscom, prIcklng
up his ears,
ayes, young lady--a life partner
AS plain man asking plain queS.
ton, Mr. Grlscom, can ! have your
permission to pay my addresses to
Miss Edna?"
"That would bring us together in
business, too" said old Grlscom
thoughtfully 81 certainly consider
you n remarkably bright young man,
MFR. Burton"