New Ulm review., 1921-04-27
Business Is Bushes.
BY FREDERICK HART

(. +
Il can't figure what's happening in
r. & X.," said Philip Gibney, senior
partner of Gibney s. Hadman, brokers.
ff"We can't seem to get a majority OF
stock; some ones holding out on us.
+ Have you had our tracers on the job"
81 should say I 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 9
But surely there's record of its
original sale!'' snapped Gibney.
"Of course We traced it to a little
town in Pennsylvania funny old
chap with chin-whiskers- farmer
held the whole block. Jevons got wind
OF it 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
I WOASAA, d1o uO OOAA. IOl oDoI SOSh.
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 good-looking, wore a
light suit, and bought ticket for
Philadelphia at the local station. The
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 a big price? He
must know what we're planning, and
what control of r. & Z. will mean to
us. I suppose he thinks he can get
whatever price 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-
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
I'VE do, I suppose and yet"
sAnd yet-What 2"
''It strikes me as being rather queer
that this chap, whoever he is, hasn't
! tried to make 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 delivery But he
hasn't made a mOve-and today's
Wednesday. don't understand it,
Gibney was 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 dismally. 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 the salad. The evening passed ST.
lently for both.
Next morning, the day before Glib
ney & Hadman's big coup was slated
to come off, Gibney was Informed by
the girl at the door that a 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 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. & K. stock, JIM" he
said. II want you here-we'll 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 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 cold in the
head. "Pm sorry to come around
looking such a wreck, but the fact is
I've. met with an accident automobile
and I'm little smashed as to the
face" A one-sided grin accompanied
this information. The doctor tells
me to keep my hat on, too. And now,
IL you've quite done staring at the
bandage and things, we might as well
get down to business. have here
" he tapped his breast-po ocket .'a
block Of three thousand shares of r. &
Z. stock, which represents the balance.
of power-the amount needed for con-
troll Of the road You want it--I have
1t. What do you say?'
'.'e.You young scoundrel!" roared Had
man. 'sThis is blackmail r.
Hardly, Mr.. Hadman. This is
business. You were too slow to get
what you wanted succeeded by my
superior initiative and energy. You
must expect to pay for your lack of
acumen. have my price"
How how did you find out about
thisY sputtered Hadman.
ASK me no questions, TIL tell you
no les replied the visitor pleasantly.
We seem to be wasting time. Let us