The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-02-26
Business Is business
BY FREDERICK HART

Il can't figure what's happening in
X. 4 ~, sand Philip Gibney, senior
partner of Gihney 4 Hadman. brokers.
we can't seem to get II majority of
stock; some ones holding out on us.
rave Sol hAd our tracers on the job?"
I should. say | have" Roger Had
nlah voice was weary. For the past
three months Jeyons and Harrod have
becn on the road. They've combed the
country, nearly; but they can't account
for the three thousand shares we need.
That block w."
But surely there's record Of its
original sale.' snapped Gibney.
'OI course! We traced II 10 little
town in pcnnsylvania-a funny old
chap with chin-whiskers- farmer
held the whole block. Jcvons got wind
Oh II and flew down to get Il nj any
price, but he was too late. Somebody
beat him 10 il by less than three hours.
The old dull'er didn't know who IL was
SIMPLY Said man came along and
offered him twice what the stock was
worth and he sold for spot cash
jeNonS even Went 50 far IN 10 put
detectives on the job, but they couldn't
gel any trace except that the fellow
was slim and good-looking. wore a
i1ght suit, and bought ticket for
Philadelphia ut the local station. The
train went right up in air then. ana
there's absolutely no further trace"
well Gibney's voice was thought
Iui. we've got 70 get that stock some
now. | wonder if whoever bought it
Is holding out for a big price? He
must know what we're planning. and
what control Of r. & Y. will mean to
US. | 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 1t without
those three thousand shares, and this
fellow knows it-and that's all there
Is TO II. We pay"
1--WE do, I suppose-and-yet-
"And yet-what?"
1T 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 deliyerv But he
hasn't made move-and today's
Wednesday. | don't understand it,.
Gibney was a sadly worried man
when he went home that nj hit, and his
pretty wife, who was waiting for him
with her usual smile, received n 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 rs though to reply, but thought
better of ii 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 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. & X. stock, JIM" he
said. Il 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 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 check and
curved well under the chin.
Good morning, gentlemen" he said
In voice that betrayed cold in the
head. I'm sorry to come around
looking such wreck, but the fact is
I've met with an accident-automobile
and I'm a 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,
II you've quite done staring at the
bandage and things. we might as we'll |
get down to business. ! have here
-" ne tapped his breast-pocket-"a
block of three thousand shares Of r. 4
x. stock, which represents the balance
of power-the amount needed for con- |
troll OF the road You want it have
II. What do you say?"
lyon young scoundrel." roared Had
man. "This Is blackmailw
Hardly, Mr.. Hadman. This is
business. You were too slow to get /
what YOU wanted-I succeeded by my /