The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-07-01
Business Is Business
By FREDERICK HART

n * ~, SAID Phlllp GlDney, Seni0
partner of Gibney & Hadman, brokers
We can't seem to get a majority 0
stock; some ones holding out ON us
Have you had u tracers on the job?'
4 should say l haveW Roger Had
mans voice was weary. 'For the pas
three months Jeyons aud HarrOd hav,
been on the road. They've combed tn,
country, nearly but they can't accoun
for the three thousand shares we need
That block"
but surely there's a record Of 1t,
original salem snapped Gibney.
"Of course We traced It to a little
town in Pennsylvania funny old
chap with observation-disclosures
held the whole block. Jeyons got wind
of 1t and fiew down TO get it at any
price, but he was too late. Somebody
beat him to 1t by less than three hours
The old duffer didn't know who 1t was
simply said a man came along and
offered him twice what the stock was
worth, and he sold for spot cash.
Jev0ns w went 80 far as to put
detectives on the job. but they couldn't
get any trace except that the fellow
was slim and g~ood-lOoking, wore a
light suit, and bought a ticket for
Philadelphia at the local station. The
train went right up in air then, and
there's absolutely no further trace"
we'll" Glbney's voice was thought
full, "we've got to get that stock some.
how. I wonder If whoever bought It
is holding out for a big price? He
must know what we're planning, and
what control Of X. < X. will mean to
us. l 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 of 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 it. We pay"
I'VE do, l suppose-and-yet-g
"And yet-whatT"
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.
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
say Stand and dellverr But he
hasn't made a moye-and today's
Wednesday. don't understand It,"
Gibney was a sadly worried man
he went home that night. and his
pretty wife, who was waiting for him
With her usual smile. received a scan
y greeting. During the evening meal
The tried to make conversation. but
allied dismally. Once she asked what
vas worrying him.
"NOthing you'd understand" replied
shortly. Alice opened her
mouth as though to reply, but thought
Of It and confined her attentions
o the salad. The evening passed ST.
emily for both.
Next morning, the day before Glib
ley & Hadman's big coup was slated
o come OF. Gibney was Informed by
he girl at the door that a young man
wanted to see him. On lnqulring his
BUSINESS, he was informed that the
'lsitor would make no statement.
merely saying that he wanted 10 see
he head Of the firm at once. Glbney
old the girl to show him in, and called
iadman from his Office.
Dollars TO collar-buttons it's the
hap with the X. & X. stock, JIM he
aid. 81 want you here-we1l meet
i'm together. Maybe the two Of us
an get reasonable figures out Of him.
'ut oh, how he has u.s."
The man who entered the office
eemed hardly more than a boy. He
dressed In a ~light-colored suit,
nd wore a derby hat which he did
.ot remove A white bandage COW
red most Of his right cheek and
urved well under the chin.
Good morning, gentlemen" he said
D a voice that betrayed a cold In the
lead. "Tm sorry to come around
such a wreck, but the fact Is
We met with an accldent-automobile
land I'm a little smashed as TO the
A one-sided grin accompanied
Information. 1.-THE doctor tells
ne to keep my hat on, too. And now.
I you've quite done staring at the
andage and things. we might as we'll
ct down to business. have here
- he tapped his breast-pocket-"a
lock Of three thousand shares OF r. &
(. stock, which represents the balance
Z power-the amount needed for con-
of the road. You want It'll have
What do you sayl"
you young scoundrel I" roared Had
ian. This is blackmanP
Hardly, Mr.. Hsdman. This is
usIness. You were too slow to get
hat you wanted-I succeeded by my
uperior Initiative and energy. You
rust expect to pay for your lack OF
have my price"
"How-how did you find out about
sputtered Hadman.
ASK me No onesfions m, All -.