The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-04

beginning 20 feel some satisfaction
az his rate OF progress when an
occurred that threat
ened 20 delay action ana even To-
rob him OF the services OF the two
partners. That interruption took
the form OF call from a group Of
highly excited and indignant pur'
ehaacrs OF stock IN the Desert seor
pion company. that promotion IN
which PROF Mallow had assisted on
tho morning OF 0ray'a arrival,
These stockholders swarmed into the
office. bringing with them an ain
OF angry menace. they were noisy;
they all talked at once.
From out OF tho confusion Il soon
became apparent that they had a
real grlevane&. and one which called
for immediate satisfaction; moreover.
u was made plain that the callers
cared little what form that satisfac'
ton took. whether tar and feathers
OF a rope and a lamp.poat. They
had been sold. victimizcd. film.
flammed. skinned. the scorpion had
stung them and tho poison was
boiling In their veins. Briefly. the
swindlo was this: investigation had
shown that the hand owned By the
Desert Scorpion was not where Il
had been represented 10 be. but
moro than a milo distant therefrom.
Chance alone had brought forth the
truth: the hour OF vengeance had
struck.
Calvin Gray withdrew quietly from
the hubbub and asked Mallow. Can
that be trueG"
Tho eminent scientist shrugged:
out OF the corner OF his mouth he
murmured: Why notg II all looks
alike"
Mcwade and Stoner were not In
the least dlsmayed by this amnE.
ing intelligence. as matter OF
fact, the former assumed an air OF
oven greater genialiiy than usual
and nodded careless agreement 10
every accusation hurled again him.
Right ycu are. menl Absolutely
right. We were yictimlzed. but we're
ticklcd TO death 10 rectiiy the error.
Mighty fortunate mistake. rs mat.
ter OF fact. Brick. out with the old
check book and give these birds
back their money" With aiacriiy
Mr.. Stoner cleared off his desk and
seated himself. pen In hand. ~s;ep
up and set dollar sharc-just
what you paid. Fair enough. calls
IL. The banks are open and tho
checks are good"
Immediately tho repurchass Of
stock began. but anger and suS-
plcion stiIl smoldered: there were
dissatisfied mui,crinEs One invest.
or. field man in greasy ovcralis,
spoke out:
wen get ours all right. Don't
worry but how about the other
suckers? There's $4,000 shares out.
what you going to do about that7"
Buy II back. Know where you
can get any morcg"
Maybe"
Wen pay n dollar and a half a
share for all you can set. ,omor.
row"
''what7"
You heard me. Breast UP. boys.
and get your money back. our OF.
fer siands--a dollar share today,
n dollar and half tomorrow"
There was stir among tho in.
dignant spectators; tho man Tor
whom Stoncr was writing n check
inquired: what's the idea7 why
not a dollar and n half now"
Stoner and Mcwade exchanged n
meaning glanee-it WINS not lost
upon their attentive audlcnce-hut
the latter shrugged and smiled pro.
yocatively. That's our business. .
he declared. lightly. You ghost
dancers want your money back and
we're giving II to you. You're let.
ting up holler that you were
robbed. so come and get IL. Tho
faster you come. the better i'm suit
us. Scorpion stock will close ut a
dollar and q half or better tomor.
row night"
Bluff somebody growlcd.
sioner finished his signature with
a flourish. blotted it. then he hest.
ta,cd. He flung down his pen and
turned defiantly upon his partner.
crying:
t'This amt fair TO these men.
Mac. They're customers OF ourx
and we owe EN- the chance to make
q killing. IT'S up to us to tell 'em
he truth"
Mcwade was angry. His indigna.
ton famed. Vigorously he denied