Evening star., 1923-02-25

when the result is uncorked, but usu-
ally there's something left in tho
glass. Anyway. that brain Of his Is
seldom at rest.
Il expect that's why he's been able
40 coin so much money out of such
simple propositions-a million out OF
n cough drop. for instance. He grabs
Rn idea rs dog does bone, paws IT
over and chews at it and worries II
'sIntil he's got out all the good there
IS in it, And while he's on the job
lou can't drive him OFF or take il
away from him without getting hurt.
Another fad of his is to discover
people who are useful to him. He
picks 'em up here and there. fits them
anto his various enterprises, kids 'em
@long with praise and big salaries,
and almost mesmerizes 'em into be-
sng as good as he wants 'em to be.
sIis Broad street Offices are full OF
land-picked wonders, from once boys
10 vice presidents. and when G. Han
son is in a confidential mood he likes
10 tell you how valuable they are.
But I was a bit surprised to learn
shat was one Of his finds. True.
Svhen he made that deal to take over
any Handy Andy Company he said
Got OF nice things about me. And
since then he has asked me several
Zines to help him out on matters tnat
se insisted could handle better than
any one else he knew. Yet 1t wasn't
,Sntil the other day that he came right
cut with the bald statement that
was an exceptionally clever young
woman. I hoped I blushed and regis
fered modesty.
Me-" says l. How absurd, Mr..
PARKS"
Not at all, Trilby May Dodge
ssys he. I'm good judge. you
SNOW You have keen wits gooo
Judgment and feminine intuition
srhat's a great combination
And yet" says l. I'm so stupid
can only guess you have something
framed up for me to tacRAe. What
Is it; a crossword puzzle or miss
ing share mystery
It's man" says he, and the
mystery has to do with a sudden
change in his personality
DOeSn l Soullu oAiLpiS' -
vand I'll bet here's where I fivver.
~ I'm foolish enough to try some
shing that's beyond me. Please, Mr.
Iarks. can't you sic some one else
avn the case
II have" says lie. Two of my
nest men have given it up. They
1Lve admitted that the thing was
100 subtle for them. That's why
q sent for you
TIES a smooth old boy. g. Han
II son. You'd hardly guess he was
SO deep, either; for at a casual glance
TIE seems merely we'll fed. flnicky
dressed, carefully manicured business
pran of fifty-odd. He has fat, puffy
hanus pink cheeks and gray hair.
Also he always appears to be quite
satisfied with himself. So you're apt
to overlook the shrewd gray blue
ives that watch you SO steadily.
Now you know you've got me
curious. don't you?" says /. "Oh,
,~eu. You've sold it to me. Let's
save the details"
'"Ah"' says he, rubbing his plump
salms together. Il was sure l could
depend on you. Trilby May. And !
hardly need TO add that we must
move with great discretion T.
Preston Bates is our man."
What says I. picking up a letter
head and glancing through the list
tt names at the top. Your second
&:ce president:
He was" says Mr.. Parks. until
hix weeks ago. when he resigned.
And since then he has been gradually
Aithdrawing his money from our
enterprises"
Sore about something?" 7 sug-
sested. Thinks he hasn't been con-
suited on important deals, or has had
his toes trodden on at directors
s1eetings:"
No" says q. Hanson. In the
slozen or more years that we have been
associated s, I've never thought Of con-
sulting him on any matter Of policy.
PIE has been perfectly contended to
lie a f1gurehead: as we'll he might
be, with the dividends he's been get
ting. So it isn't his pride that has
been touched or his pocketbook. But
he's getting out-unloading his stock,
Sumping securities. cutting loose. 1t
has been embarrassing, and is goingI1
30 be more so. The market has been
affected. Rumors have been started.
Ind it so happens that, just at this
time, we need all the resources we
can command. We need tho Bates
clf inn Fro,
us. If we knew why, we might stop
rt. But we don't know why
He's been asked, of course?"
says I.
Naturally" says G. Hanson. But
3 can't get a thing out of him. He
tpst hens and haws and stalls around,
y ithout giving any real answers to
INV questions; yet he keeps right on
Unloading"
Perhaps he's promoting a company
bf his own" put in.
t"Preston Bates" says Mr.. Parks.
why, he doesn't know enongh about
business to run newsstand. You
see, he inherited about a hundred
thousand from his father, who was
suite a successful coffee importer, but
I'll Preston ever knew about the con-
,crn was that somewhere downtown
there were offices where the old man
rege. but never finished his course.
Then he Travelled for year. He
was in Italy. and bored to death
with being abroad. when old Bates
rashed in. So T. Preston came homo