San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23
A FLUTTER IN FINANCE.
In Which the Gray Ghost Mysterious Criminal nvades New Field

servants-had left the room, in ,ac-
cordance with her custom. The Corn
wallises liked to have the last few mo-
ments of the morning meal to them
selves.
Il wanted said Mrs. CORVALLIS
timidly, ITO talk about Mary"
Her timidity was entirely assumed,
as was the furtiveness of her glance.
Z. 1t was a well-established fiction be-
tween them that Jonathan was gruff
and grumpy and must be approached
delicately, circuitously.
"Well, now, what is it this time?"
demanded the husband. at seems to
me that ever since Mary married her
worthless professor I've done nothing
bur contribute to their support"
Jonathan CORVALLIS, you ought to,
be ashamed of yourself" his wife re-
buked him. "You know hat you're
prouder of Mary for having married
Tom Curtiss than if she'd married the
President. The most distinguished ex-
plorer in America %
"And what does the distinguished
gentleman's wife want now" demand
ed Jonathan.
"Well, the university can't send out
the. expedition to the south this year.
Mary thought"
"Oh, she thought, did she:' Jona-
than's sarcasm was unconvincing.
"And 1 think" went on his wife, ig-
noring the interruption, that it would
be a vely fine thing if you presented
the university with half million in
order that the expedition should not
be delayed"
"Humph. Haww grlnted Jona-
than. "Its a lot of money"
"Can't you spare it?" asked his wife.
"P.rmit me, madam, to finish my
sentences. Al / was about to say, it's
a lot of money, but not enough. by
tomorrow morning 1 expect that'a GER
tain matter, the details of which would
bore YOU, will be settled. The first
thin, that l shall do will he to write
check, payable 20 the university, for
y one million dollars. q
His wife rose, went around the Ia
BILE and kissed him. snake it two
million if you'll kiss me again like
that he said.
You get sillier every minute" de-
cIared Mrs. CORVALLIS.
"Yor get prettier," he countered
gracefully.
For silly man you have amazing
Judgment" she told him.
II wish you'd be more respectful,
Mrs. Corvallis" he said sternly.
Good morning, Mr.. CORVALLIS; it's
time you went to your office and at
tended to my days labors,' said his
wife.
But she accompanied. him TO the
front door, patted him on the shoulder
as she helped him into his coat, and
gave him, gratis, pilllon-dollar
Kiss before he left. So that he was
smiling, greatly contented with the
world anlhis place therein, as he en-
tered his waiting limousine.
Today, although his wit did net
know tit was a surprise which he
held in reserve for her-he expected
TO retire from the active management
of his BUSINESS affairs. FOR months
he had been negotiating for the sale
of his interest in the Federated Mo
tor Patents Company. A combination
of that concern with several other
similar companies was almost effect
ed. Once the final papers were sign
cd. he would retire. It was a mat
Ter that involved payment to him OF
some fifteen million dollars in bonds
of the ,cw holding company, and it
had taken months TO get affairs in
shane. Now they were in order. He
planned to take his wife aboard
certain huge yacht, and set sail for
the South Seas. Dreams, that de-
votion to business had made it impos-
sible to realize, were coming true at
last.
So he smiled, his e. es hall closed;
and so he was unaware of the sudden
threat toward his life that the care
lessness of two chauffeurs created.
Seeing an opening between taxi
cab and q truck in front of him,
CORVALLIS chauffeur ma & for it. He
blew mis- horn thrice as he did so, but
instead of turning in toward hhe curb
the driver of the truck truned out
ward. to the left And the driver of
the taxi, glancing back Owes lis shout
der, seemed to lose his head complete
ly. He applied the brakes TO his car,
and it came almost to stop. Not
even the quick braking By Cornwall
lis chauffeur could prevent the lin
CUISINE from being jamm ii between
the two other machines. ]
Even so, the slow rate of speed at
which the three vehicies were moving
seemed to have precluded the posi-
hility of accident. Th, policeman at