White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-08-05

business. You see, my last position in
London was as secretary to Sir John
| Crowhurst, chairman Of the Persian
Bagdad Oilf1elds, Limited"
"You?" cried her astonished father,
and then suddenly remembered the
thousands of words she could take a
minute.
"Yes. Me. Really 1t was tremen-
dous luck, but was the only girl In
the business school that sent me there
who could write as well in French as
in English. We had great many
stockholders in Paris. It was rather
jolly being his secretary. Sir John
was one of those quiet, clever men,
like Mr.. Milman, who deal in millions.
may look like you, daddy, but I've
the business brains of my mothers
people. Let me do your correspond
ence for you"
'Later, see we shall have to take
you into our confidence" Mr.. Milman
said, smiling. "At present we do not
want anything known. You UNDER
stand the need for caution?"
ooh, rather" said the former Sec
rotary. of Sir John Crowhurst. ut
was because Of an overheard CONVEX
sation that we lost the Bogotan fields,
which are tremendously valuable"
But she did not leave the subject. To
the four men she seemed an eager,
pretty girl who had been by accident
near enough to oil to catch little Of
its idiom. They were in love with her
when she babe them good night.
"Well," said Bradney when she had
gone, "for amateurs you did pretty
well. envied you your flights Of
fancy"
"a woman has not dined in this
house for over ten years." said Peter
Milman. II might have had daugh-
ter of her age now, Barnes, there is
another reason for our need to sue
coed. She must marry WELL"
Uneasily Barnes thought of the pos
sibility Of his daughter having for a
father one who wore stripes at his
states expense. eyes," he agreed
soberly.
When he had lighted cigarette
and was sitting in big chair in the
girls room, he thought there would
be many to offer themselves. She had
her mothers slim figure and unforget-
able eyes added to the vivacity and
cheerfulness of the women; of his own
family.
"What innocent plotters you all
werev" She laughed. did any Of
you really think you were deceiving
me? Poor old dear, you don't know
even the b of the thing. I've
been living in an atmosphere petrol
or gasoline, as you call 1T here-for
half a year. It fills the air in Europe.
People like Sir John Crowhurst, who
are the heads Of oil companies, have
political affiliations everywhere. How
do I know? / wrote all Sir Johns
private letters, of which he kept the
carbon copies locked up in his safe.
l grew, to know as much as an out
slider could That's why 1t amused me
to hear you four prattling away like
mechanics talking weights and handi-
caps to a steward Of the Jockey club"
"My dear Nita," he said, was 1t
fair to keep pumping us?"
"Why not? was certain you knew
nothing about oil, and I wanted to
make sure the rest didn't. The only
thing could assume was that they
were trying to swindle you. 1t was
horrid to imagine poor Mr.. Milman
as swindler."
"Most emphatically he is not" her
father exclaimed
"Then what about the others?"
Neeland Barnes groaned. 1t was
going to be very difficult to put Nita
off the scent. She was half Fessen-
don, and the Fessendons invariably
got what they went after. Fortunately
was theirs in large measure. The
idea Of imagining Bradney and Malet
trying to swindle him brought smile
to Barnes face. Literally, he had not
one cent in the world.
"Nita," he began earnestly, II put
you on your honor not to repeat what
/ am going to tell you to anyone on
any pretext whatsoever"
Gall right" she said. agreed. Go
on"
IT have not nickel in the world.
Bradney and Malet have a hundred
dollars apiece, maybe little more.
Peter Milman will have to sell this
house and it's contents in three
months time. All his money was tied
up in International Motors. We are
four gentlemen from the chorus of any
beggars' opera. It's true we aren't
here on any oil promotion business,
but we have come together for a very
serious business. We are trying to
stage q comeback"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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