Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11

Nv " 'h' S"'.!II!i!.rij
sons. I sold them early this after
noon"
Angus took his leave and returned to
Bellevue Mansions where he gave the
slip OF paper to his partner.
Peter Bragg studied 1t and beamed.
6 A NYTHING doing this morning."
ANGUS asked his partner next day.
The climax" was the unlooked-for
reply. I'm S minutes am going 70
confide to Sir Theodore Roscoe the
name Of the nl!screant who helped him.
self to that inside information"
1T seems too good to be true" Angus
murmured. as he listened 70 the ringing
of the bell
Sir Theodore's manner vas as bruSque
as ever He scarcely troubled 70 con-
ceal the fact that he was losing conf
dence in his advisers.
We'll. Afr. Bragg" he inquired. any
ne-s for me this morning.
I'm q way. yes" EaS the obviously
unexpected reply: Il think re have
reached what viii probably turn out 70
be the solution Of our difficulties.
do you mean TO say that you are IN
q position TO tell me how that paper
escaped from my pocketbook, or the
safe. and the information got on 10 the
market?"
1T isn't a short story" Peter Bragg
warned him. but viii do my best.
You see" he went on. the case you
presented to us was one impossible OF So
luton BY the ordinary methods. Pro-
vided vas able 10 accept your state
ment OF what happened as being cor
rect, nothing vas 70 be gained by cross
examining your people in Bashinghall
street or your servants In Park Lam.
II was obvious that no one could have
opened your safe. except the person in
authority II was obvious. too. that no
one could have helped himself to your
pocketbook. studied its contents at
leisure. and put 1t back again. AL the
ordinary procedures would have meant
waste OF time. One had TO start. there
fore, q. the other end OF the affair.
Which end?" Sir Theodore demand
ed.
II made 1t my business" Peter Bragg
continued. Ito try to get to the bottom
of the buying and selling Of the shares
In those three companies after the tn
formation had become whispered around.
found that willis the general public
fell easily for the tip Of the amalgama-
ton and bought the shares III reason
able quantities readily enough. one
firm, and che firm alone. was steadily
selling them. That was q firm OF
finance agents trading under the name
Of Jack Jacobs"
Jack Jacobs?" Sir Theodore re-
peated. who's he?"
Mr.. Jack Jacobs appears TO have
been In business for about 1--WE years
You probably may remember. Sir Theo-
dore that ne was once In your employ.
His financial standing seems 10 be ex-
ceptionally high. and his bankers speak
OF him with the utmost respect"
II remember the fellow" Sir Thes,-
dore admitted shrewd chap. accord
Ing to all reports. He E,us; have mace
q fortune last year in rubber. How do
you account for the fact, Mr.. Bragg
that he was large and continual seller
OF shares upon n rising market? Your
information Is interesting. so far rs /,
goes. but the thing wan, 20 know is
who burgled my safe and ritied my
pocketbookr That's where your $4,000
come In"
II will arrive at that" Peter BrsgS
promised. The amalgamation has been
In your mind. Sir Theodore. for some
years. Mr.. Jack Jacobs, too. seems 10
have had an idea that something Of the
sort might arrive. During the last eight
cen months. he has been buying shares
In the three companies concerned. al
most as they came upon the market, His
holding until short time ago. WAS
very large indeed II was large enough
to justify him In believing that II the
amalgamaticn had come OF. and the
price OF the shares NJ the time had been
according to your figure. he would have
made profit. think. ~ something
like 100000.
CIR THEODORE'S face had become
~ like granite. The trucUlent impa-
tience OF his manner had become sub
dued.
Now. sir Theodore" Peter Brass
went on, you have the name az ee!nS
one Of the shrewdcSt men in the world
OF fnance and commerce. and. a month
or 40 ago. YOU did what should have
commended itself 10 any man having
the confidence Of his shareholders, Some
little thing In the reports ot ono Of the
eompanieS~~l think IL VAS 0rateSon's,
Limited gave YOU food for reflection,
You disappeared from London, oStenSinly
upon your yacht. Instead, YOU visited
the north OF England. and YOU made a
personal investigation into the affairs Of
the three companies concerned, What /
YOU discovered WAS surprise To yco, |
You found heavy stocks Of unsuitable |
raw material. heavier stocks stin Ut
manufactured articles the fashion fur /
which had changed, YOU found excess |.
Siye figures for goodwill and large sums /
down for machinery that ought ~ hasS !
been scrappcd. When YOU came back, |
YOU knew very we'll that the proposed |
an,algamatinn would never hc carried /
out In the meanwhile. however, there |
Was MIR Jack jacobs, With EsSo 900 |
worth oi shares bought In anticipation |
Of that AnaisauaatiViA. and the Interests /
Of Mr.. Jack Jacobs and Siy Theodore !
Roscoe were pretty we'll Identical
Aftesward, both Peter hragg and An !
gus were able TO fecan with wundev the |
amazing tmpaxSiveneSs OF the man who
AN informal meeting ot the 'Rig |
Three among the directors ot the eesna~ !
pAny. sir Theodore. was held. ~ Sca /.
have feeounted, The ngureN were laid i
eesuts them. - you have stated hut M
mention Was made 1t your visit to the
oalth or M Your discoveries there. You
we're Justified In withholding them until |.
YOU had relieved Yourself NJ that aso.s |
poo lAunda' worth " shAreS, because
sou knew very welt that, netwishstand~
lns your attitude AZ that meeting, tire
A.nalsAmatlun would never come ~ pas
and That the directors ram ha risk vt
ls.sinx their MONEY, Na0 Kept reM
NJ tina names at the threa eeMyaAnieS and
NJ those t.gareS IN Your lN'Sketh>sok,
md the original YOU handed over b.
Mir Jack ,iAey,hs To make AlaNh NSN ct