Evening star., 1941-12-29

his fork.
"I don't like to say it, son." Mike
said. his voice dull with hoarseness.
II don't like to accuse man with
out every shred Of evidence IN my
hands. But I honestly believe that
Owen Morgan manipulated the
stocks in a deliberate attempt TO
ruin me. I can't pin a thing on
him-but, Of course. I've never been
much Of a hand at this involved
corporate finance. All I know Is
that sensed something was in the
air several weeks before Mulvanev
Machines took the first dive. And
when I called Owen at that time he
was too busy to come to see me.
After the third furry I began
getting letters from the stockholders,
threatening letters. Then Robbins
came to me one day and said he
/ thought I should have told him
what was going to happen-he In
sisted that I must have known-and
| he told me how he'd been cleaned
out Of all his savings. I wrote him
a check to make his losses good
and the check came back marked
insufficient funds I told Steve to
take your roadster and sell it for
whatever he could get and give the
money to Robbins He got 500
about a tenth Of what Robbins had
invested But Robbins was satis-
fied-at least he knew that hadn't
deliberately tried to ruin him"
Johnny Receivers Quickly.
But what about Steve?" And the
house, and the maids, and-and your
new limousine?"
Mike laughed bitterly. The
limousine was what Robbins couldn I
understand. It was delivered here
the day before he learned he was
sold out. I'd have had Steve sell 1t
instead Of your roadster but the
market for car like that Is so bad
I probably couldn't have gotten as
much for it as I did for yours. II
just figured you wouldn't care much
either way"
You know wouldn't" Johnny
said He sat in silence for while
his lean, dark Young face drawn
deep in thought. There are
creditors, I suppose
Mike nodded Il sat up most OF
the night going over accounts as
well as I could. There are cred
itors. all right. II I turn over every
thing I own to them, including the
house and the new car and every
thing. I can wind up still owning
the only thing in the world that
now brings in any money-the gas
station and garage down in the vii
lage. I bought it originally so ]
could will 1t to Steve. and now I'm
afraid III have to turn 1t over to
you so YOU can make enough for
us to live on"
Johnny's head jerked up at the
last words. ITO me?" he said. "A
gas station" And then. with the
speed of light, grin flashed over
his face. All his dreams of a iot
in laboratory, all his high ideals
OF the use he would make of his
college training. all of these and
most OF his preconceived notions OF
what his postgraduate life would be
like. were washed away in the sim.
pie brilliance Of this new thought
Why not, Mike?' he cried Steve
and could run 1t together-be.
tween us we know more about car.
than any half dozen mechanics vol
could name!'
Mike stared at Johnny curiously
for long moment and then blinket
couple of times and turned hi,
attention to the newspaper. He rat.
tied the pages and scowled at tht
blurry words. Lets finish OH
breakfast and then talk it over witt
steve, he said. The sooner W.
get things settled the better it viii
be all around. It's hell living her,
ike millionaire when 1 haven't s
cent to call my own"
A Little Enthusiasm.
Robbins, who had undoubtedl,
been listening behind the door
came in then with Johnnv's break
fast and solemnly cordial Goo,
morning, sir Johnny nodded
thinking not too well of Robbins
and proceeded to eat.
When he had finished he helpet
Mike out Of the big dining room
chalr and into his wheeled contrap
ton and pushed him into the library
linen he went to the front hall AM
called Steve on the garage phone
asking him to come over for a fey
minutes. We'll be in the library.
he said. There are few thing
you and Mike and I have to discuss.
When Steve came in neatly at
tired in his uniform and holdin
his peaked cap in his hand Mix
told him to sit down and rela,
that maybe he and Johnny wer
gong into business together.
You know I've lost control O
Mulvaney Machines, don't vol
Steve?"
Yes. sir. I know that" Stew
had seated himself rigidly on tn
edge of one of the deep leathe
chairs. and his pug, Irish face wa
grim as he looked at his employer
In fact" he went on, my informa
ton is as how you've lost a lot NOR
than the control Of Mulvaney Ma
chimes. I've been given to under
stand that you're just about with
out cent to your name.'
II Steve knows it, Johnny though
then certainly Robbins and probabl
the COOK and the cleaning wome
and everybody else around he1
know it, too. And then he remen
bered the meal he and Vic had ha
the night before, the skimpy poi
tlons of meat and the cheap des
sert. Sure, they all know it. h
} thought; how could they hel
knowing It,