Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1920 — Page 2

The Man Nobody Knew

CHAPTER XH|—Continued ——ls—- — eyes biased; the audacity at the suggestion was obscured by the possibility of honor that it contained. "Teal” he said thickly. "Yes! Ton bet I could!" "And you wouldn’t be afraid to keep on working for me? That is. If we got this Sliverbow scheme all laundered dean before we started something dser "Not if you—" "Then listen!" The broker’s voice was soft and bomlletlcal. "You’ve thought T«m«» hard things about me. Maybe you had some cause; Tm not disputing that. But I guess you’ve forgotten something. Something I told you when we first got together. I told you If you got me what I wanted Id help you get what you want. Well you’ve done your best. I got to give you credit Ahd maybe you’ve changed some of my Ideas too. Maybe you’ve sort of worked me around to believing X haven’t given you a square deal. Wen—let the past bury Its dead. I’ve got more than one string to my bow; Pm sort of tired of the old line of stuff; Tm thinking seriously of cutting it all out and going in for the safe and sane. It isn’t so juicy, but it’s -gate. ~ y rightForam T wrong All the cards on the table—rm no fool. Hilliard —and the bottom’s falling out of this promotion game. So if you think you can blossom out into a legitimate salesman of high-grade bonds of course there wouldn’t be nearly as much in it for you—Tve got more than half a mind to give you the chance. It’s a risk, but I guess I owe it to you.” He slid his pudgy hand across the table and smiled pacifically. “Tve taken a strong fancy to you. son —let’s be respectable together. What do you say to that?" In his feverish joy Hilliard was willing to ignore the obvioas fact that the broker’s repentance was considerably overdue, and that it was founded on expediency and not on principle. The vh ought of working longer for Har-mon-even if the securities he had to •ell tn future were most conservative — fined him with nausea; but if that were the only way to save the situation how could Hilliard decline? How in his duty to himself, could he refuse to work again for Harmon, if this were the only means to save his friends their money already lost? He felt his veins throbbing to his agitation. -Io . . . is that a bona fide offer?" he faltered. Harmon’s hand •lapped the table for emphasis. “Straight as a string. To tell the truth you're sort of on my conscience. You’re with me? All right! Then as tor m TYn concerned the contract’s canceled here and now. Got It with you?" -No, I—” The broker’s face darkened. “Where la itr Hilliard was disinclined to tell how •nd why he had intrusted it to Cullen. "It’s safe," he said. He could hardly contoln himself: he looked and looked at Harmdn. trying faithfully to reconcile the man and his appearance and his principles, and he failed —but here was the great reality confronting him —end the millionth chance had magically come true. It was warped honesty but it was honesty no less. Harmon licked his Ups. we’ll elean up the whole transaction today and start with a new deal, That’s settled. Oh, don’t carry on Oke that, Hilliards—Now about this chap, Waring—” "Oh, you still want to see him, do you?" Harmon hesitated. "Sure! Give him a little surprise, eh? If he’s the man who’s been bombarding us we’ll Spike his guns first—What?" He laughed noisily and Hilliard was almost too excited to dislike the laugh. “Don’t bother to telephone the Onondaga; we’ll Just walk over." “But I thought you wanted to stay •way from there?" Hilliard was displaying many of the symptoms of intoxication.

“Oh. not when everything's going along so smooth and nice! We can go np In your room and have Waring op there and be just as private as anywhere else.** / Accordingly. and to the chagrin of a hovering waiter, they quitted their booth and went out to the open air. They reached the Onondaga; they arrived at the mezzanine floor; they were safe In Hilliard’s apartment. "My I” said Harmon jocosely. "I wish I could afford to live like this I But you’ve got a rich backer, and I taven’t” He rubbed his hands In great good nature; his eyes were sparkling and Ms fat body was a-qulver with vanity. “Well, the first thing to 4o . . . Where did you say you keep that contract of ours hidden?” “Is there any hurry about that now?* JHllHard was fairly beside himself with Ths sodden whirr of the telephone busier seemed to ruffle the broker’s nerves, for he started violently. “Who’s that?" “Just a moment. ..." Hilliard took down the receiver. "Yes? . . “ He beckoned hilariously to Harmon. “Waris's downstairs mi.

You’re ready to «ee him, aren’t you?” The broker was suddenly plunged into' uncertainty. “Yes —no! No!" “What’s wrong?" Hilliard was visited by an unwelcome chill; he tried to analyze it and couldn’t. The big man was breathing with difficulty. "I . . . you go down and , . no, that wouldn’t do either. .. - I want to see him alone. I want to get him to call off his investigator, so when we begin a new campaign we won’t have any verified report against us on th%old —" “No, sir!” Hilliard shook his head smilingly. Tm the man who’s had to stand the gaff so far; I’m going to be in on any conferences. That’s my play!” . Harmonlicked his Ups again and swallowed repeatedly. “Well . . . it’s ... if you let ipe do the talking then . . . or . . • Hilliard turned back to the transmitter. “Ask him to come right up,” he said. He replaced the instrument and looked alarmedly at the broker. “You're not well!” “Yes, I am. . . . Now let’s get at that contract! There’s no sense talking business until that’s canceled. Is theres : As Hilliard stared at him an icy wave of suspicion swept him from head to foot. “What’s your hurry? It’s my funeral, isn’t it?" “You are anxious, though! Harmon. I —” “No ... no hurry at all. Only as long as Fm here . . • and the game's played out ... as a favor to me . . . let’s cancel it. Where is it? I . . . Good God, son, don’t you want that thing out of the way? It’s no good with an alias on it I 111 put up the money—l— ’’ A sharp rap on the door stopped him short Hilliard turned the knob; Waring and Mr. Cullen burst in. “Why, Mr. Cullen!” he said in astonishment “They didn’t tell me you were here! Hello, Rufus.” “Hilliard!” Cullen’s face was red and excited. “Oh, I beg your pardon 1” He had seen Harmon. Hilliard, taken utterly by surprise, began to phrase the Introductions ; he had only just begun when Harmon interrupted—Harmon with a set jaw and blazing cheeks. He was standing by the writing table, and one hand w »s resting heavily upon it His manner was curiobsly apprehensive, curiously desperate. “Ah! . j. . Mr. Cullen . . . most happy, Tm sure . . . and Mr. Waring .. . delighted!” His voice was silken in its throatiness. “Gentlemen. I have the honor to be president . . . of the Silverbow Mining corporation . . .” He paused; his hands weaved aimlessly. “Of Montana. • . . . ' Gentlemen. ... I hear there’s been some adverse criticism of our property . . . you’re stockholders, I understand . . . not used to criticism . . .” He flung his head erect “I offer you personally . . . to relieve you ... of any and all obligations . . . and pay back penny for penny.” Here his knees shook and he swayed appreciably. He was folding himself upright only by tremendous, visible effort. '■ _ ; “The man’s sick!” Cullen stepped toward him. Waring and Hilliard were standing fascinated. The broker warded off Cullen with both hands. “No, I’m not sick I . .’. Contract cans for delivery of ninety-nine per cent of capital stock ... on payment of a hundred and twenty thousand dollars ... Before December

Waring's Downstairs Now."

flirt. . • . You’ve paid sixty-two Tm here , . . case of dlsiarisfaction . . . to write checks for the full amount paid down to date , . , I release you . . "Release us r Cullen all but yelled tt, and with a note of exultation which was electrical to Hilliard. “Release you • » get a n ota ry . . . * He eat down llnmly. “My duck-book. Hilllaxd—far God's sake.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

By HOLWORTHY HALL

OopyrKMby noM. MM4 * Co.. IM

get me my . . . check-book!” All at once he seemed to collapse; his head hung low. and his breathing became stertorous. His cheeks puffed Queeriv. Hilliard sprang to him. “Rufup! Call the office! Get the house doctor !” Cullen had raced to the bathroom for a glass of water; be raced back again, spilling half of it Hilliard was ch afl ng the broker’s wrists. The three men strained at the unwieldy, unresisting bulk, while leaden fear clutched at their hearts. _ The house physician bustled In to find the broker lying on the bed in a profound coma; his reflexes had gone from him; he couldn’t be roused. There was no need of a stethoscope. “Order an ice bag,” said the man of medicine sfiarply. He himself was rattling among his vials for the calomel. Rufus was at the telephone. “Anything I can do?” asked Hilliard earnestly. His suspicions had crystalfzed; and he was bitterly aware that the broker had planned not justice, but some new brand of perfidy; nevertheless, the man was unquestionably in danger—and revenge could wait. — “Nothing—just give me plenty of roonn" ——r - As tne three stood watching painfully, Cullen put out his hand to Hilliard, and spoke under his breath. “Henry—when did he come?” “Only just now. An hour ago."“Hadn’t he told you? Or hadn’t you heard?” “Heard what?” Cullen motioned to Waring. “Give it to him, Rufus . . . Oh, I see; I see—” The law student, without a word, produced a yellow blank’and thrust It at Hilliard. He flashed a glance of indescribable contempt at the supine broker; his eyes had lost some of their anxiety. “Oh, the big crook!" he said boyishly. “The big crook!" “Sh-h-h! Rufus!” Still, Hilliard, at heart, agreed with him to the letter. The boy stood close to the masquerader. - “I’m sorry, Hilliard ... It came at four this afternoon ... iwe’d Been hunting for you ever since . . ." Hilliard wasn’t Interested. “I’ll wait until —" Cullen signed to him 'peremptorily. “Read it, I tell you! . . . It’ll give you a slant on him!" Hilliard peered over the foot of the bed; Harmon was still lying inert. The physician nodded sidewise. “Nothing for you to do," he said grimly; and Hilliard, only partly aware of what he was doing, gave heed to the yellow blank. ' The fourth telegram of the day was from Butte, Mont, addressed to Waring. “Arrived here last night after delay in Chicago. This morning’s papers contain information as follows: *The faulted vein on XLNC property adjoining Silverbow claim number one has been located about twenty feet from Silverbow boundary. Indications are ore body running at least eighty per cent average and some places high as twenty. Also some zinc and silver and traces of manganese. This evidently - extends well into Silverbow, where the greatest values are undoubtedly lying, and Judging from records of old XLNC vein it’s a tremendously big strike.’ ’ Understand XLNC owners offering large sum, said to be well over half-million, for a controlling interest. I strongly advise all of you to get aboard for as much as Hilliard will let go. Am sending this from office of Cooley, Benjamin & Russell, who will not send separate report unless you want it. This is wonderful news and mine is sure winner, even if only a fraction as large as reported. Please show this message to Hilliard. Sig. J. J. ARMSTRONG.” Hilliard sat down in the nearest chair. The lump in his throat was choking him; the moment was so big that his feelings were primitive; his expression of them were very simple. He only smiled; the meaningless, vacuous smile Of an infant That smile embraced the entire universe; it was indicative of a happiness so limitless, so perfect, that it was almost foolish. So Harmon, knowing from his own sources of the sudden strike, had rushed to Syracuse to pose as a man of honor! So Harmon had wanted to meet Waring—and find if Waring had yet heard the news, and, if he hadn’t stop the investigation by apparent frankness and ready restitution. So Harmon had been eager to destroy the contract to promise Hilliard anything and everything. to repay the money that was subscribed already—■and then, as sole owner, to take an enormous profit for himself. No one In the whole world—and least of all. Waring and Cullen—could have remotely fathomed the thoughts that were eddying in Hilliard’s brain. They were not for his own aggrandizement; they were for the Cullens wM Durants and for the others who need never know the add of disillusionment They were for the ideals he had struggled toward; they werte for the friends who had stood by him. And there was one very especial and vyy manly thouEbt ft* Jack Am*

strong, who had been so courageous In his defeat, and so neutral in his behavior afterward, and who now had sent the generous news winging eastward, with the request that Hilliard should learn at once of his vindication. And as Hilliard sat there, smiling out Into the sllenfroom, and struggling to visualize the extent of fortune which had bo abruptly mpltten him, there was a dry murmur from the bed where Harmon lay, and a resulting silence so pregnant with meaning that the smile faded, and Hilliard was on his feet, open-eyed with the present horror brought back to him. The physician was rising slowly from cramped knees. “It’s-all over,” he said; paused, and added: "Apoplexy." The only man In all America who could have testified to Hilliard’s simulation had ceased to breathe.

CHAPTER XIV.

As Dr. Durant, having already given counsel this morning to seven patients, appeared at the door of the ante-room to signal to the eight, he was palpably astonished at the presence of the young man who sat next to the door. The Doctor was very human; the Doctor was very adaptable; but for thirty years he had managed to keep the social, and professional phases of his life entirely apart, and at the very first glance he was aware that Hilliard hadn’t come to consult with him professionally. Nevertheless, he raised his finger in the usual sign; Hilliard followed him to the Inner room. It was Hilliard’s introduction to the Doctor’s morning manner; and even In his own exalted spirit, he yielded slightly to the restraint In the at-

There Was a Dry Murmur From the Bed.

mosphere. The Doctor was bland, smiling, approachable, and yet not at all the same man as he appeared at the house on James street. He seemed detached from the hampering littleness of a household; there was no air of intentional repose about him. Hilliard, in spite of the importance of his mission, felt apologetic; he felt as though he were unwittingly robbing science of its most valuable asset, which is time. “I know this isn’t exactly the proper thing to do,” he said, “but rm leaving town in an hour or so ... I thought you might snare me five minutes. Doctor, even if it is a little irregular. Can you?” “What seems to be the trouble?” The Doctor’s tone was a mild invitation to squander nothing on preliminaries. , “Mr. Cullen and I are running down to New York today ... You’ve seen the morning papers, haven’t you?” “Yes.” The Doctor nodded. “And Cullen telephoned me last night. Was Mr. . . . what was his name: Harmon? . . . was he a close friend of yours. Hilliard?” “No; just a business associate . . . I didn’t know him very well personally—socially, I should say. But it changes some of my plans . . . Mr. Cullen and ! have to go to New York for a few days and after that we’re going out to Montana together." The Doctor tapped his desk thoughtfully. “On account of this?” “Partly, and partly not The whole perspective’s changed; we’ve got to get to work. Now, the last time I saw you . . . why, that was only yesterday I” He broke off, laughing at himself. “It seems so much longer than that! Why, you said, then that if I ever needed any one of several different things, including seventy-five hundred dollars, to come to you. And you spoke as though you really meant ft Doctor ... So I’ve come!” The Doctor regarded him steadily for a moment and resumed tapping the glass pad on bis desk with a meditative forefinger. 1 “You’ve reconsidered, have you?”

“Not that so much —but we*vb had fresh Information. Jack Armstrong’s out there, indirectly representing Mr. Cullen, and we’ve heard from our own lawyers besides. So on the whole, I’m willing to let yqa In if you’re willing to come, in spite of what I said at lunch yesterday. The Doctor hesitated. “Not that I doubt you at all," he Mid, “but when Cullen telephoned me last night, he said that you and* he had raised ah the money you needed in half an hour after you went out to look for it You see, I have some channels of information myself 1 So I cant heto wondering whx xob

need this now." Nevertheless, he was hunting for bis check-book. "We don’t need it—l simply Insisted on keeping a place open for you, on the chance that you hadn’t changed your mind.” "You’re fully satisfied It’s the right thing for me to do?” “Yes, Doctor, I am." The Doctor held his pen poised in the air. “rm not sure rm really entitled to it. Doesn’t it really belong to some one who was on the spot last night?” T Hilliard’s eyes twinkled. “You’re fond of talking about motives, Doctor. . . . Yon’d have let me have th*at money yesterday, wouldn’t you?” “Didn’t I offer it to you?" “Yes, sir; you did. But was ft because you thought you’d make a big profit, or was it just to help me?” “Why—” , “You see,” said Hilliard cheerily, “if you’re going to have these mercenary motives, you’ve got to let me have some, too. I’ve let friendship interfere with business twice In two days. And you’re not the only one I held a place open for^—Rufus and Jack are In it, too. It was my privilege to make that condition —and I did.” The Doctor scribbled rapidly. “Then I’ll keep my promise . . . But would you mind telling me what it is Pm buying?” "Here’s your receipt. Doctor.” Hilliard laid a slip of paper on the desk; took up the check, and scrutinized it carefully. “What you’ve bought,” he said, “is a twentieth Interest in a new syndicate formed last night. We’ll assume the stock control In New York, when we get there, by paying some more cash (and we’ve got more than we need already) and after that, we may possibly sell out, or we may go ahead and develop the mine ourselves. I don’t know yet which; that’s what Mr. Cullen and I are going West to decide. But you’ll be protected anyhow; Hl see to that. And if you’re in any hurry to get your money back —” “How soon do you think It’ll be?” Hilliard laughed outright; a laugh of utter happiness. “Right now, If you say so.” The Doctor puzzled. “You don’t make it clear,” he said. “Then I will. Mr. Embree, down at the Trust and Deposit company, was one of the men who wanted to get In with us, and couldn’t. He was just too late. But when I told him what I was saving out for you, he authorized me to make you an offer. Fm acting as his agent, that is, and I’ve got a check here, and if you want to endorse that receipt over to him, you can have this.” He presented the banker’s check; the Doctor stared; it was payable to himself, signed by Embree, and written for fifteen thousand dollars. »

“Why, Hilliard I” he said, blankly. “Is that good business? For Embree? What’s behind this?” Hilliard fairly beamed his delight. “Well, if yon want my advice, don’t take it! I told him I'd have to explain it to you, and he agreed.” He sat straighter, pridefully. “Jack Armstrong sent another wire this morning —and the XLNC crowd, who own the property next to ours, know that I’ve had this contract for all the Silverbow stock, and they’ve made us a flat proposition of”- —he caught his breath —“tour — hundred — thousand dollars for the contract 1 And your twentieth share would .be worth twenty thousand dollars if we took it! But we’re not going to—because it’s worth still more, and we know it. Lots more—twice as much —so —” The Doctor’s • expression altered slightly; his chin sank a little, and he sighed, almost in regret “That hardly seems fair,” he said slowly. “That hardly seems fair.” He smiled fitfully, and sighed again. “For years and years,” he said, "ever since I first began to practice, Tve been working and waiting and hoping to reach the point where I could-give up office work and do some research. . . . And here, in a you dangle a two years’ income in front of me —for no services of mine at all . . . for no labor on my part ... not as Td hoped, the result of service, but —” “I pwn a quarter of the mine myself,” said Hilliard, with equal gravity. “And rm not thinking how I got it. Doctor; rm thinking how much good I can do with It . . . can’t you look at It that way, too T The Doctor nodded presently. (TO BE CONTINUED.) '

Picts and Scots.

Tn his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the learned Rev. z Dr. E. Cobham Brewer, writes upon Picts and Scots: “Pict is not the Latin picti (painted people). As Picts and Scots are always mentioned together, there is no reason why one name should be Latin and the other Gaelic. Scot is the Gaelic ’sgod ( a dweller in woods and forests), and Pict it the Gaelic pict-Ist (freebooters), the two being equivalent to foresters and freebooters.” *

Proof That Quality Counts.

Bischoff, the great Russian scientist and naturalist, once said “women are inferior to men because their brains are smaller and lighter.” But when that mah died his brain was weighed and found to be llgtiter than the average woman’s* So it is not weight or sire or sex, but quality, that makes superiority, as the presumptuous Bischoff proves.—Exchange.

First Missionaries to Islands.

One hundred years ago two were sent f>m Oomu » be the first missionaries to the Hawaßan islands, then known as the Sand%ich islands.' The event wm gadb memomted at lOrttagtrtt

LIFESLITTLE JESTS

ON SECOND THOUGHT. "I’ve got a scheme,” said Farmer Corntossel. "When It’s time to get busy on the farm, Til get a camera and have photographs made of how farmin’ is done. That’ll put the hired men an* the farmerettes and everybody on their mettle. They’ll all Imagine they’re moving picture stars.” “It’s a fine idea,” answered the wifa “Only think of the Salaries they’ll demand I” Gettlng Information. “Sometimes,” said Senator Sorghum, “I am tempted to believe In this ouija board business.” — “Getting superstitious?” “Not exactly. But there must be some supernatural way for all these orators to have found out exactly what George Washington would have said under these circumstances.” Clever Idea. Transportation Manager — What’s the idea of raising that brakeman’s pay? What did he do? President—lnvented a burglar alarm for every freight car. Transportation Manager — Burglai alarm ? President—Yep; puts a bar of soap In each freight car. Dressing Up. Mrs. Lastcry—My good man, is that outer garment you are wearing an exflusive design? The Plumber—You mean my overills, ma’am? No’m. Buy ’em any. where. Mrs. Lastcry—Then you won’t mind my copying the bodice for a new eve« ning gown I’m having made?

FREE FOR ALT*. ' “My apartment house is very noisy, i I suffer in ellence." “You don’t have to do that. Get a graphophone yourself.” Any Chump Can Do It For him who needlessly complains I do not care a feather; I’ve found it doesn’t call for brains To criticize the weather. - ■ The Kind. “I am looking for a place where 1 can fill a temporary vacancy.” “There’s a restaurant just over the . way, sir, where a number of people are doing it.” The Reason. “Don’t go into this spelling bee.” “Why not?” I “Because with your limitations, you will find yourself in a hornet’s nest” No Smoking Allowed. “Did you tell her that smoking isn’t allowed?” “Yes.” “Did you point out the notice?” “Yes.” , “Well, what did she do?” “Lit her cigarette with it” —Tib Bits.

Shakespearian Citation. Professor of English Literature—' Can you cite any passage from Shakespeare which presages the coming ol the automobile? Freshman —Yes, sir. “Curses not loud, but deep.” It D*ependa. Prospective Lodger—What’s the rent of this room, including the use of the piano? landlady-—I can’t say off-hand. You must„ play me something first Accounting for It jle—Statistics show that more bachelors are criminals than married men. She—That is because the bachelors have nobody to blanje it on. । Great Carryings On. Mrs. Newbride—My dear, I’m so worried. Our cook is carrying on something awful. Mrs. Oldbride—Mine did the same thing. Carried away enough to start a small grocery store. Literal Improvement -'J “When she was taxed with her want neatness, she swept out the room with disdain-” “It would have, heen nftore to the purpose if she swept It out with « broom.” '