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Show The Man Nobody Knew ! i J By HOLWORTHY HALL j J.. ffnpvrlirhr by rWM Ma4 A Co , Inc.) Harmon leaned forward on his bows, and drew a quick, nervous breath. Hl eyes, now slightly dilated, sought for Hilllard's, found them, darted away again. "That's tough . . . mighty tough . . . I ... I came up here thinking I might do something about it Save the situation, sit-uation, you know. Too late, Is It?" "A good deal too late." Harmon exhaled lengthily, and fumbled fum-bled for his Invariable cigarette; HI1-llard HI1-llard observed, without particular deduction, de-duction, that his hands lacked certainty. cer-tainty. "That does sort of burst the bubble, doesn't it? Well ... I suppose the next step you want to take Is to get out of town." "No," said Hilllard, "I'll stay till it's over with." Harmon gasped. "Stay? Stay here after the news Is out? What for?" "I hardly think you'd understand what I'm staying for, Mr. Harmon." The fat broker shook his head In vigorous protest. I "Now, look here!" His voice was paternally kind. "You've been a fine sport through this whole business, except ex-cept once, and we won't let that bother us now. As a salesman you've been and I'll telephone to the information clerk from the Kirk where he can reach me. He's sure to be in around five or half past.;' "I hope so." Harmon swung his heavy bag to the brass-lined counter, and tossed out a dime with a philanthropic philan-thropic gesture which made the attendant at-tendant glare at him. "Who In thunder thun-der is he, anyhow?" HHIiard had reason to be reticent with his facts, and he preferred not to be too specific at the outset. "He's a law student an old friend of the Cullens. He's looking aftei some of their Interests, in one way and another." things. So I'm coming to you for your honest opinion, and I know you'll give It to me ... do you think I'm quite eligible?" lllillard's heart was In his mouth. "Why," he stammered, "at this par-tl-ular time I can't advise you " "Now, don't be too cautious," warned the Doctor. "I'm not asking you if tills Is the best Investment the world has ever seen I'm asking If It's reasonably rea-sonably safe, as such things go, with a chance of something really good If your best expectations work out as you hope." lllillard's throat was dusty, and his reply came with some difficulty. "In spite of . . . everything, you'd . . . you'd take my word for it, Doctor?" Doc-tor?" "Yes, I would, and I've got Cullen and my own daughter to agree with .11 ,i , v: " i CHAPTER XIII Continued. 14 And Milliard hud all a metropolitan's metropoli-tan's .sensitiveness to tlie spirit and to the ethics of a men's club. He faltered fal-tered on the very threshold; and If any oilier man than Dr. Durant had been Mh sponsor, he would huve flod Incontinently, so as not to disturb that rare, Indescribable atmosphere which only clubmen understand and respect. The Doctor was scrutinizing the menu; Hilllard, who faced the window, threw a glance over bis shoulder. As ho had fancied, the eyes of the room were upon him. They reminded him, oddly enough, of machine-gun batteries. When at length the pair had gained the table nearest the window, Hil-llnvd Hil-llnvd felt that lie had undergone a Htit'iiuous ordeal; he was consumed by gratitude to his Implacable host, but ho had no inclination to repeat It. "T'lie table d'hote's good' enough for rne," said the Doctor presently. "And you ?" "And for me, too," said llilliard. "Anything to drink?" ' "No, thanks." The Doctor dropped the card and sat up slralghler. "Well, I won't keep you in suspense I want some advice. As I said, I'm the worst business man In the world, llilliard. I'm a mere child In your hands so please treat me tenderly." He regarded his companion with mingled min-gled humor and seriousness. "James Cullen has been telling me about a wonderful plan of yours to make a nice shiny gold eagle grow where only a silver quarter grew before. In fact, be talked so enthusiastically that he's got mo thinking about It, too. . . . I rather resent your not telling me nhout it yourself." llilliard recoiled. "You shouldn't do that!" he said. "I ... I wouldn't have tried to interest inter-est you in it, Doctor, because " "td, I can see your reasons," deprecated depre-cated the Doctor, smilingly. "You didn't want to trespass on a purely social so-cial relationship. I appreciate that. Hut the point Is, I've got a few thou- 111! Oh I Working up a practice I Well! the way he's bombarding me with fresh letters, you'd think he was on a congressional Investigating committee! Say! There's one thing I'd like to find out how'd he know I'm in the thing? You didn't tell anybody, did you? Our agreement " . Hilliard was guiding him to the street. "Why, he probably got hold of your name when he wrote to some law correspondents cor-respondents of his in Butte about the property; and they looked It up for him. I'd judge they must have gone into it rather thoroughly." "They did! Humph!" The broker's tone held less of rancor and more disappointment dis-appointment than Hilliard would have expected. "And they made an unfavorable unfa-vorable report on it, did they?" "Unfortunately, for you, they did ... as you very well know." Harmon turned on him. sharply. "What do you mean 'unfortunately for me'?" Hilliard turned into a wide doorway. door-way. "We go in here . . . Why, It puts the quietus on any last hope of yours that there's still some business to be done in Syracuse, doesn't it? I should think that's about as plain as daylight." day-light." Harmon's brows went up. "Wh-a-t?" he said, and then, promptly, "Oh, yes of course. But you've been such a live wire from start to finish, I thought the harder the proposition, the better you'd " "Oh, don't make me wish I hadn't taken the trouble to meet you !" snapped snap-ped Hilliard. He slipped into the first unoccupied booth ; Harmon followed him stupidly. "The thing's done for, and you know it. Don't act so innocent, inno-cent, Mr. Harmon it isn't becoming to you, and it isn't helpful to me. We are in a position to talk English, I should imagine." Harmon's eyes were very small and bright. "What's he been saying around here?" "Saying It's a fake promotion. What else would he say? He's quite intelligent. intel-ligent. That's why it's unfortunate for you, and that's why we don't need to fool ourselves any further isn't it?" As Harmon removed his hat, he appeared ap-peared to be somewhat warmer than the temperature warranted. His round face was now preternaturally blank ; but his urbanity had increased until he was on the verge of fawning. "So he's been giving out a pretty bad story, has he?" "Only the bare facts. And If you don't know it already, I'll tell you that a holy wonder. You've done all I expected ex-pected you'd do, or could do, and then some. And your flare-up last time I was here don't hurt you with me one little bit. Rut here we are at the finish. fin-ish. My suggestion to you Is to pack your duds and get out. Call it a day aud quit.- There's better business somewhere else. And if you'd like to plant yourself In some other good town, say, Detroit, and " "No, thanks." Hilllard's smile was out of genuine humor. "Well, aren't you open to conviction?" convic-tion?" "No, I don't think I am. riease don't argue that's final. "Well, you're sure you can't do any more here, aren't you?" "Not a nickel's worth even If I wanted to. And would you mind getting get-ting down to brass tacks? Otherwise I can't see any benefit to either of us from prolonging this Interview; can you?" Harmon inspected him carefully and seemed to be struck with an inspiration. inspira-tion. "I'm not sure of it, at that. Look here now I I've got an Idea I Let's try to get some benefit out of It. Suppose Sup-pose you got clear of this mess. Suppose Sup-pose we straighten it out from top to bottom. Everybody satisfied. Suppose Sup-pose you got out of it absolutely clean ; do you think you could take your experience ex-perience and your front and your energy en-ergy and cash in on some better business?" busi-ness?" Hilliard exclaimed aloud; he could hardly credit his ears. "What's that?" he managed. "I don't understand !" The broker's eyes brightened. "It's easy enough if you put your mind to It. I've told you before," he said impressively, impres-sively, "I'm out for results. That's my middle name R-E-sults. And not results re-sults from minute to minute, but results re-sults in the long run. Now It does seem to me like an awful shame to have you come ud here and spend all this time and money flub-dubbing around, and then have it all over with, and nothing to show for it but a lot of bellyaching customers. Of course we've made a little money, but when we let this scheme wind up in a big howl from everybody we've got into it we're losing the cumulative value of you. And it's you that was the backbone of the whole Idea. Now this is only a passing thought, but let's consider it which way would be the best for us in the long run, to close up this deal and get out from under, and take a little profit and be in dutch here forever, or to be a couple of philanthropists phil-anthropists and play strong for the future?" "How do you mean?" Hilliard was afire with hope. The broker's smile was every moment mo-ment more broadly ingratiating. "Why, suppose I should hand you back every cent you've collected and paid in. This Is Just a suggestion I want your opinion on it. You go 'round to your subscribers ; tell 'em the mine isn't as promising as you thought it was ; you're going to make good ; give 'em their money back. Now if you did that and left a first-class first-class impression everywhere, could you start from scratch all over again and sell enough honest-to-goodness conservative conser-vative stuff municipals, or like that to those same people to make up the difference?" He was studying his companion keenly. (TO BE CONTINUED.) "Doctor Durant . . . tf I . . . if I see what you mean . . . I . . . if you're willing to take my advice, why " "I'm sixty-three years old," said the Doctor calmly, "and I've made a fool of myself In every conceivable way but one. . . . That's in my own field ; I'm a diagnostician. I've watched you very carefully, young man. ... I think perhaps you need as much advice ad-vice as I do, of a different variety. So here It Is when you want encouragement, encour-agement, or a medical prescription, or a good cigar and a chat, or a quiet evening eve-ning with an old man and a girl who plays the piano rather pleasantly, or seventy-five hundred dollars which you've already shown you won't let me invest unwisely, come and see me. Now, let's drop business. Not another word : I'm tired of it. You're through as an expert ; let's get back to old-fashioned old-fashioned friendship. Speaking of coming to see me Carol's wondering If you're trying to slight her. We've seen very little of you lately? It's a week now, isn't it?" When, sustained and soothed by that peaceful hour, by the Doctor's trust in his integrity, and by the sedative of a long and untroubled stroll out over the hills to eastward, Hilliard returned to the hotel, the room clerk greeted him with faint superciliousness. "Somebody's been keeping after you on the telephone all morning," he said loftily. "New York call. Couldn't locate lo-cate you. And here's some telegrams for you. . . ." There were three of them ; at sight of the signature of the first, Hilllard's eves narrowed. "Arriving Syracuse 4:15. Please meet me at train and stop all work in the meantime. Imperative. "HARMON." Hilllard's eyelids fluttered; this was evidently the initial result of Rufus Waring's efforts, and of those many letters he had written Harmon. He tore open the second envelope ; the message was again from the broker, sent obviously from the Grand Central Cen-tral terminal just before train-time. "Most important news received. Am just leaving, having wired you meet me at station 4:15. Find out who Bob Waring is and what he wants. Do all you can to stave off further inquiry. in-quiry. Absolutely imperative not talk to anyone until I see you. Have contract con-tract and all other data with you. Shall have to leave on short notice.. "HARMON." And the third was from Albany: "Locate Bob Waring if possible and arrange meeting seven tonight. Urgently Ur-gently imperative. ' "HARMON." Hilliard folded the three sheets methodically and put them in his pocket. He glanced at his watch ; it showed a quarter to four. He had no dependence on Harmon, and no fear of him ; he felt no obligation to Harmon, no sense of duty. To be sure, he had a cynic's curiosity to see what was In the middle of the whirlwind, but that of itself wasn't strong enough to send him to a rendezvous with a man he despised and loathed. "If I go," he said to himself, "I'll be sorry; and if I don't go . . . why, if I don't go, I'll always wonder if it would have done any good !" For himself, there was nothing promising prom-ising in the situation. But on the millionth chance that something of benefit to his subscribers might come out of it on the millionth chance that Harmon might be frightened or persuaded per-suaded into compromise So he went The very first passenger to reach the platform was Harmon ; indeed, he had been fretting in the vestibule for half an hour, intent on saving a useless use-less fraction of a second when the train stopped. At sight of Hilliard, he beamed beneficently all his earlier belligerence forgotten. "Hello!" he said. "Glad to see you, son. Got all my messages, did you?" He shook hands with great urbanity; urban-ity; Hilllard's grasp was hardly responsive. re-sponsive. "I got three," said Hilllard, dignified and noncommittal ; and he continued to inspect his employer with ill-con cealed disfavor and distrust. "Well, that's all I sent. Now, where can we go sit down and talk, for a couple of tours? There's a lot to go i over, but I want to take the 9 :40 West. Not to the Onondaga I'd rather go somewhere quieter. How about the Kirk?" "Suits me all right if It does you." "Any luggage?" They were crossing the tracks to the waiting-room; and Hilliard. in spite of himself, couldn't refrain from the solicitude which any right-minded resident of a city feels ' for the transient just arrived. "Only this Gladstone. I can check that here, I guess. Well, I'm certainly glad to see you. Say. were you able to make a date with this Waring person? per-son? It was pretty short notice, but you're such n live wire " Hilliard. fully comprehending the nature of the compliment, smiled fninr-ly fninr-ly The person of the broker was physically phy-sically repulsive to him; unconsciously unconscious-ly he edged further away. "Not yet. Hut I've left word at f.is house for hiiu to call me at the hotel. "You're Retiring Under Fire Are You?" me. Certainly I'll take your word for it. Would you let me invest say . . . seventy-fiye hundred dollars?" Hilliard gulped. "Not now no, sir." "Suppose I'd asked you a week ago before this miserable story began to go the rounds?" "I'd have taken it then perhaps." The Doctor's eyes snapped. "You're retiring under fire are you?" "No, sir digging in." "Simply because of a fatherless report?" re-port?" "No, its parents are pretty lively. And the . . . the recent developments haven't been what we . . . expected. It isn't on account of the rumors that I can't let you In, Doctor it's on account ac-count of the facts." The Doctor remained silent until the waiter had served them, and departed. Then he looked keenly across the table. "Cullen isn't going to lose his , money, is he?" Not all of It, anyway." "Some of it?" "You never can tell." "And are you obligated in any way to make good his loss? You, personally, person-ally, I mean? Either legally or morally?" mor-ally?" Hilliard sighed dispiritedly. "Why, seeing that not one of these men ever saw the property, or knows anything about it, or about copper mining in general, except what I told them, I feel morally responsible for every cent that's lost, whether I've any legal responsibility or not. That is, I'd make it good if I could. Of course, I'm hoping that nothing will be lost, but " The Doctor's eyes brightened. "Do Cullen and his friends understand under-stand that you hold yourself responsible?" respon-sible?" "I think not. I haven't said so to them yet." "It isn't a part of your bargain?" "No, sir." "They're paying you a brilliant compliment, com-pliment, then." "I realize that fully," said Hilllard, writhing. The Doctor, toyed with his fork. "You'd do the same for me, I suppose, sup-pose, if I were one of your group?" "Why, of course if you had been." "Y'ou wouldn't advise me to go into it, you say, under present conditions?" "No, sir, I wouldn't I wouldn't permit it." "I thought you wouldn't." The Doctor Doc-tor sipped a glass of water thoughtfully. thought-fully. "And that leaves me with seventy-five hundred dollars I still don't know what to do with. Well, if you can think of any reasonable use for it within the next few weeks, let me know, will you? I'll keep It intact until un-til I hear from you." Something in his tone snatched at Ililliard's heart; he went white as paper. "Doctor Durant !" The Doctor smiled slightly. "Any reasonable use, I said. Any form of investment in-vestment that " Hilliard was practically tongue tied sand dollars I don't exactly know what to do with. It's a rather extraordinary situation for a professional man, isn't It? I'll have to admit I'm puzzled about it myself. And the novelty might lead me into temptation. So I thought I'd ask your advice." "You can have the best I've got," said llilliard, averted. "But I'm not guaranteeing that It has much value, Doctor." The Doctor nodded ; drummed on the table. "Do you ever let friendship interfere inter-fere with business?" ; "Often, sir." "Will you let ft Interfere now if you think you're justified?" "Yes, Doctor. ... I can promise that much, aflyway." The Doctor showed his approval. "Well, tell me perfectly frankly is yours the sort of proposition you'd let a man invest in, if you knew he had precious little money to lose? But if you also knew that he were quite willing will-ing to take th same chance as the rest?" Hilliard shook Ms head slowly, and continued to shake it as he replied. "I can't say that It is, Doctor. 0i the contrary 1 don't think It's tfcst sort of proposition at all." Dr. grant's gr-ant's brows we?e contracted. "But in the ordinary ran ol commerce, com-merce, Hilliard suppose the Question of friendship didn't enter itsto this, and I hadn't brought up tht subject would you, in choosing ytmr list of subscribers, and selecting the people you'd like to have share the plan with you, put e man like myself on any different footing than James Cullen? Of wouldn't you?" "Doctor Durant" Hilllard's voice was slo-s-, "is it iJossible you haven't heard roe . . . the criticism that's been flying around tou about this syndicate syndi-cate -sf mine? HaTen't you heard that thert's some question whether it's qu'ie sound?" "I've heard it yes." The Doctor was amazingly inClfferent. "Well do you j"till think this Is any time to discuss tb-e possibility of your coming in with us?" The Doctor's voice was strong, encouraging. en-couraging. "I think it's thi best time, and the only time for mn, that is. I've lived too long to be affected by chance rumors. ru-mors. And besides, I've got the money now." "But are you sure you know what It's all about? Tr.e criticism, I mean." "I don't know Anything about it at all. That's exactly why I'm coming to you for advice. You certainly ought to know more about it than any one else does. And, therefore, I'd take your word for it before I'd take the ninior. I want to know if you'll accept me as oue of tie members of your syndicate." Hill'nrd gasped and pushed himself ba-:k from the table. "Doctor!" "In a way," said Dr. Durant genially, "I'm putting you at a great disadvantage disadvan-tage I know that. But. as I said, I'm not a business' man. I have to be juided more or less by Instinct. Your fcus:t"- i to know all about these "So He's Been Giving Out a Pretty Bad Story, Has He?" he's got a representative out there on the ground, so that " Harmon bit his Hp. "A representative? representa-tive? When did that happen?" "Nearly a week ago. It's about time to hear from him, and then the goose will be cooked." The broker reflected diligently. "Haven't seen him today, hove you?" "No; not for nearly a week." Harmon sat back, and massaged his forehead absent-mindedly. "Well has this made much difference differ-ence to you?" "How could it help it?" Hilliard grimaced. "This isn't New York city, or a ileaf and dumb asylum. News doesn't have to truvel fast to make the rounds. Everybody who's ever bvard my name knows it by this Uuia." |