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‘ lawyer deed
' his power to make the stock go
14
They will not leave a stone unturned dur-
ing the next forty-eight hours."
“You mean that they will try to bear
the market for fair?"
‘Yes, and for foul. Every way they can.
monds."
The excited broker grabbed up his coat
and hat and started for the door. Billy
turned out the electric lights and followed
as the other said. ‘
‘Produce your diamonds,” laughed Billy
as he looked at that pleasing word “Com-
pany,” on one end of the firm name.
At last Billy felt as if he had his feet
on the solid rungs of the ladder of success.
CHAPTER XVIII.
9111:2115 TEE can: or run irasxrr cnooxs.
Billy went up to the clubhouse with his
employer, or as the new arrangement made
him, his partner.
Such a wonderful dinner as Hayward
ordered up, and such a service. Billy had
not been used to such luxuries, and yet his
handsome manners carried him through
the meal as if he had been used to such
things all his life.
During the meal Billy and Hayward
talked over many plans for the future, and
the quick-acting broker saw that his ob-
servations of years had not been wrong.
Billy was just the partner he was look-
ing for, and the lad's shrewd practical
knowledge of things nnancial surprised the
older man.’ z
“The first thing to do is to tip off the
game to the papers. Can you do that,
Billy?"
"You bet," said the youth, “I know re
porters on all the big sheets. You know
the news about labor unions is so impor-
tant to all papers that they will cover that
lump."
“All right, start out to-night, and put
the boys wise. But first hadn't you better
go home and get some other clothes, and
tell your mother that you are all right."
y.
"Well, my automobile is at the door, and
Oscar will do as you direct him. The ma-
chine is yours for the rest of the evening,
for I have a billiard tournament on, here
at the club. To-morrow I will have my
over those papers and make
the partnership binding.”
lie bade Billy good-night, and the youth
hurried out to start the ball rolling.
His start did the work beyond p
venture! ;, .
Every. paper in town grasped at the
story.
“ ho is the millionaire back of it,
Wayne?" asked one of the reporters.
Billy, remembering his treatment of that
day, and feeling the bruises and scratches
which he still bore, felt like letting the cat
out of the bag. '
“No, revenge is apt to come home to
roost," he told himself, and he remembered
the good turn that beautiful Madge Mur-
dock had done for him.
“I can't tell, old man.
thing is to get to the union side, for the
unions are on the level and this rascal is
evidently hacked by a bunch of swlndlers
who will bring discredit on honest work-
iugmen.” ,
‘The reporters got alter the case.
Before the next noon ever)’ panel‘ in
New York had the story of the fake strike
in the Midland Copper Company. Prices
went whizzing upward, and the market by
noon was crazy over buying the Midland
stock.
“They are trying to manipulate the mar-
ket! " cried every man who thought he was
Wise
Billy was pretty anxious. -
“Great Scott, Mr. Hayward," he said.
erad-
. '‘‘It looks to me as if we were all going to
get stung. Murdock and our firm will be
in the same boat. It's going still higher."
‘ Hayward laughed at him.
‘My boy. I see that you are not on to all
the curves of high finance pitching even
yet. That's just what I want to happen-
for the next day or two. I don't care how
h this blooming stock goes. You see.
I have things planned out right. Murdock
will begin to get cold feet, and as he has
been selling-so my informants over the
country wire me-he will do everything in
down."
“I hope so,” said Billy, “but it looks
more prosperous than ever."
“Well. you just remember that- specu-
They have pros-
of Murdock.
When he gets things down to a low price,
we will buy all we need, and then deliver
on our contracts.
going abroad for a trip lo Europe."
, cry won't go.
“He's
Then your employer is
I
HAPPY DAYS.
CHAPTER XIX.
rm: rnrcksnzas AT 'rn:i:Ls woes.
“Well, Billy Wayne,” said the young
fellow's senior partner next day. “The
good work goes on. It is all coming out
just as I had planned.” .
“ at is the latest development now,
Mr. Hayward?” asked Billy. “The papers
report that prices still go up, despite bad
tidings to the contrary, at the mine. That
means that Murdock is not able to hold
down the game. It means that we will be
failures." ‘
Hayward looked at the youth with a
laughing face, as he answered calmly:
“B , this is the nrst time I've ever
seen you show a sign of losing your nerve.
What is the reason!"
The young chap was very grave, as he
looked up.
“Well, there are two good reasons-and
one is that I am responsible for your going
so deeply into this game. It is not my
chance of losing but yours that makes me
feel badly. The other is that I like that
Murdock girl, and I would not want to dis-
grace her father by showing him up. You
to
:7 .
d I am a little bit uneasy.
natural, isn't it?" ' .
Hayward nodded sympathetically.
“My boy, this isn't the only case where
love and business crossed wires, so don't
let it keep you awake at night.
“Well, I am a poor fellow, and she is a
rl girl, and it would look pretty low
down if I tried to-win her by getting her
father into disgrace.”
“ , t it out, Billy: I started in
broke-her father began the same way, and
you are catching up in good shape. If
you turn this trick you will be worth 9.
few thousand right away, and as a clever
partner in this firm your value will in-
crease, and you will be making thousands
every year."
Billy looked downcast.
“That is going some for a young fellow,
and any girl ought to appreciate it. But
as for old Murdock-he's got enough money
to stand‘ getting stung this time. It will
do him good, and he will learn that trick-
bad man, and deserves ex-
posure."
‘Yes, Billy, in some ways. But out of
business hours he is as fine as they make
them. It's the same with a lot of men
who forget friends, religion and family
during othce me. It's wrong, but true
In
to . .
Just then the telephone tinkled, and
Billy reached for the receiver.
“Hello, is this Mr. Wayne?" came a femi-
nine voice over the wire.
“Yes, who is doing me the honor?” asked
Billy, for the tones seemed very familiar.
“This is Miss Murdock and I must see
you for a little while. Can you grant me
an interview?"
“Oh-why, yes!"
Billy was quite ilabbergasted by such a
sudden summons from the object of his
thoughts.
“Where can I see you. Mr. Wayne? It
is most important, and unfortunately I
cannot receive you ‘in my own home.
will come downtown."
“If it is important, I'll come part way
uptown, Miss Murdock. I will drop into
the tea room of the Waldorf Astoria in half
an hour. Is that all right?”
“Yes, yes, but please hurry. It concerns
you and my father and means more than
you can imagine." r
. The youth hung up the receiver, and gave
his senior partner a puzzled g ance.
“Did I hear Miss Murdock?" asked Hay-
ward. ’
“Yes, and there is something in the wind
besides the breeze!'.' answered Wayne.
“She wants me to meet her at once. It is
about her father and me-what do you sup-
“Why, I suppose that the old man is try-
ing to work some game. Go up and have
a look, but be very careful, that's all. I
will stand behind you for anything that's
worth while. And you are one of the few
young fellows who really knows what is
worth while, Billy."
The young chap gave Hayward a grate-
ful look, and put on his coat and hat.
“You don't think I'll be needed for a
while, do you?” he asked. “I'll rush things
through. Maybe it will be a lead to more
success." - -
“Get along, you young lady's man!”
laughed Hayward, as he walked over to
his clicking telegraph machine. to read off
the latest quotations.
Billy took the subway, and was soon up-
town, walking over to the W I.
As he left the underground station he
noticed a tall, broad-shouldered man
hustling along with a couple of big 3119:.
The fellow had on a broad-brimmed black
hat, and looked as if he had come from
the West. '
Ila suddenly stopped near Wayne, and
looked about in bewilderment. ' . .
“Doggone the luck.- I'm lost. Say, young
‘
man, can you direct me to the Waldorf-
Astoria I-louse?"
“Do ymrmeau the hotel?" asked Billy.
“Sui-a‘s you're born,” responded the big
fellow, plumping down his two heavy grips.
“I'm just tagged out with carryin' these
grips with ore in 'em.”
Billy took another look.
The man was well dressed, and he looked
prosperous, yet it was evident that he was
working under a great nervous strain
which made him a bit timid in the hustle
and helter-skelter of the busy city.
“Why don't you send your ore by express
or freight?” laughed Billy. “You'll lose
weight."
The man smiled back.
“Well, I didn't know how far the hotel
was from that there tube, and I wanted
my ore right on the job, for I want to call
up some big speculators and get them in-
terested in a little mining deal.
Billy decided to risk an impudent guess.
There was method in his madness. .
“There's a good deal of excitement in
copper just now, so maybe you can make a
pile out ot’it."
man, who had grabbed up his grips,
looked at Billy with a startled expression.
“How'd you know it was copper?"
“Oh, I didn't. I just happened to see in
the morning paper that a big mine owner
from the copper country was coming out
0 New York to take advantage of the
excitement over Midland Copper.
The big Westerner looked
amazement.
“Say, young fellow, are you a mind
reader? No one knew I was a mine owner,
for I had just clinched‘this mine I dis-
covered. Now, what is your game? Are
you laying for me like the bunco steerers
I've read about?”
Billy Wayne laughed good naturedly.
“You may remember that you spoke to
me iirst. I was attending to my own busi-
ness and going toward the Waldorf. I'm
no bunco steerer, but I am a good guesser.
You breezy Western folks don't beat
around the bush. You pop out your busi-
ness, and it doesn't take a fortune teller
to understand you.
“You're a peart young chap,” said the
other man. ‘But I always did like a fel-
low who could talk up. Which way is the
Waldorf, now? I'm going to get there be-
fore some real con game man gets me.
If I'm this easy to a square fellow, I'd be
a regular Sunday school picnic to a pro-
fessional hot air artist."
The big fellow started down in the direc-
tion indicated by Billy ayne.
“There, the great tall red building is the
Waldorf.
m
in dumb
I'll go the same way, if you don't
in . m not trying to do you, honest
lnjun." laughed Billy.
“There ain't no honest Injuns that I've
found." grunted the Westerner. "I nea
got killed by a red man getting this mine
but that's another story."
They walked along in silence.
“Say, how'd you know about copper?"
asked the Westerner. “That was the slick-
est guess I've seen in some while. Are all
New York fellows that quick off the bat?"
Billy Wayne shook his head deprecat-
ingly.
“Now. you must not jolly. It was not
very hard to guess, because I am connected
with a big drum of brokers who deal in
copper and other stocks. So. I just hap-
pened to be thinking about the matter
when you spoke."
“Then you've got your mind on your
business, and it will pay you some day.”
They soon reached the big 34th Street
entrance of the great hostelry.
“ ll leave you here,” said Billy, simply.
“I wish you luck with your mine, and hope
you get hold of the parties. I know that
you will be able to hold yourvown with
hem "
The Westerner noddedyas he entered.
' “Much obliged. I'll try my best." 1
Then as Billy turned and walked into
the tea room the big fellow stood watching
him.
“Blamed if he ain't going to see a girl! "
muttered the mining man, as he saw Billy
walk across toward the far corner of the
big room.
‘There he met pretty Madge Murdock,
who was sitting in a nervous way, with
white face and twitching fingers.
The Westerner did not see these ‘little
details. All he was noticing was‘ that Billy
Wayne had apparently forgotten all about
the copper business, and was taking no
interest in any new mine.
“Well, he's not a crook, that's certain.
I believe I'll just sit down in this corridor
chair, and watch until he comes past.
That clean-looking young fellow might give
me Just the tip I am hunting.”
The Westerner took a. seat, waving aside
the “buttons” boy who came up to snatch
his grips.
And meanwhile Madge Murdock, with a
haggard face, began to tell Billy Wayne
3. most unusual bit of information.
‘Oh. Mr. Wayne, I've come to you, for-
getting all my own family pride. because
I want to be just and honorable.”
“Why, what is it, Miss Murdock? Any-
thing I can help you in?” ‘
“No, it's something that I want to help
you in. You have shown that you are.a'
‘WW6 fellow. and I can't see any young
man's reputation ruined like this."
he girl wrung her hands in misery.
“Why-what is it, please?”
Billy was beginning to get worried, too,
by this time, for he was only human. It is
human nature to always look for some
trouble, ,after a particularly line run of
bumps were about
y “Well, it concerns my father-he is try-
mg to disgrace you '
How do you know?" .
“Well, last night I heard a call over the
telephone in our home. The p one has
an extension which goes into my room, as
well as father's. I heard the bell ring,
quite late at night, and thought it was
for me.”
“Well?”
“And then I got up as quickly as I could.
When I took my receiver off the hook, I
heard father talk with a man over the
wire. The call had been for him. I heard
your name mentioned and then I listened."
Billy waited with drawn brows, for he
knew that only a serious matter would
bring this pretty girl down to see him in
such a manner. '
‘What then?"
“Well, father was told by the man that
your employer had a great block of the
shares ordered that father wanted to sell.
some mining stock, I believe. Whatever it
was, father said you were manipulating
the market, and that you were trading il-
legally. He said to the man that the best
thing was to publish the amount of sales
that you had made."
“Oh, I begin to understand,",muttered
Billy Wayne. '
“Well, I don't. I only remember the
words they used, so I can tell you. Father
told the man that a little press work would
queer your employer, that you would be
expelled, for the man was to work it so
that it would look like you were the one
who betrayed the secret."
That's mixed up, but I see the lay of
the land. What are they to do finally?“
“Well, they will have this story before
the public by noon and that will influence
the market. Then father will force your
employer to buy out right now at father's
ngures."
Billy Wayne looked at his watch. It was
nearly eleven then, and time was valuable.
“Well, Miss Murdock," said Billy. “I ap.
preciate your tip. don't know why you
should bother over a poor young fellow
like me. But'I may be able to repay you
some time. And you may be sure I will
try to save myself now "
The girl looked at Billy with a tearful
glance.
“I know what it means. I hope father
won't be liable, but-but-but, I just liked
you, and I knew you were young and had
just started, and I took your part.
She put her hand up over her eyes, and
Billy Wayne felt some strange feeling tug-
ging at his heart.
name will not be mentioned-even though
he doesn't mind making mine a joke,.and
ruining my employer. Good morning, Miss
Murdock-may I see you some time again?”
“Yes, you may," said the girl impulsively.
“But your father may object!"
“Well, he may object to your heading
od his race in finance-but will you let
that ruin your own name-will you let him
dictate?" -
The girl had risen up. and stood there
with eyes flashing with spirit.
‘No, I'll see you, if you wish me to.”
“Then I do. And no one else will count."
The impetuous girl stuck out her trem-
bling hand, and then hurried out of the
tea room, as Billy tried to collect his ideas.
He sank into a chair, to get some system
out of his llood of ideas.
CHAPTER XX.
mnur TAKES AN OPIION.
The mining man had been watching the
little scene from the corridor seat near the
tea r om.
He was the big man, of a kind often seen
in the West, who acted and decided very
quickly. He was the kind who took big
chances, and who consequently either won
or lost in the biggest sort of way.
He was pondering over a chance now,
and as he saw the young fellow sink down
into his chair with dejection, as the girl
left the room, he determined to act.
He hurried across to where Billy was
tting.
“Say, young fellow, I‘m sorry if you had
any trouble with your girl. Put her there!"
Billy looked up with a start of surprise,
for be had forgotten about this chance
acquaintance.
much-but it was not trouble with her.
was just warned about trouble which she
had heard of.
The generous, whole-souled Westerner
forgot that he had but met this Eastern‘
youth a few minutes before.
He forgot everything, except his own
Why-it-oh, I forgot. Thank you very.
good luck, and Billy feared that some
“I will work this so that your father's‘