Five Happy Weeks

Washer. He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away. He turned a callou

across from his desk. Apparently he was as mournful as an undertaker, but at the end of the inspection his mouth suddenly stretched in a wide grin, which bristled the silver-white beard upon hi

he did like a little girl on communion Sunday. He was a small, wispy, waspish fellow with a violently upright, raging pompadour, a mustache which, in s

our hotel project," he

ourtney. "Sold

r with absolute disbelief.

ontract." And, with great satisfactio

ty!" snorted Washer. "That's hal

buy the railroad plot at three and

hundred f

et square, which is the size of this plo

ous of all such trifles. "What will

ou. If you want to b

s Gam

ganizing the Termi

tock has he

to see Mr. Gamb

ou tak

a mi

give me the straight of it, Court

bit.

see Mr. Gamble! Well

of the door. Mr. Courtney winked at himself in the glass. Old Mort Washer would try to take advantage of him, to the extent of an eighth of a mil

Old Mort Washer bounc

le?" he p

rned to him, but

" stated tha

orton

hat fact and was expecting this

or you, Mr. Wash

e subscriptions to your

kind int

is your comp

know? Do you figure

N

do you

the property. W

I will-at

w m

hundred and fifty

d Washer, and sta

ination daybook, journal, ledger and diary. "Ashley, I put in four h

tifled a

parate account for tha

ing one pace, "who are some of

one; Mr. Courtney is another; Colon

'll give you two and a half

me show you a perspective sketch of it, Mr.

," blurted Mr. Washer. "G

" commented Loring in surpris

boosted me yesterday, so I sold him some stock this morning. Sa

r business,"

ushed in to

in the Terminal Hotel Company," he

turning up the edge of a piece of paper and creasing it as carefully as if it h

le can fully organ

commend the investment; and my stock is subscribed only

t of a ma

t state Mr. Gamble to be financially responsible, but personally I would trust him. I would not urge or even recommend any one to take part in his projects; but personally I feel quite

unced Mr. Washer. "Thanks!"

r he was in Lori

om price for that pr

y thousand dollars," obliged Johnny

oo much

advised Johnny, smil

fered Washer resignedly. "I migh

d Johnny. "It's

Mr. Washer quite affably, now that th

ers and myself will all take a piece o

ard," grinned Washer; "but

ntery to drop in for lunch. Of course the conversation turned to Johnny Gamble. Neither of them co

e was saying. "He has a wonderf

rious that she should be so well-informed. "You'll see that

e's eyes

she inquired as q

are certain to take advantage of t

rose and went

ham is here." Then to Gresham: "You'll excuse me for a

ny's office with carefully concealed timidity. Her manner was coldly gracious a

so with suddenly accelerated dignity; for the stenographer

with tremendous sweetness. Anybody could look p

a moment's

. Gamb

miled quit

and smiled again. She was not at all pretty

uld be likely to find Mr. Lor

he girl happily, and gave her hair a tou

s gone?" and Constance was sudde

f it. "Oh, Mr. Gamble has gone over to the office of Mallard back in a few minutes.

was a public telephone booth in the drug store on the cor

was wanted on the telephone. Johnny Gamble had never heard the voice of Constance over a thin wire, but he recognized it in an instant; and he hitched his chair six inches cl

which could be attach

all have a nominal title in a big building plot, for a

ly ordered him. "You must get

ike it," he heartily promised h

me trying to find Polly or Loring, so that they could warn you, that

his chair closer. There was only an inch left, but he took that.

but you mustn't

as I'm through here," h

ic-stricken, "I have a caller just

itch his chair closer. "You're t

a stifled snicker. "I left him with Aun

d out to telephone her friend, J

s hand to turn aside and smile. Th

le dinner of jollification to-night and hand you the official s

it as soon as you get that property

ly agreed. "You'll come t

artial engagement

come," he exu

he replied

uld-but he was talking

r. Courtney, or Mr. Washer his from me. All that poppy-cock is just to conceal out profits. What Mr. Washer wants is the ground; and Courtney and I want half a million dollars, besides the eighth of a million that Mr. Courtney had

s a put-up job between you a

s, "it's only the finish of that job you put up on me when

t. Johnny Gamble patt

you don't hurry I'll sell you some

sign," ordered Washer, p

way in full regalia just as they were turning

warning of this noon was not unfounded," he re

correctly dressed Gresham with some dissatis

an with whom you a

Gamb

with Gamble?" bri

had financial obligations he could not meet," expl

did!" snorte

stated Gresham with an uncomfortable feeling that he w

l!" blurted the colonel. "Now, tell us all y

very stiff dignity. "I thought it might be of value for you to know-if you were not already informed-that an at

ey paused

was this attac

hirty, I wa

on his old friend's shoulder, laughed again; he put his other hand upon Gresham's shoulder and laughed more. The colonel was a slower thinker. He looked painfully puzzled for a moment-then sudd

ther Courtney nor Johnny Gamble owned a penny's worth of interest in the T

fit, which my friend Johnny and I divide equally. I saw him make the entry in his book. He has twenty-

n?" snapped a jerky little voice. "John

ands of lean little Morton Wash

s and the ladies," said Courtney. "Possi

unced Gresham, sickly.

napped Washer. "It

s-Polly's mother by adoption-Polly, Loring and Sammy Chirp, the la

oyden, Constance Joy and Johnny Gamble. Gresham, who had held