"STAR" TALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8249, 23 February 1905, Page 4

"STAR" TALES.

THE .HOLD-UP. (By RALPH HENRY BARBOUR, in tho "Cosmopolitan.") CHAPTER I. Mr Kenton Hardy drew the low table containing the glittering cigar-jar and the accompanying paraphernalia to a position midway between his- own chair ond that of his guest, and waved his hand. Tho guest, with a calmness more than half assumed, selected a cigar and lighted it. Then ho settled back against the yielding leather and examined his host with a new iuterest, while that gontleman was engaged in fehoosing and igniting his own weed. Mr Kenton Hardy was not the sort to, seiect anything, even a twenty-cent cigar, at haphazard : he practised careful discrimination, whether the object was an Investment or a mutton chop, a horse Dr a friend. Had you asked him, he iwould have told you that it was because of this carefulness that he had amassed a fortune. That fortune was popularly believed to be of between ten and fifteen millions of dollars, although Mr Kenton Hardy would scarcely have informed you on that point. The cigar was selected with such deliberateness fcnd lighted with so much care that the other occupant of the library was able to studv Km quite at his leisure. Not that Mr Kenton Hardy'3 appearance and character ware unknown to Jack Vail. On the contrary, he had known the elder gontleman for "a good many years. But something told Jack that to-night his host was to enact an entirely new role, that of tho stern parent, and he found himself studying Mr Kenton Hardy with quite a new interiest. What he saw was a slightly rotund gentleman, rather bald of head, fifty-one years old; a gentleman with shrewd but not unkindly grey eyes, a many of the tiny, dee^> wrinkles ftrhich life supplies gratis with a large fortune, like the prize in the pop-corn package, and a dignified presence, inherited and not acquired, which was . eminently becoming to him in his character of president of the Fortieth National Bank, the Concrete Trust, the Power and Traction Company, and taany other associations of capital. He iras quite as nice — I had almost said finicky — in regard to his attire as in the selection of his investments. His flinner-coat sat without a wrinkle, as did his white vest,/ and the closest microscopic examination of its costly fabric would have failed to discover the tiniest speck of dust or lint. His patent leather shoes were immaculate, and his black silk stockings clung to his shapely ankles as though supplied by Nature. Mr Kenton, Hardy was a fine example of the clear-headed, wellmade, self-respecting, successful American business man. After emitting a cloud of grey smoke from under his brown moustache, during which process he viewed his guest gravely and gently, he crossed one leg aver the other and spoke. "I asked you in here, Jack, because I have a question to put to you which I had always hoped would not have te be put." He paused and looked, perhaps for Inspiration, at the tiny disc of ashes on the end of his cigar: Jack bowed. He made no comment, but his mouth drew in a little, and' his chin, always aggres>ive, became more so. " I've known you for about fifteen (ears," went on the older man, "and 've never seen anything in you yet that I objected to. If I had a son, I Wouldn't ask to have him one bit more manly and clean and good-hearted than fou, my boy. You know me about as well as I know you, and you know that I'm not handing' you a lot of taffy." Again he paused. From the drawingroom, across the width of tho big hall, floated softly the strains of "The Garden of Sleep," and when he leaned forward Jack could see a bit of Grace's White gown where she sat at the piano awaiting his return. He wondered, with a little throb at his heart, whether she remembered that he had once Heolared that to be his favourite song; .whether she had surmised the purpose &f tne interview and But her ' father was speaking again, and Jack's thoughts flew back from the drawing- i room and the piano and girl who played. " Your father was one of my best friends from the time we were boys until two years ago, when he died. I mention this because I iwant you to un- i fler stand that I have only -.iking and a oertain sense of duty toward you, JFack. 'Perhaps you know that?" ' " I do, sir. You have been kinder to us — to both my mother and myself — since the pater died than we had any right to expect. And we both appreciate it, and — and I'd like you to know, >ir, that whatever may — that nothing tan happen that would ever make me jorget your goodness." Mr Kenton Hardy bowed and looked f leased. Then he sighed, a sigh that rought a forbidden wrinkle to the front of his while vest. Hev surmised ts presence, and smoothed it away. " I wish to heaven, Jack, that " For Mr Kenton Hardy, the remark was almost explosive. He pulled himself up abruptly with a frown and a shake ©f his head. He calmed himself with three short inhalations of smoke. Then : " The question, Jack, is this," he antapunced briskly. " What do you — that Is, how do you look upon my daughter?" Jack felt a little tremor go through him, but his steady dark eyes never wavered, and he answered with scarcely a pause : " As the woman whom I hope some day to make my wife, sir." Mr Hardy nodded, sighed, and nodBed again. "I was afraid of this, Jack. Perhaps I have been somewhat to blame. But all along I have hoped that the friendship between you would continue as it was in the beginning. You have knowo each other since ycu were •youngsters, and I thought — well, I misspJ my guess. Only — why the devil couldn't you be satisfied with things as thevwere?" he aßked, savagely. ' Why do ~m have to go and fall in love with her', eh?" Jack smiled drearily. "That's a difficult question to answer, sir. Besides, what's the use? The .—the damage is done." "Damage, eh? Do you mean that— that Graco has gone and made a fool of herself, too?" Jack hesitated. . "1 think, sir, that she cares for me. I have never asked her; I did not feel that I had the right." . " H'm ! I almost wish you weren t j

so damned much of a gentleman !" said the othor, almost querulously. "It would be easier to say what I've got to. I suppose you can guess what it is?" " I fancy so," answered Jack, calmly. " But I guess you'd better say it." "Of course," complained Mr Kenton Hardy, " you wouldn't have any mercy for me! Well, I will say it. It's got to stop right where it is, Jack. It won't do. Mind you, I've got nothing against your character; if it were possible " He sighed again, and again shook his hoad. " May I ask you what the objections are, sir?" " Now what's tho use of going into details? Why not be satisfied with what I've said?, If you think you can arguo me around, you might as well get the idea out of your head firßt as last; it can't be done. I've got a duty to my daughter to perform, and I'm going to perform it- It's bad enough having to bo mother as well as father to her, without having you come around and make things harder for mo." Mr Kenton Hardy was gradually working himself up to a very respectable degree of irritation. "I should be sorry, sir, to do anything to give you trouble," answered Jack, evenly, " but I think I'd like to hear what objection you have to me as — as a son-in-law." " I never knew beforo that you were so obstinate," said the other, irascibly. "But if you must know, there are two objections, sir, and they are good and sufficient ones. In the first place, you have no money — no principal and no income ; in the' second place, you have not got it in you to make money. Don t vou get it into your head that I m a money-snob.; I know what money will do and what it won't do better than you, my boy. There are plenty of things more valuable than money, and some of them you've already got. But ' my daughter is not to marry a beggar. I've seen too much of love in a flat; it's all nice enough while the glamour stays, but as soon as that begins to peel off there's room for a whole lot of unhappiness—mean, sordid unhappiness. Of course, you might say it would be easy enough for me to give Grace a big dowrv, so that——-" „ „ " That's one thing I might not say, interrupted Jack, warmly. ' When 1 marry your daughter, I want her without a cent of your damned money, and I won't take her any other way. , Mr Kenton Hardy gasped. "My damned money!" he spluttered. "Well — well I* 1 He put his cigar in his mouth and puffed rapidly for a moment. Then: "Well, maybe I was wrong there, but I didn't mean to insult you, Jack; though it's pretty hard to insult a man nowadays in that way. Well, jl'U take hack that. But it doesn't help your case, does it? Grace will not be allowed to marry a man who has not proved his ability to keep her in comfortable circumstances; and ' comfortable circumstances ' doesn't mean what it did when I was a boy.'' " Tthy do you think I am unable to earn money, sir?" asked Jack, quietly. " Because your father couldn't," was tne blunt answer. "I. knew him pretty well, and I knew his affairs. If I've saved Harry from going under once, I've done it a dozen times — and gladly, you understand, gladly. But he wasn't a business man ; never would have been one if he had lived to be as old as Methuselah. And you're his son." That doesn't sound conclusive, sir. Because he did not have business ability, I can't see it necessarily follows that I haven't." " Where is it, then? Have you ever shown any of it?" | " No, but then I have never tried." | "Time you did, then. You've been but of college four years and you've done nothing yet." "That's not altogether so, sir. I've published a good many articles, and a book on political economy which you yourself were kind enough to say was something to be proud of." "So I did say, and meant it. But the man that marries my daughter has got to have some more tangible means of sustenance than pride and a knowledge of political economy. I've got enough money for Grace and Grace's husband, and when I'm gone . they'll get their share of it. But while I'm alive my son-in-law's got to hustle for himself; no one shall say that Grace married a good-for-nothing ; he's got to show the goods." " Very well, sir. I love Grace and I mean to marry her. If you are opposed to love in a flat, I'll have to look around for a mansion. I'll let writing alone and try business. I believe- that in business modesty is not allowed to cut much of a figure?" "H'm; maybe." " Then I should like to ask you for a position of some sort." "What can you do?" " I can learn." " Suppose we haven't time to teach you? Things move along in a hurry these days, and when there's a position vacant we don't look around for somebody we can teach, but for a man that is a specialist in just that thing, a man who'll ccme in, hang up his coat and have his subprdinates on the jump in something like three minutes." " But that man had to learn somewhere." " Surely, but not with us. We don't pay learners salaries; we pay for the best we can get." "Well, that may be all so; I don't doubt it, of course ; but it seems to me that somewhere or other you can find a ■ place where I can be of use. I'm not asking charity; I don't care particularly about the salary; probably there wouldn't be any for the first year; but if I'm going into business I might as well start right, take a preparatory course, so to say — a sort of Business A." "If we needed someone to do a lot of plausible talking," grumbled Mr Hardy, "you'd be just the man." He relighted his cigar, thoughtfully. .The operation took some time; Jack listened for the strains of the piano, but the house was silent. When the smoke was coming again, Mr Hardy asked, suddenly and with seeming inconsequence, "Have you seen that new auto of mine — the purple one?" "Yes, Perkins was showing it to me yesterday." • "Well, it's what they call the Royal, made by the Royal Motor Company, of Watoowassie; they're a fairly old firm, and have been making launchc-n exclusively until this yoar. That's the third machine they've turned out. Well, a few of us aro taking over the business .on September 1 ; it will be enlarged considerably and generally im- . proved; automobiles' and boats will be

the line. Now if you really want to get' into business, I'll put you in there in the fall. I can't promise big wages or a responsible position ; it may be in the . shipping department; but if you have it in you, you ought to get on. Meanwhile I want you to promise to stop seeing Grace. And you're not to say anything about love or marriage until you have my permission. If by the time you've been at work a couple of years you have shown yourself able to do something, I'll — I'll "talk about an engagement. You're only twenty-eight and Grace is only eighteen, so I guess a couple of years won't hurt. Only, it's understood that you are both free meanwhile, and if Grace wants to marry some chap that suits her and me, you won't be consulted. What do you say?" " I'll take the place. And I'll stop coming here to call ; and I give you my word that I won't speak of love to Grace until you give me permission. But as to seeing her — well, I'll try to see har as much as I can without breaking my agreement." "H'm! playing with fire, I'd call it. But it's your lookout. You'll hear from me along in August. Meanwhile, you'd better study up on motors and gasolene vehicles; it won't do you a bit of harm to know how they're built and run. Look me up at the office now and then. It won't be necessary to explain things in detail to Grace; just tell her you're called away for a couple •of weeks, and I'll help you out by moving down to the shore within that time; it will be a fortnight earlier than usual, but that won't matter. I'll have a talk with Grace myHelf, and I'll talk fair. You can run down for a day or so during the summer, Jack. I don't want to be hard on you, boy. I wish — well, never mind that. Going now?" "Yes, I think I'll run along. Good night, sir." / "Good night, Jack. I fancy Grace is in the drawing-room." CHAPTER 11. Mrs Vail was accustomed to her son's sudden departures, and so, when, a week after Jack's conversation with Mr Kenton Hardy, he left at an hour's notice for Watoowassie, she merely begged him to be careful at the crossings and watch out for automobiles. Automobiles were Mrs Vail's greatest bugbears, and had she known that her son was off on a visit to a factory where they were mado she would not have spent an easy ' moment during his absence. Jack's first step toward the business life had been the purchasing of several books on gas machines and a monthly journal devoted to motoring. His trip to Watoowassie was due to a brief paragraph which met his eyes in the latter, and which read as follows: — " The Interurban Transportation Company last week incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey) capital, 250,000dol; officers—Stephenson Weld, president; Kenton Hardy, vice-president; George M. Ferguson, secretary and treasurer. The company is to do a passenger transportation business in the neighbourhood of New York city by means of automobile vehicles." Jack, recollecting Mr Hardy's announcement regarding the Royal Motor Company, marshalled the facts in his possession and proceeded to put two and two together. Weld, Hardy and Ferguson were all officers or directors of the Power and Traction Company. The Power and Traction Company was known to have been seeking for some years to gain control of the New York and Connecticut Street Railway Company, a system which paralleled the main line of the Power and Traction Company for some distance, and which was a dangerous rival. The rest of the N. Y. and C. system networked a part of th© country adjacent to the city which was rich in historical interest, and well sprinkled with summer-resorts and the country homes of wealthy New Yorkers. Jack could imagine a system of automobile coaches, connecting with the Power and Traction Company's cars just out of the city and running through the territory now controlled by the N. Y. and C.j doing very well for its shareholders and cutting into the business of the N. Y. and C. very considerably. If that was the real purpose of the Interurban Transportation Company, then the taking over of the Royal Motor Company was easily understandable : the Interurban Company intended to manufacture its own coaches. Jack wondered whether, with this information as an asset, he could not find some way of convincing Mr Kenton Hardy of his ability as a money-maker, and that without spending two years at it. His first step was to pack a suit-case and go up to Watoowassie. . The Royal Motor Company proved to be a much smaller concern than he had expected. It had a small wooden factory building, and a detached hut for an office. The firm consisted of two middle-aged men, Messrs Kenyon and Loftus, both excellent machinists, but of indifferent business ability. Jack, representing himself as being interested in the manufacture of gas-engines and motorvehicles, was given the freedom of the place. He donned an old shirt and a pair of. blue jumpers, and started in on

a career of discovery. The force consisted of six men and two boys, and the only work in hand appeared to be three motor-boats and two single-cylinder runabouts. At the end of his second day at the shop, Jack had reached the conclusion that the Royal Motor Company's principal assets wore several valuable patents, one ot" them an improved feeding system for gasolene vehicles? One discovery which interested him was a blue-print in the company's offioe whioh depicted a gasolenedriven coach or car with a seating capacity of twenty-eight persons and an ingenious arrangement for carrying baggage under the seats. It was no trouble to get Mr Kenyon to talk about what he called the Royal touringcoach. It was of eighty horse-power, he informed Jack; was supplied with the Kenyon feed and the Kenyon aircontroller; had four horizontal cylinders, bevel gear, automatic lubrication, the Loftus system of brakes; could make, twelve miles an hour at a cost of three cents a mile, or twenty-two miles at a cost of si* cents, and Avas destined to revolutionise the street pas- I senger service of the country. Already, said Mr Kenyon, a company had been formed to operate the coaches for suburban travel. Jack asked a good many questions, and, thanks to a week of hard study on the subject, was able to understand what he was told. The Royal Company, declared Kenyon, was the only manufacturer able to turn out a practical vehicle of the kind — one, that is, which, because of the small cost of running, could be used for the transportation of passengers at a ten or even live-cent fare. Jack spent a week at the factory, cultivated the workmen, and finally returned to the city convinced that his surmise regarding the intention of the Interurban Company was correct, but still at a loss a3 to how he was to benefit by the knowledge. Several days of hard work and hard thinking followed. Then he thought he saw his way. He needed, first of all, advice on the legal aspects of the step he had in mind; and he needed, too, more money than he was able to put up. Naturally, he thought at once of Pete Walling. He and Pete had been chummy at college and had seen quite a little of each other since. Pete was doing remarkably well as a junior in the office of Cuttle, Gerrish, White and Purdy, corporation lawyers, but something he had once said half laughingly to Jack led the latter to believe Pete would afford him both legal and financial assistance. "Say, Jack," Pete had remarked one day, "you're pretty .thick, it seems, with old Kenton Hardy. Why don't you pick up a tip now and then? If the old gentleman ever lets drop anything that's good, why, I've got a few thousands that are getting rusty for want of work, and we might form a pool, you and I, and do something handsome. What do you say?" Jack had laughed and thought nothing of it at the time, but now it seemed to him that perhaps Pete was just the man ho wanted. So he went to see Pete and told him all he knew regarding the Interurban Transportation Company, the Royal Motor Company ana its touring-coach, and Mr Kenton Hardy. Then he made his proposal, which was to the effect that Pete should go into the thing' with him, put in half of what money was necessary to buy out the concern, and share half the profits when they had sold again to Mr Hardy and his associates. Pete listened attentively, and said " H'm-m-m " a good many times. " But how do you know we can get the thing?" he asked. • "And even if we could, what's it going to cost?" "I found out that this man Weld, who is down as president of the Interurban Company, holds a first mortgage on the Royal plant of twelve thousand five hundred dollars," answered Jack. " I got that out of ;on« of the workmen. • That's how the Interurban expects to get hold of the property. They probably won't foreclose, but they'll get control on the strength of the indebtedness, reorganise, and eventually freeze Kenyon and Loftus out. From what I learned, I'm pretty sure we could buy the whole outlit, property, good-will and patents, for ten thousand dollars, assuming the mortgage." " Are you certain they can t pay off that mortgage?" "..Yes; they aren't doing a stroke of business. You see, they had to borrow the money three years ago to fight a suit of infringement on their feed patent. They won the suit, but it left them high ar.d dry. They haven't had enough money to I advertise, and as near as I can make I out, their actual sales for the past year were under ten thousand dollars." " Well, suppose we got it. How do ! we know that the Interurban Company won't buy some other factory?" " They can't, I believe. I've been pretty well over the ground, seen automobile dealers and manufacturers and the editors of automobile journals, and from what they say there isn't a factory for sale at any kind of price from here to San Francisco; they're making too much money. But that isn t the main point. The best reason why tho Interurban won't buy elsewhere is because, dollars to doughnots, what they're after is the patents which will enable them to build that Royal tour-ing-coach. That's what they re after." " H'm-m-m. All right. But what's the good of buying outright?" "What do you mean?" "Why not secure an option? When does that mortgage come due?" "I couldn't find out for sure, but about September 1, I think." "Well, why not offer them, say, a thousand for a three months' option on the property, goodwill and patents, assuming all indebtedness if we buy? Three months would carry us through to October 1. By that time something ought to be doing." ' "I never thought of an option, admitted Jack, ruefully. In the end it was decided that Pete was to run up to Watoowassie and see what could be done with Messrs Kenyon and Loftus. • "I'll wire vou as soon as I find out their terms— if they have any—and you can come up. Or you can go along with me." , . . „ ■ But Jack decided to remain in New York, figuring as the rich client for whom Mr Peter Walling was making inquiries. Four days later he got Pete s message: "Have offered fifteen hundred for three months' option at twelve thou-

sand fire hundred. K. and L. to haTe salaried positions if we buy. They are biting. You had better come up Friday to sign papers. It looks like a good thing." On the 12th day of July, Jack and Pete Walling were holders of the option on the entire property, land, buildings, stock, patents, goodwill and indebted- | ness of the Royal Motor Company, and I they were something over fifteen hundred dollars poorer,. If the Interurban Company wanted the property, they must purchase the option ; if they refused to do so. Jack and Pete must either forfeit their fifteen hundred when the mortgage fell due or settle the latter and complete the transaction by paying to Messrs Kenyon and Loftus the additional sum of eleven thousand dollars, making in all twenty-five thousand . dollars. They would then have on their hands a business which might or might not be worth the sum paid for it. But neither Jack nor Pete had any idea oJj buying. If their scheme, or " hold-up " as Pete called it, fell through, they would pocket their loss and try to look pleasant. Meanwhile they could only await developments. , If Jack's conscience reproached, him at any time, it was when he accepted Mr Kenton Hardy's invitation for ,a Friday-to-Monday sojourn at Meerheim, and met a welcome as hearty and sincere as though he had been the son of the house instead of a prohibited suitor. Grace's bearing was at first a trifle distant, whether from resentment at his neglect of her or because of embarrassment due to. her father's explanation, Jack did not then know. But by Saturdajfc morning she was the old Grace again, and Jack was foroed to keep a constant guard over his eyes and tongue, lest he transgress the terms governing his presence there. On Sunday there was a long tour in the big purple car, and when it refused, twelve miles from home, to do its work both Mr Hardy and Jack himself were surprised when the latter discovered the trouble, and was able to remedy it. On Monday he went back to Watoo-. wassie and again donned his blue juniper. Automobiles and motor-boats had, he found, got into his blood, and he pursued his study of them with untiring enthusiasm. He beoame very good friends with. the partners, each of whom viewed him in the light of a benefactor, since he was apparently making it possible for them to retain an interest, if only that of the employee, in the business. Anything to escape Stephenson Weld was their policy, for they entertained no illusions as to their ultimate fate if the mortgagee came into possession. Jack learned a good deal about the practical side of the business tlie month that followed. And one or two of his suggestions, all leading to economy in either labour or power, were accepted and followed with excellent results. And then, one morning in mid-August, a dapper little lawyer put in an appearance and the cat was out of the bag. Mr Weld's representative was closeted with Kenyon for ten minutes or so, and then word was brought to Jaok, who was lying on his back under the chassis of a runabout in process of construction, that Mr James Kidder would like to see him in the ofiice. "Tell Mr Kidder I'm busy," said Jack, ''and that if he likes to come over here I'll talk to him." Mr Kidder came over. He presumed the securing df the option was in the nature of a joke. Jack said he thought not. Then the lawyer became disagreeable and assured him that it wouldn't hold in law, and spoke of conspiracy and other heinous crimes. Jack worked a monkey-wrench dexterously and referred the lawyer to Mr Peter Walling. Mr Kidder finally took himself away, threatening a suit, and that was the last of the matter for three days. Then Jack received a letter from Pete, announcing a call from Kidder, and a telegram from Mr Kenton Hardy, asking where he could see Jack. To the latter Jack replied that he would call on Mr Hardy the following evening at Meerheim. Mr Hardy shook hands in a puzzled, embarrassed way, aud begged Jack to be seated and light a cigar. Presently: "What are your terms, Jack?" he asked. "For £he option, sir?" Mr Ronton Hardy shot a glance at him and smiled. ' " Don't you think you've sailed pretty near the wind in this — ' holdup'?" he asked. " Yes, sir, rather close. But when I Hecided to go into business I made up rfy .miiid to play the game thoroughly when necessary. What I've done would have looked pretty small to me while I was a student of political economy, but as a business man I have nothing to reproach myself with." "H'm. Yet rou made use of information I gave you to try and get the better of me." " The information was not confidential I think, sir." "Well, we'll let that pass. After all, it was our own carelessness that did it. Weld believed he had instructed'Kidder to get an agreement from Kenyon and Loftus assuring us the property. He neglected to do so. You've got us dead to rights, Jack, for I'm not pretending that we don't need the Royal Motor Company's plant." "And patents, sir?" " And patents,," repeated Mr Hardy,

dryly. " And the question nowis, what j have we got to pay for them?" "We paid fifteen hundred for the option and have been to an additional expense of something like seventy-five dollars. My .partner is willing to ta.ce five thousand dollars for his share. I "Very modest of him," commented [Mr Hardy, sarcastically. | "If we sold, it would bs on the con- | dition that the present owners, KenI yon and Loftus, were retained for five years, at least, on appropriate salaries." • ■ ■ "H'm; go ahead; what's your price?" ' " Well, sir, as the scheme was mine, I feel entitled to a somewhat larger profit than my partner. Six thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars is all the money we ask, sir, for tho transference of the option to the Interurban Company." • "Confound it, Jack, come out with itl What do you want — stock in tho concern?" . "No, sir, not just now; I want Grace." , „ , "Oh! Ah! H'm!" Mr. Hardy thoughtfully relighted his cigar. "I see. That's all?" "That's all, sir." " Sure? Don't you want a managership, or anything like that?" "I'm not asking for it, anyway. But I've been there pretty near two months now, and I have an idea I could be of use to you." Mr Hardy was silent for several mjnutes, smoking voluminously. Then : "Jack," he said, musingly, "I don't believe there's nearly so much in Darwin's theory of inheritance as he thought." Then, oddly enough, the conversation ended as on a former occasion : "I fancy Grace is in the drawingroom," said Mr Kenton Hardy. ,