"STAR" TALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10012, 25 November 1910, Page 4

"STAR" TALES.

THE P. J. SYNDICATE. (By J. J. BJiLL.) Author of " Wee Jlacgreegor/' " Tliou .Jfoel." etc. S-TGHSS Skserved.]

*' Surely vou aren't getting nervous, „ IVitherow." Tho speaker, a smartly-dressed, rather handsome man of about forty, 'tfave a genial laugh, without, however, Icwiting up from the correspondence on his writing-table. "But T am getting nervous/' "Withetow returned, rising from the easy >rh'air and leaning against the mantelpiece. For a moment or two his ftnxious eyes rested on the other; then began to rove about the . luxuriously - furnishe<l private office. i''. : Yes, Vasper, I'm infernally nervous, hut I shouldn't liave bothered you had ;,i,: n.ot chanced to catch sight of you at the station this morning. You don't .'often reach the office so early as this „V—why, it's not nine-thirty?" No. I'm earlier than usual. My reliable clerk and office.-boy are in for pleasing surpriso this morning. I {par them to be here at nine. This is Evidently not their lucky day, But. 'torn were saying yon' were nervous, 'AVitherow. May I ask why?" '.■■" Oh, well, you see, Vasper," said .the younger man apologetically, ."it's »Ib<mt those mining shares, you know." ; '"What mining shares?" Vasper in- * fluired pleasantly, as he slit an envelope. I "I mean the Honeydew Deeps. You remember-- —- " J Oh, Honeydew Deeps. What abont them? Are you thinking about

buMng?-"- " Buying?" Witherow's voice was 'hitter.- •'■Buying? Great heavens! '• -febought far more than I ought to jhaVe. bought when they were round six founds don't you remembor? and hour they're somewhere about half a •oyereign. . They fell fifteen shillings »Yesterday on the latest rumour regarding the flood. Didn't you notice it?" iv"fT did," said Vasper carelessly. •" But the .flood may not be so sqrious ■*fter all, .and then " But, what ought Ito do? Ought f to sell and save what I can. or hold <wi the chance of a recovery?" It's hardly worth while selling is i!tP- ? ' >; v "lam in need of money, Still, if fou advise " " You must not ask me to do that, my friend." But yoti advised met& buy the tkaxes six months ago." " I?" The syllable was tuned to inild-astonishment. '' lt At least you told me yon were buy•lng heavily; yon said the mine was a ■'tattling good thing." " I could, not have foreseen the flood-

Jng trouble. And I certainly never Idvised you to buy, Witherow. I don't I Relieve in giving advice on such matters.

Witherow produced a cigarette dnd lit it with shaking lingers, i "1 thought you did, Vasper,"' he iaki; not quit© calmly. "At any rate, >* ; . took the hint. Everyone knows that never make mistakes in these matters. Of course it's your business." !' "What do you mean precisely?" ITie. question was chilly. V "Oh, Lord, knows," the young man 'Answered in heavy tones. "But I ftan't afford to lose another sovereign. t>o tou mind answering one ques\ion>" L " What is it?" ' "Hare you sold your Honeydew peepsP" '- "You wish to know a great deal! jWhat'if I have?" j "Then it's true!—the story that's •fcojng round about you and some of your friends hammering the shares. Is it true?" t. "'What if it is?" ■ Witherow drew a long breath. M Curse you !" he whispered. ./Vasper-rose to his feet. "You had bfetter clear out," he. said evenly. "I'm busy this morning." > '"Looking savage, the younger man book a step forward, then halted, wavering. . r '' e For God's sake tell me what I'm

to do, Mr Yasper." ! " How can I tell you ? Yon say I told you to buy the shares six mouths -Jigo, and now you curse' mo. You must do as you think fit. T have an important engagement immediately." 1 "You won't tell me? Then I suppose I must sell. I'll sell this morning, and—and if they go up afterwards I'll curse you to the end of my days. Do you hear, you devil ? I Wonder how many people you have fuined one way and another—you Windier!" ( AVith something like a sob he flung put of the room and along the passage. ; A moment later the outer door ihut with a crash. i~ .Vasper shrugged his shoulders. ' "The young fool, to have approachEd : me in that spirit, when I could erve made his fortune! Had he apologised I'd have given him a chance." He rang the bell on his desk—rang It'- again. • i "That clerk and hoy of mine hare naimed the sack this time," he mut.tered at-last. * -Pet for a space, immersed in the papers before him, he forgot. his belated employees. After all, they were imainly for show. Mr Vaspcr did a large, business, yet he could overtake fliosfc of it himself. The brass plate on the door bore the lettering "J. P». Vasper—Accountant," but tlio designation. was all but nominal. ; At ten o'clock his eyes on a sheet ]af figures, he was about to use the . telephone, when ho "heard the outer )dpor open. He rang the handbell instead. Footsteps approached the priVate room,, very leisurely. A tap fell »n. the panel. i *'What do you mean " he began is tlie door was pushed inwards. • ".Good morning," returned an unfamiliar voice, and a man of perhaps thirty entered the room. "No one in the offlc©> so I took the liberty of finding my way to you, Mr Yasper. Let fee give you my card." 1 - After a moment's hesitation, and fcbviously annoyed, Yasper took the proffered card. He had business to do £ -business that must not bo long de-, yed. From the card ho glanced at Ihe beholding a man of tteditnn height, broad-shouldered, with peculiarly bright eyes, deep-set in a Elean-shaven, healthy, rather humorous countenance. He looked at the card a tecond time. It was like this . THE P.J. SYNDICATE. No. 3. _ ■ The visitor helped himself to a chair »n Mr Vasper's left, remarking that the weather was somewhat chilly for May. t " Had my clerk been in the office." ; jaid Vasper* stiffly, " he would have told fcpu that I wb« engaged at this hour. 'is. a matter of fact, I am particularly Wngaged now; hut if you care to call later, Mr—er " He eyed the card We more, then glanced inquiringly at ihe visitor. . _ i "-Number Three," said the visitor, irith a smile. " There are seven of us *jn the Syndicate, and as we are all e?

equal importance and of one miml in our transactions, we employ numbers only on such occasions as this. Our Number One. T may say. would bo tho last to infer that his number gave him any precedence whatsoever." "Very interesting, ]* 111 sure," said Vasppr, wondering whether ho had a. . practical joker or a lunatic to deal ? Trttii. Iu evfciier case he was anxious to jbe alone, Ho took out his watch. " li y©» kindir merely mention your business now, and return to discuss it later —if necessary—l should be inliiv itelv obliged. By the way, what is tho Syndicate P Gold, copper, lead—oh?" "Oh, dear, no, Mr Vasper! P.J.. 1 have the honour to explain, stands foi Poetic Justice.'

" I beg your pardon?" " Poetic Justice, my dear sir, Poetic Justice."

Vasper stared. The man was certainly mad. " T do not wonder at your never having heard of our Syndicate," the other proceeded. "It was formed but recently. Its operations so far have been small, yot not, wo trust, without some profit to the public. We liavo not, howover, until now dealt with anyone who might be called a financier. In addition to the designation of accountant, you, Mr Vasper, are fairly entitled to that of financier! Is it not so?"

No doubt, no doubt—hut in a small way, of course," said Vasper. To most of us the word financier lias a pleasing sound. But-_Mr Vasper was not quite comfortable just then. Several people wero awaiting instructions from him through the telephone, and he was very impatient to give these instructions. The lunatic seemed harmless enough, but there was a danger of his visit proving costly. " Because 1 am only a financier in a very small way," added Vasper, with an effort at good-humour, " I cannot afford to lose money. And at present time is money." " So it is." Number Three mildly admitted. "So it is. Doubtless one hour would mean some money to you, while a whole day—but I wander." " Pardon mo if I agree with you there." The financier "in a very small way " smiled grimly. "I wonder," continued the other, as though he had not heard. '' I wonder if you have ever studied the beauties of Poptic Justice.'-'

" I've never had time to study poetic anything. And now " "What a pity, what an immense pity! Tho Syndicate has studied its beauties most carefully. On several occasions it has executed little pieces of Poetic Justice, quite fascinating in their way. It is desirous," very- desirous. Mr Vasper, of showing you an example that will, we feel sure, appeal to yourself "

" I must really request you to allow me to attend to my morning's business. I assure it is-urgent." "I am sure it is?,-otherwise I should not have called this morning." , Vasper looked quickly and keenly at the speaker. " What do you mean?" * Number Three smiled gently, and sa id:

"Wouldn't you like to use the telephone now?" The financier stiffened.

" See. here, my man !" lie said roughly, "what are you playing at? What do you want?" "Poetic Justice." The voice was so mild that Vaspor was more wrathful than alarmed.' But precious minutes were slipping away. " Yes, I wish to use the telephone. And firet of all, I'll ring up the policestation." "my?" "To give you in charge, if you don't clear out at once."

"In charge- for what?"' For cutting your telephone wire as 1 came along the passage? Didn't you hear the snipsnap? Here's the little instrument that did the little trick." A pair of shining pliers was briefly exhibited. "What!" Yasper fell back in his chair. "You cut the wire!" He jumped tip furious, but far more anxious. "You'll pay for this later, but now —" " Please sit down. I took tlio liberty of locking the outer door as I came in. The key is in my pocket. Further, on tlie outside of the door is a notice to the effect that the office is closed for the day. Perhaps I ought to mention, also, that I wired your clerks early this morning that they could take a holiday. There is 110 fear of our being disturbed, Mr Vasper, while I expound, or rather exemplify, to you the Syndicate's methods. Put down that ruler!" The heavy ruler fell with a crash, and tlie financier, white and shaking, sank into the chair, gaping at the muzzle of a revolver.

" What is it you want?" he asked hoarsely.

"Poetic Juctfee. That is all." " Are you going to rob me. I—l've nothing here in the office." " No ; we don't do that sort of thing. Still, if you like, we are going to rob von ; or, rather, we ar« going to mako you rob yourself. But first of all I am going to tie you up." Ere the huddled creature realised the words, Number Throe was behind him with coils of whipcord. In three minutes he was trussed securely in his chair. Then there was a longish silence, broken only by heavy breathing. " For God's sake," said Vasper at last, 'do one thing for me. Keep me liere as long as you like, but send word—send it any way that suits you—to my brokers—l'll give you the addresses to cover Honeydew Deeps. Will you do it? I can't make out what you want, but I suppose it's money. If you do this for me I'll give you plenty of money. Oh, name your price 1" " I regret to say you have asked the very thing that cannot be granted."

Vasper gave a great grcan. 4' Mr Vasper,'' said the visitor quietly, " have you no glimmerings of what."the Syndicate means by Poetio Justice?"

"Curse your Pontic Justice! What's your game? What's your price?" "What price would you suggest from a man who has made himself as wealthy as you have done?" "Don't preach 1 How have I made myself wealthy? Speculation? Gambling?—call it that, if you like! But n

"We call it gambling with marked cards; loaded dice, if yon will. Why don't von play fair, Mr Yasper? Why have you neVcr played fair in your bigger operations? Those who know you, or think they know you, call you a fearless speculator—whereas you are merely a fearful swindler." " You He! It's all very well to sit there and abuse me while I'm helpless. I tell you, you and your gang shall suffer lor this assault. lam engaged in a perfectly legitimate business, and

" L'ardon me, you are no longer engaged in any business, legitimate or otherwise. As you say, you are helpless, and helpless you must remain till five o'clock, at which hour I shall leave the door open and send someone to release you." " Five o'clock !" Vasper's body went, rigid; his face turned grey. "That'll ruin rue," he whimpered. " Of that we are aware. The cable from your Johannesburg agent should he in by then." "Cable! What do you know about

a cable?" The question was a terrified whisper. "The Syndicate works fairly hard and pretty thoroughly." was the,unemotional reply. "The cable referred to should have reached lie re weeks ago, with tlie information that the flooding of the Honeydew Deep was a comparatively trifling affair. You and your clique paid for its suppression and wrecked the market. Incidentally you ruined hundreds of people. You have played the same sort of game so often before that the Syndicate determined to make an example of you. It's all very simple!" You— you dirty spies I" "It is rather dirty work dealing with swindlers, Mr Vasper. We had to follow your example and bribe vour Johannesburg agent. But once bribed, always bribable, you know." A minute passed. "I'm not the onjy one/' whined Yasper. "pfo: there are four of you. The Syndicate ia taking care of you all this niorning. None of you will be able to communicate with tlio Stock Exchange to-day. I should inform you that their wives and. children will not be allowed to starve. For yourself, the Syndicate understands you are a bachelor. You shall have one- hundred pounds to start afresh." 1

The captive made a choking sound. "Your gang has been buying the shares," he croaked.

" Only a few, the profit on which may cover the expenses of this operation. Over our previous operations we have been out of pocket." " And you call this nlaving fairP" "We call it Poetic Justice. Ruin for ruin, my friend." . " I)id L ever in jure you or your friends?"

"No; but tlie police can't look after everything." Another silence, longer than any previous, fell between them. It was painfully still in the office. Suddenly hurried steps came to the outer door, halted. and went away. Yasper quivered. A message from a broker, perhaps, tie determined to shout for help should steps come again. "Pray don't make it necessary for me to gag yon now, Air Yasper," said his visitor quietly. " I shall, of course, have to do so ere I leave you. • It won't hurt beyond a slight stiffness afterwards." "You devil!'' cried Vasper. Ho did not remember Witherow's use of the identical epithet towards himself an hour previously. " The cable ought to be posted iil the Exchange some time this afternoon," said the other absently. "It will cause a. bit of a flurry, 1 expect. T t wonde.r what you'll be able to buy back at. How many are you oversold?" Yasper, writhing in impotent agony, made no reply. He was about eighty thousand shares short. To buy that number in a market crazy with relief, booming from an unmerited collapse, would bulge the price, not by shillings, but by pounds. And he was not alone in his plight. Scores had followed his load in selling short. The result would be a bear panic that would, in all probability, become historic. He who at that moment was half a millionaire would bo beggared. He had entrusted his brokers with no instructions. They would be paralysed when Honeydew Deeps began to rush up. " Why don't you shoot me?" he exclaimed of a sudden. "Why not?" Number Three lifted the revolver from the table and pointed it. " No. no! Spare my life." "Certainly. You may yet make something of it. You don't know what life really is so-far."

Another long silence. "Look here," said Yasper weakly; "let's come to terms. What'll you take to set me free?"

" The Syndicate sometimes finds it expedient to offer bribes, but it does not accent them."

" Oh, curse you! Will nothing move you ?" "Nothing." " Let mo close some of the shares." "No."

Onco more footsteps approached the outer door. Vasper opened his mouth. A peculiar tap fell on the door, followed by the flap of the letter-box. "No use calling out," said the visitor. " It's only a message for me. Excuse me for a moment." He left the private room and returned almost immediatelv with a. note in his hand. • He opened it. " Honeydew Deeps have opened at 8s 6d to 9s, ho said. " Think of the poor

, wretches who have given up hope selling at that price, when 'the mine is as good :is ever it was. Think of all tho poor wretches who have been giving up hope and selling ever since you started your trickery. I don't mean the speculators, though they needn't be grudged sympathy in such a case as this. But I refer particularly to the small investors. The Syndicate lias investigated several eases, "it's extraordinary what varieties of people put money in gold mines. Yet why should they not, if tho mine is goo'd? There is the case of a young man who gave his wife twenty shares for which he had paid over five pounds apiece. They would have yielded him 10 per cent on his hard-earned money. Doubtless he ought to have put his money in the hank, but lie and his wife were as proud as lord and lady over their twenty shares, and the dividends were going to pay for no end of things. Then the shares'went down, and they took fright and sold, losing seventy pounds. There was an elderly teacher of music who bought ten. She admitted she hoped to sell them at a profit some day. Her life was dull. Ten pounds profit would give her a iong-dreamt-of trip to Switzerland. .Instead of gaining ten she los.t thirty. There was an old man in the country—well, never mind him. And there was a young man who blew his brains out when the Honeydews fell to a pound. The Syndicate knows of others. Possibly these people were unwise, but their misfortune was not due to tho Stock Exchange nor to their natural desire for gain. It was due to your marked cards, Mr Vesper, to that long-suppressed cable. Think of tho feelings of these ]>eople when they read the cable and quotations of Honeydew Deeps to-night or to-morrow morning. And the directors themselves have been gulled by a bribed manager in Johannesburg: I suppose they could prosecute you, if they knew. Have you anything to say before I gag you, Mr Vasper? 1 am going to leave you in the meantime."

"Mercy," whispered Vasper. Number Three shook his head. " I've got a mother, you fiend !" " Ah! I had better buy a thousand Deeps to provide for her. Anyone else dependent on you?" " No one I care about."

" Poor man! Nothing but money!" Number Three brought a small white object from his pocket. Vasper submitted to the gagging: he was as weak as water.

" ril leave the notice on the door, so you shan't be disturbed. Make plans for the future, my friend,"'and the visitor departed, whistling softly. Vasper "just escaped madness during the next three hours. He may have been a trifle light-headed when the door was opened. The gag was removed; a glass of whisky and water was put to his lips. " Honevdew Deeps have been sold down to ts 3d," remarked his tormentor.

" What did you pay for my mother's thousand?" said Vasper dreamily. " Round, Bs. Probably they are 80s uow." "Then you really bought them? "Sure." "Thank God. I'll give you her address." " "We have it, thank you. We shall give her an annuity. I hope we may get eight or ten pounds a share within the week." Vasper nodded. Then he started up aa far as his bonds would allow. " "What was I saying just now, you devil?" he cried. " You were exhibiting your better nature. Have another drink. . . So ! Now I'm going to set you free."

" What?"

Number Three produced a knife. Tho cords were cut in a twinkling. The chafed wrists were rubbed gently. " Curso your mockery 1" muttered the wretched man. Presently Number Three left him and stood on the other side of the tablesmiling. Vasper et''etched his aching joints. Of a sudden his eyes fell on the revolver within his reach. In a breath he was covering his enemy. • "Now, bv God," he yelled, "it's my turn l . Hands up and quick march. I win yet." " It isn't loaded—never has been," said Number Three quietly, smiling still.

•The trigger was pulled, the hammer fell harmlessly.

Yasper dropped the useless weapon, fell forward on his desk, and sobbed helplessly. Number Three came round and touched liim on the arm.

" Listen, Mr Vasper. Make out a list of the people that you know have suffered through any of your deals. The Syndicate will send you an additional list of cases known to its members. Do what you can to restore their comfort and happiness. You can't help all who havo suffered, but you can do much good. The Syndicate will watch you—with pride, I hope. And if you must go 011 playing this game of money—play it fair. Do you understand?" "But, man, I'm beggared."

"No; you are going to bo wealthier than ever. The cable will not arrive till to-morrow. You have time to cover. The Syndicate desired to give the first financier it tackled a second chanco. i can make no promises for the next case. In your case we are putting special emphasis on the poetic."

Yasper was staring and panting. "You mean it?" ho whisnered at

last. " Without doubt." The visitor picked up his revolver and placed it in his pocket. He held out his hand. " It's a bargain, i>n't it?" Vasper put forth cold, trembling fingers. " Yes/' lie said hoarsely, "before God, yes!" " Good-bye, Mr Vasper.'' "Stay! Who are you?" " Number Three." But I begin to feel I've seen you somewhere—perhaps in a picture. You are like " Number Three laughed and went out quickly.