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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1915)
TTTE SUNDAY flRPnnVTI "V TJAUTT A CT VATT-mm-nn 3be $e) cdentire d COLIABORTION 4 Presenied'by' 1 oJ 0f ml s 2: i:m m-'-a m -m ma 6sv b V V 0 WRITTEX BT GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER Author of "Get-RlcU-Qulck-Walllngford" 1 DRAMATIZED BY CHARLES W. GODDARD Builder of the World's Greatest Serials IXTRODICIXQ BURR McINTOSH ... J. Rufu, Wallingford MAX FIGMAN Blackie Daw LOLITA ROBERTSON Violet (Copy rich t by The Star Co.) TUB LILAC SPLASH. 'HEN you put on this crushed eggplant display, you'll make Gladys there look like orphan Maggie out in the cold," declared Blackie Daw, admiringly, as the plump blonde model swished haughtily past blue-eyed Violet Warden. "Girlie, bring It back." Violet flushed prettily at the frank compliment, then she giggled; and the plump blonde model swanned back across the floor of the pink and gray ealon with the cold blank expression of a perfect lady. Violet, admiring the im ported lavender creation, suddenly stooped and picked up the hem criti cally. "It looks as If it might have been worn," she suggested, and, at that mo ment Monsieur Perigord danced into the room with his perpetual air of having almost remembered something urgent. Only the briefest flashing glance between Blackie and Violet. This was the man whom they had come to study. " 'You didn't borrow this for the French model's ball did you, sister?" Inquired Blackie loudly. "No. monsieur," replied the girl in a rich East Side accent, and she cast one corner of her eye on Monsieur Perigord who was hurrying toward them. Monsieur Perigord, a dark little man with black freckles and. a kinky beard, was shocked to the very center of his being. "Impossible!" he cried, both hands aloft. "The house of Mondeaux does not permit it! The costume is new. It is exclusive, it is delicious! With Mademoiselle's exquisite color the effect is magnificent." "The color harmony Is a cinch," agreed Blackie, smiling to Violet. "But It looks to me as if this gown had paraded an oceanview piazza or so." The distress of Monsieur Perigord was painful to observe. "Ah, Monsieur!" he piteously implored, "you do not know the house of Mondeaux! Ameri cans always think first of clever little tricks!" "That's a knock!" decided Blackie. "There's no money in clever little tricks. Grafting is a sport, not a busi ness." Perigord smiled wisely. "One year in New York and I have several thousand dollars 'on the side' for Andre Perigord!" he exulted. Another quick glance between Blackie Daw and his pretty companion. They knew where Perigord had secured $40,000 of his "on the side" money; his name was fifth on the list of that clique, headed by E. H. Falls, who had robbed Vialet and Fannie Warden of their $5,000,000 fortune, on the death of their father. And this amount Blackie Daw and his partner, J. Rufus Wallingford, had sworn to secure from the members of the clique, for the beau tiful orphans. Four names were already crossed off that list. "Somebody'H catch you-without your license number, Andre," warned Blackie dryly. "How about that lilac splash, Violet? Do you like it two hundred and seventy-five?" "It's pretty." hesitated Violet. "Send it up," ordered Blackie light ly. "You can charge it to the expense fund." Before the "lilac splash" came home, Violet and Fannie Warden were called hastily out of town by the illness of their Aunt Patty; and they were gone five weeks. On their return the girls made a bee-line for the shopping dis trict, and Violet wore her exclusive Mondeaux creation. As they stepped out of the new electric, which had been made possible by the half million or more already recovered, a large lady came up the avenue in a lavender walk ing costume which was an exact dupli cate of the "splash," panels buttons and all! As the girls approached the big dry goods store, they stopped, stunned. In front of the show window. There, on a lovely wax lady with a bright toothed smile, was the same exquisite lavender walking suit, panels, buttons and all, marked "'$ 85.00!" In a Broad way shop, at noon, they saw a throng of stenographers admiring the central display of a big show window; a lav ender walking suit with the familiar panels and buttons; $23.50! They start ed back uptown in a hurry, and, as they crossed Fifty-third street, saw a large, flabby colored woman and a highly peroxided white woman pass each other with glares of undying ha tred. They both wore cheap taffeta lavender walking costumes, with the exclusive Mondeaux panels and but tons! In a show window on One Hun-dred-and-Twenty-fifth street was a lavender dress same panels and but tons! It was made of gingham, and the price was $4.9S! When Horace Q. Daw and J. Rufus Wallingford called at ths Warden home that evening, they found Violet with' a headache, and the demure Fannie sym pathetically suppressing the twinkles of amusement in her brown eyes. "If you make fun of me. 111 pour beans in your saxaphone." warned Vio let, as she handed Blackie a large, flat, pasteboard box. "This is the 'lilac splash.'" and with bubbling indigna tion she told them all about it. "Harpooned on the lavender lemon" grinned Blackie. "I guess the color blinded us. - However it happened, though, I'll take this box down in the morning, and I'll bring you back your two hundred and seventy-five or old Paregoric's whiskers." Wallingford had chuckled at first, but now he was thoughtful. "This may give us the lead we want," he speculated. Moonlight flooded the Wallingford and Daw bungalow and poured in at the window where J. Rufus lay peace fully snoring. A long, lean hand reached into the patch of moonlight, and a finger tickled Wallingford's ear. Another snort, and the big sleeper turned over. Another tickle. A gur gling grunt and a flop. Wallingford, slowly awakening, be came aware that someone was whisper ing in his ear. "Jim!- Snore, you fool, snore! Jim! Snore! Hush! Listen! Keep on snoring, I tell you, Jim! There's a burglar in the library. Snore! That's right. Now listen," and Blackie, like a tall. lean, gaunt ghost in his pajamas, carefully detailed his instructions. Shorty Tucker, working industrious ly at the safe in the library, whirled suddenly and picked up his gun. and. with an unerring instinct for the di rection of sound, covered the large gen tleman who had appeared in the library door. '"Holler and I'll bore you!" hissed Shorty Tucker, pointing his revolver straight into Wallingford's scared eye. "Hands nn!" "All right," agreed Wallingford hast ily, and stuck both plump palms straight up. "I haven't a holler in me." "You better not," warned Shorty. "This trigger Huh!" That "huh" was Jerked out of Shorty Tucker as a long, lean arm shot out from behind and snatched the gun from his right hand, while another long, lean arm wrapped itself in a vice-like grasp around Shorty's thick neck! J. Rufus flashed up the library lights, and grinned at the spectacle of the thick burglar being bent irresistibly back into a library chair. "Well," husked the burglar sulkily, estimating that his chances of a fight were -worse than useless, with his own revolver in possession of the enemy. "What are you going to do about it." "Turn you up," replied Wallingford. "Let's give him an even break." Blackie's restless eyes had rested on a deck of cards, and he picked them up with a sudden whimsical idea. "Crim inal, I'll play you one hand of freeze out to see whether you go on your use ful way or wear handcuffs," and, sitting down opposite Shorty, he rapidly dealt five cards apiece. "Get some highball ice, Jim." "All right." Wallingford, Bleep re turning heavily to him, walked numbly out into the dining-room, and Blackie's amused eyes followed his stumbling course. ' In that instant, Shorty Tucker, his freedom at stake, took a furtive glance at the top card of the deck. His broad face brightened as he saw the card, and he hastily switched it into his own hand, dropping his discard into a tall ash Jar. "Cards," said Blackie briskly, pick ing up the deck. "One." "You're too conservative." Blackie cast a shrewd glance at his opponent. "Now. me, I'll take all this hand will stand:, and if I improve it. culprit, I'll try to get you a cell on the sunny side." and he dealt himself two cards. There was a moment of silence, then Shorty cleared his throat. "I'd like to make a little side bet," he offered and dug into his pocket. He produced eight dollars and forty-five cents. "Raise you a dollar flfty-flve," ac cepted Blackie, opening the drawer of the table and throwing down a ten dollar bill, grinning as he saw Shorty's regretful eyes glued on that drawer. "I'm all in." Shorty looked at his hand sorrowfully. "That's a twenty five dollar gun." "Raise me the difference?" and Blackie, extracting the cartridges, laid it on the money. "I'll see that with this silver-decanter, and raise you a gold-mounted meershaura pipe," A ring came off Shorty's finger. Blackie produced a stick pin and the kit of burglar's tools went up. Blackie threw oft his pajama jacket and Shorty tossed down his coat and vest "Call you." he husked. "I got to keep my pants. Look at these!" and with triumph he tossed four jacks and a deuce. Laughing gleefully, he reached for ward to scoop in the assorted stakes and his freedom, but Blackie, holding out a restraining hand, calmly spread down four aces and a nine spot. "All over, Jim." he called nonchalant ly, as J. Rufus came into the room with the bowl of cracked ice. "Call the po lice." "Aw. say!" Shorty Tucker was the picture of abject humiliation, "If there's anything I can do for you guys, you just call on Shorty Tucker." "Sorry, sport, but we don't want any burgling done, do we, Jim?" "Not tonight," chuckled Wallingford. "Ifs a crude, undignified method of acquiring a profit on your energy, and.", Suddenly, the .mile jcit JVal, j I - xv &srt jsvrp wttL" : v iU- - . ! A - ' x- - 's1? .' - .Y y-vv f -cir . , - .-0 t ... . a tj iTA J wwyvwtts&i - .Mt., -...' - v : : : v .'.:vi- -v 5 M If ;" I " . ' I ' - " ' ' - i ' - - " , f h 4 s - - t wi; - - . ? ? Is 4 , - " i , w -1 P : - v . 1 - ! i ; IE i - v " 5 - . 4 v. "SLv . ' x i ' h 1-'?? ; v::"' Ms'."- :'" k-iMk'' ' - lingford's face. He stopped and thought a moment, then his round, pink countenance beamed with Joviality. "By George, we have a Job for Shorty!" He walked over to the table, opened the drawer from which Blackie had ex tracted the loose money, pawed ardund for a little memorandum book, tore out a leaf and tossed it over to the worker of the night. "Do you suppose you could get us this gentleman's private papers?" Shorty Tucker picked up the piece of naper and looked at it. It contained the home address of Monsieur Peri gord! Monsieur Perigord was deeply re gretful that the beautiful Miss War den's lavender creation had been so extensively copied. "It is because Mademoiselle is so striking so attrac tive!" he suavely explained. "Those clever American manufacturers have their designers everywhere. "So that's the way it's done." mused Blackie. "What do you think ot that for pure gall. Jim 7" Jim Wallingford's big shoulders heaved. "It sounds like the explana. tion for a black eye," he chuckled. Monsieur Perigord was no longer polite, he was no longer grieved, he was no longer indignant; he was 'out raged! "I an Insulted!" he charged, slappinjj himself on the breast and stopping to cough. "You insult also the house of Mondeaux! I shall be kind! I shall explain! Mademoiselle has worn the frock for five weeks. Do you not see? There has been plenty of time for your clever American manu facturers. Very well!'1 Blackie and J. Rufus looked at each other and chuckled: "Jim, he's a corking good liar." com mented Blackie admiringly. Monsieur f Perigord was no longer able to control himself. "It is too much!" he shrieked. "Oh, hush, Andre," advised Blackie kindly. "I've nosed around and found two firms who get their designs through you; and besides. Miss Warden never flashed this dress until yester day. Give me the money before I get rough." The change in Monsieur Perigord was slow, but it was complete. His rase melted into smiling suavity, in a beau tifully graded transition of about one minute. "Monsieur, x shall pay back the money for the frock like an honor able gentleman," he offered. Wallingford, watching him witft heavy-lidded eyes, smiled. "lis this a regular Mondeaux trick?" he asked. "Mon Dieu. no!" laughed Perigord. "But the house of Mondeaux is in Paris, and I am here." "And tossing the bunk both ways " added Blackie; "into your firm and your customers, in one and the same gentle operation; and working other grafts besides. And without invest ment" "One becomes clever In America." boasted Perigord, with a self-satisfied smile. "I have learned the little trick to make money. Now i learn the kittle trick to Invest with rapidness. With fifty-four thousand dollars to start viola!" "Fifty-four thousand!" responded Blackie glancing at J. Rufus. Wallingford. at the window, sudden ly wheeled and came back looking at his watch. "I'm afraid I can't wait un til you settle with Mr. Perigord," he stated. "What's your hurry, Jim?" protested Blackie. "It won't take long now. When people pass money they part" "I have to keep my eye on a certain rapid Investment," said Wallingford impressively, "I'll so you tomorrow. t I $ I oS ' ' " '- - - ' Y-"? - I r M ' iv .-A.V.. v.' ..J...... . , . ,i at the office, and settle with yon for the next pool. By the way, here's your thousand- dollars." "Oh, give it to a newsboy," laughed Blackie, with a nonchalant wave of the hand. "I don't care what you do with it," responded Wallingford gravely, produ cing a big red pocketbook. "My busi ness ie to pay you this thousand dol lars In return for the hundred and fifty you invested with me yesterday." and into the hands of the astonished Blackie he counted a five-hundred-dollar bill and five onchundreds. "How much will you invest tomor row morning?" "The wad," Blackie answered prompt ly, and started to hand back the money. "You know better than that." Wall ingford reprovingly reminded him. "A hundred and fifty is the limit in this pool, as I have often told you," "Can't you let me go in for two hun dred?" argued Blackie. "I don't like to play for a piker bet like this." "Then stay out." retorted Walling ford. "I offered to let you in on a fifty-thousand-dollar pool once, and you failed to meet me at three-thirty, so now you take the little pools. Wait a minute," and he consulted a red mem orandum book. "You can only have a hundred today." "All right." agreed Blackie 'reluct antly. "Here's your bunded," and bo banded it over. 4 Xrre; , Zr&: "Good day," said Wallingford, taking the money. Monsieur Perigord looked after him in stunned perplexity. "Impossible!" he commented, "He Invested a hun dred and fifty dollars for you yester day and today he gives you back a thousand." "Yes. - confound him," grumbled Blackie. He's sore at me and won't let me in on his big game." "Big." repeated Perigord in astonish ment looking greedily at the money in Blackie's hand. "Do you call this small?" "It's a tin-born proposition," scorned Blackie. "But how does he make It?" "Wallingford won't tell," Blackie half waisperingly confided. "He Is one of our most clever Americans. No body knows how much money he is worth. Nobody knows how much I am worth. I don't know myself," "And did Mr. Wallingford make you all your money?" "Every last million dollars," asserted Blackie. "Ah!" breathed Monsieur Perigord In worship. "I also would become rich quick! So rich that I could also say of a thousand dollars, 'Give the tin horn to the newsboy.' Monsieur Daw would you truly give that much money to a newsboy or was it what you clever Americans call a joke?" Blackie' eyes widened in astonish ment that suca a fiueaUoa abpuu, be teOD5: Emifi PIJHER5! asked. "I'd give it to anybody," be stated, with a flash of inspiration. "Would you like to have it?" "Nine hundred dollars!" gasped Mon sieur Perigord in terror. "Is it nine hundred? Why, so it is," counted Blackie negligently. "Here Perigord, take it and buy yourself a dinner." and, thrusting the bills into the hands of the dumbfounded Perigord he stalked out of the place. "I" forgot to get Miss Warden's check," explained Blackie the next day, walking into Monsieur Perigord's with a saxaphone case in his hand. "It is ready, Monsieur." cordially stated the importer, greeting Blackie with the enthusiasm of 'an old friend. He clasped his hands and bowed pro foundly. He delivered the check with a flourish. "It gives me great pleasure to make myself again honorable with Madamoiselle." "She'll appreciate It" grinned Blackie. "Thanks. Perigord. Good day." and he started for the door. "Pardon, Monsieur, one little mo ment" began Perigord. Blackie expecting that call, turned with slow reluctance. He looked at his watch. "Your friend. Monsieur Wallingford." insinuated Perigord. . "I am consumed with curiosity to know how much he gave you for your hundred dollars of yesterday." "Oh." returned Blackie, with a bored expression, "I don't know. yet. Aa a matter of fact. I hadn't thought ot Inquiring about it He probably has only six or eight hundred dollars for me. "I'll Just let It go." "Ah, Mons'eur!" protested Perigord. "Even if it Is only a little money like that to you who are so rich it should be taken. Perhaps Monsieur would like to give it to some friend." "Very well." agreed Blackie. yawn ing. "Wallingford's office hours are from three to four. Would you like to go over with mr "I shall be transported!" exclaimed Monsieur Perigord. In a flutter of de light this being the boon for wUch he had been eager to ask. He ran. He brought his silk hat He brought his gray gloves. Ho brought his little cane. He brushed his kinky beard. He tripped down the stairs two steps ahead of Blackie Daw. Only when they reached the office did he hang back timidly. That was a brand new office, in a brand new skyscraper, and on the door was the legend. "J. Rufus Wallingford. Investments." Monsieur Perigord did not notice that the paint waa still fresh, for Wallingford himself had carefully dusted and otherwise aged It He had spent the morning on the Job. Inside was a small anteroom In which there sat waiting a totally bald-headed man, and a man with a bushy beard, and large red-necked man with a mustache, one end of which had been chewed to a tassel. A spider-legged boy. guarding the entrance to the door of the private office, greeted Blackie with a nod and turned an unfriendly stare on Monsieur Perigord. Beyond the glass partition could be heard the loud and angry voice of that peerless investor. J. Rufus Wallingford. "No, Mr. Pollet you can't get. on the preferred list." shouted the voice. "You have the gall of a burglar! I let you have a twenty-five-dollar-a-day corner in this little pool practically out of charity, v You've made an average of from two or three hundred dollars a day out of your Investment, haven't you?" "Yes, sir," admitted Mr. Pollet "The lowest you ever made me out of my 25 was a hundred. But I want to go on your larger list Nearly all your cus tomers are allowed to invest from a hundred to a hundred and fifty dollars a day. and they make from four to aix times as much as I do. It Isn't fair." "That settles It!" roared Wallingford. at the limit of his patience. "You get out! Your place on the list is vacant!" The door opened suddenly and out shot a chunky young man who wore thick spectacles. Monsieur Perigord noted that he had money in both hands. He turned in the middle of the ante room. "Go on out. you!" ordered the spider legged boy, as J. Rufus Wallingford himself slammed the door of the pri vate office. Mr. Pollet walked slowly out of the room. The waiting investors looked nervous and apprehensive. A little bell rang sharply. The spider-legged boy darted into Wallingford's room. He bounced out again In a minute. "W. O. Jones." he announced. The totally baldheaded man shambled in. casting a Jealous look at Monsieur Perigord. ' "Hello. Onion Jones," greeted Wal lingford suavely. "I have $1100 for you. That leaves you a thousand clear profit Pretty good, eh?" Perigord's eyes glistened. "Not the best day we've had, but I'm satisfied," laughed Jones. "I bear you're going to start a new pool. Mr. Wallingford. "Next week," returned J. Rufus. "Any chance of my getting a share in it?" "I thipk not, Jones." advised Walling, ford. ' I won't split that pool Into shares. I plan to take in just one big investor." "All right" arreed Jones. "I'm tickled with anything you do. How much can I get in for tomorrow?" "One hundred." stated Wallingford. "Just give me that hundred-dollar bill. "There you are," returned Mr. Jonea contentedly. "Good day. Mr. Walling, ford." The bell rang. The spider-legged boy darted In. Mr. Jones shambled out. with his hand full of money. Andre Perigord's breath came quick ly. "W. W. Williams." sang the boy. The full-bearded man went In. "Good afternoon. Chinchilla," hailed Wallingford cheerily. "You got in fop a hundred and fifty, didn't you? WelL here's $1650. I'll have to cut you down to a hundred today." "Sorry, Blr." said Williams. "By the way, is Pollet dropped from the pool?" "Yes," snapped Wallingford. "I'd like to take .up his share." "No," snapped Wallingford. "Just as you say," hastily responded Chinchilla Williams. "Lord, I don't want you to get sore at me. toe." "I guess I am a little grouchy." con fessed Wallingford: "but every time turn around somebody wants to band me money. I'm tired of it" "I know." admitted Williams. "You have too much capital now. I guess it you dropped about half of us the rest of us could make more money." "If I dropped you all, I could make the entire profit for myself." Walling ford reminded him. "That's what I'm going to do on this next pool take Just one live partner with a hundred thousand dollars and split the profits." "I'll dig you up a hundred thousand dollars in a minute," Quickly offered Williams. "Nothing doing. Chinchilla," bluntly refused Wallingford. "I have to have a partner I like. He must be generous, trustful, and agreeable, and you won't do. Good day, Williams." "Good day, sir," returned Williaru sadly. The bell rang as he came out with money in his hands. "Mr. Measen," announced the spider, legged boy. The red-necked man with the chewed Concluded va Ci rm loy.op
