for a man who lives in the open world as I do, compelled by his line of work to know many things, I do not want to see you more intimate with Mrs. Stanford than you now are."

A handsome equipage was checked near them, and through its window he caught the glimpse of a face.

"There, Nan," he whispered, "is one of the big ones of earth-C. C. Edgar, Wall Street magnate arbiter of destinies. I wonder what brings him to this borough?"

Three hours later as Joe Hackett was on the way to his own home he passed the house of Mrs. Hilary Stanford. Evidently Mrs. Hilary Stanford was entertaining; the house was brilliantly lighted. The door opened and two men came out arm in arm. They were C. C. Edgar and William Wiswall. Behind them came J. Percival Dunbar. Standing in the

shadow of a tree Joe saw the three enter the handsome carriage he had previously noticed on Fulton Street.

"C. C. Edgar, the great Wall Street magnate, William Wiswall, rich uncle of J. Percival Dunbar, J. Percival Dunbar himself. All of them from the house of Mrs. Hilary Stanford," he muttered. "Now, riddle me that riddle."

CHAPTER VII

MRS. HILARY STANFORD, WIDOW

EIGHT days after the events set forth in the previous chapters the shutting down of the works of the Universal Supplies Company was publicly announced. Included was the plant located in Brooklyn, ordered closed at the last moment. Simultaneously, the article attacking the financial integrity of the company Dunbar had read at the desk of C. C. Edgar, appeared in the financial paper. At the opening of the morning board the stock of Universal at one bound fell to 80.

The evening papers that day with dark insinuations, pointed out that, contrary to a widespread belief that Universal was held closely in large blocks by a few, it was susceptible of proof that within three weeks it had been unloaded in great measure, and distributed among small investors at prices not less than 90. It was the sensation of the day on 'Change and the stock, after several rallies, finally closed at 85.

That morning J. Percival Dunbar sat in his private office with two checks of large amounts before him, counting up two short columns of figures. Satisfied with the footings he leaned back in his chair and said aloud:

"That ends that chapter. Van Zandt has sold the last of my 10,000 shares and that account is closed. And Hulburt has sold Pollock's."

On the day following the disclosures of Edgar's plan, Percy had taken 10,000 shares to Van Zandt telling him to sell at the highest prices he could get, and to another broker, representing an interest removed from the Edgar 10,000 to be sold for Frank Elbert. The 10,000 sold for account of Frank Elbert was, in fact, Mark Pollock's shares. In doing as he did, Dunbar had two reasons. In the first place he knew that Pollock would never have consented to the sale of his stock if he had supposed that was Percy's purpose. In the second place, he did not want Edgar to suppose, as he might learn from Van Zandt, that he had let Pollock into the secret. So it was that the checks for Pollock were deposited in Frank Elberts' name. Dunbar argued that if the worst he anticipated occurred he could then turn over the money to Pollock, who thereby would be saved from loss, and, if

values were recovered, he could repurchase the stock and turn it over to Pollock, who would be none the wiser as to the peril he had been in.

He plumed himself on the fact, thinking that he had justified in that act, at least, the belief of Kitty Van Zandt that he was noble and generous. And he acknowledged the comfortable feeling that even if the Universal did get into the breakers he, as well as Pollock, was secured against danger. What they had had in interest in the company they now had in cash.

Joe Hackett was sent by his managing editor to the president to obtain the inside of the movement. Percy was cool and unperturbed when Joe reached him. This was not unexpected by the newspaper man.

"Percy, what's all this about?" he asked as he entered, to the president of the Universal. "I've got to get up a story. Give me the rights of it."

"To get the right of it you'll have to see some one else, Joe," replied Percy. "I don't know the right of it."

"Then the wrong of it," persisted Joe. “What does this shutting down of the works mean? What does this attack of the financial paper mean?"

"It seems to mean a pretty bad drop in the

stock, Joe. But I won't fence with you. What

I know I'll tell. on the order of the executive committee because of a large and inexplicable cancellation of orders. All of us believe that it will in a short time be followed by renewals. I now, this morning, believe that, in some way I don't know how, these cancellations were brought about to aid the raid on the stock that is now on. We have assurances that they are only temporary and will be renewed in good time. Every so often we have to clean house, and so, because of these cancellations, we determined to clean house altogether now, instead of by piecemeal. Now, as to that attack, it was timed for just this shutting down, and is a part of the raid. But it is not based on good reason. Our assets are in excess of our liabilities, as I shall prove to you by turning you over to our chief accountant to see for yourself. The personal attack on me as treasurer is outrageous, as you will see when you look at the books. Every share of stock issued represents value received, and our accountant will make that clear to you, and that water is not in our capital. As for the raid, the meaning of it, the cause and the motive back of it, you must go elsewhere. I cannot tell you."

The works were shut down