The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 23, 1903, Page 7

opyrigh here is always the owever one may 1400 r ge » was 2 table, leancd I g me, sir?" sald gy £ WaE eXT g o wie ik e ve n he took anxious face ex wha e man w doing was W g out a ciph then sudd . ed ver sage had been = k t m. Dodds had done that also, and his = athies all w his nelgh Then the stranger rose, and ng his breakfast untasted, he walked out of the room “I'm t g that the gintieman he” bad news, sorr,” sald the confiden waiter “Looks like it Dodds answered; and at thet moment his thoughts were sud- er directic the m with Well, there are some quare names about was it you = 3 M ume,” said the boots, glanc- “Ah, there he s and egram to a gentleman reading the paper in a had already fallen upon he had wondered vaguely such company. He , eagle nosed gen- mustache and a refu B rd—an aristocratic e which seemed out of its element ong the r hearty, noisy dealers As he opened the telegram Dodds could celve wzs as bulky as the first e. He ¢ ed, also, from the delay reading that it was also in some sort of ¢ er. The gentleman did not write dow ny translation of it, but he sat for some t with his nervous, thin fingers tw ng among the hairs of his white beerd, and his shaggy brows bent the deepest and most absorbed atten- n while he mastered the mc ning of it. en he sprang suddenly to his feet, his eves flashed, his cheeke flushed and in his excitement he crumpled the message n his hand. With an effcrt he mas- emotion, put the paper into his pocket gnd walked out of the room. his was enougt to excite a less astute Aand imaginative man than Worlington Was these a coincidence? names received two two messages, or was and might be a coincidenc curious one. If en what coul zzled, but cc to the pro over in lem. Allt his m first blood horse sale w earlings were and were largely being b who would 1 they mig bred were h dealers, ds ineas in a now on sell for 50 g vear if all went wéll. One n with a dy face and a yellow overcoat t m by the dozen with as much san if they had been.oranges. enter- ing each bargain in a bloated note hook He bought forty or fifty during the time that Dodds was watching him. ho is that?”" he asked his neighbor, whose spurs and gaiters showed that he was to know. ared in astonishment at the stranger's ignorance. “Why, that's Jim Holloway; the great Jim H way,” sald he; then, seeing by e blank look upon Dodds’ »face that even this information had not helped him much, he went into details. “Sure he's the head of Holloway & Morland of Lon- don,” said he. “He's the buying partner, and he buys cheap, and the other stays at home and sells, and he sells dear. He owns more horses than any man in the world and asks the best money for them.” It is not to buy young horses, however, that the great dealers come to Ireland, and the real business of the fair com- menced when the four and five year olds were reached—the full grown, perfect horses at their prime and ready for any work or any fatigue. Seventy magnifi- cent creatures had been brought down by a single breeder, a comfortable-looking, keen-eyed, ruddy-cheeked gentleman who stood beside the salesman and whispered cautions and precepts into his ear. “That's Flynn of Kildare,” sald Dodds’ informant. “Jack Flynn has brought down that string of horses, and the other large string over yonder belongs to Tom Flynn, his brother. The two of them to- gether are the two first breeders In Ire- land.” A crowd had gathered In front of the horses. By common consent a place had been made for Mr. Holloway, and Dodds could catch a glimpse of his florid face and yellow covert coat in the front rank. He had opened his note book and was there any connection be- Two men with telegrams a few minutes of each other, each of a considerable length, each in cipher, cach causing keen emotion to the it tapping his - teath with hls ¢d the horses had mounted upor a chair, and his keen, clean-shaved iuce overlooked the crowd. Mr. Jack Flynn's gray whiskers were at his elbow and Mr. Holloway immediately In front. “You've seen these horses. gertlemen said the salesman with a backward sweep of his hand toward the line of tossing heads and streaming manes. “When you know that they are bred by Mr. Jack Flynn, at his place in Kildare, you will have a guarantee of their quality. They are the best that Ireland can produce, and In this class of horses the best that Ireland can produce are the best In the world, as every riding man knows fell. Hunters or carriage horses, al' warranted sound and bred from the best stock. There are seventy in Mr. Jack Flyan's string, and he bids me say that if any wholesale dealer would make one bld for the whole lot, to save time, he would have the preference over any purchaser.” There was a pause and a whisper from the crowd in front, with some ex- pressions of discontent. By a single sweep THE SUNDAY OCALL., all the small dealers had been put out of it. It was only a long rurse which could buy on such a scale as that. The salesman looked round him inquiringly. “Come, Mr. Holloway,” sald he at last. “You dign’'t come over here for Lhe sake of the scenery. You may travel the coun- try and not see such another string of horses. Glve us a starting bid The great dealer was still rattling his pencil upon his front teeth. “Well,” said he, at last, “they are a fine lot of horses, and I won't deny it. They do you credit, Mr. Flynn, [ am sure. All the same, I didn't mean to fill a ship at a single bid in this fashion. I like to pick and choose my horse: “In, that case Mr. Flynn is quite pre- pared to sell them in smaller lots,” said the ealesman. *“It was rather for the convenience of a wholesale customer that he was prepared to put them all up.to- gether, But if no gentleman wishes “to bid Wait a minute,” said a voice. “They are very fine horses, these, and I ‘will give you a bid to start you. I will give you twenty poundg each for the string of seventy.” There was a rustle as the crowd all swayed their heads to catch a glimpse of the speaker. | The salesman leaned forward. fay | ask your name, sir? “Strellenhaus—Mr. Strellenhaus of Liv- erpaol.” “It's a new firm,” sald Dodds’ neighbor. “1 thought 1 knew them all, but [ never heard of him before.” The salesinan’s head had tor he was whispering with the Now he suddeniy straightened again. “Thank you for giving us a lead, sir,” sald he. “Now gentlemen, you have heard the offer of Mr. trellenhaus of Liverpool. It will give us a base to start from. Mr. Strelles us has offered twen- ty pounds a head A /*'Guineas,” sa.. Mr. Holloway. “Brave, Mr. Holloway; I knew that you would take a hand. You are not the man to let such a string of horses pass away disappeared. %reeder himself from you. The bid Is twenty guineds a head.” “Twenty-five pounds,” sald Mr. Strel- lenhaus. “Twenty-six."” “Thirty.” It was London against Liverpool, and it was the head of the trade against an outsider. Stiil, the one man had Increased his bids by fives and the other only by JROROAORS LORORCRON KORIBORORONCE D CHORCRCHO RO i HCHOMORY CHOROOBDICH RORCHORORCH CHOBONY QCrOROHCOIOMORS SORORIHLS LHOEOOHOI DH0ROR CROCHIG é THE WONDERFUL KINGDOM OF WONDERFUL THINGS By CARTOONIST MoTUTCOHEON, The Famous Artist who first depicted the Philippines in 2 way that Convulsed the Wozld. Next Sunday Call WO FULL PAGES § 5 ; : - STORIFTTES, Something Absolutely New for HALF-HOUR Youngand Old It Will Amazs You. Tha Widuw's Secrets Reyealed - By Col. Kate. TORSRCHCH 1ORACHONOH R CRORCAOACHOH 0N JBORCRORIDACE RO ones. . Those fives meant determination and also wealth. Holloway had ruled the market so long that the crowd was de- lighted at finding some one who would stand up to-him. “The bid w stands at thirty pounds a head,” s the salesman. “The werd lies with voy, Mr. Holloway. “Thirty-one,” said Helloway, with the alr of a man who has gone to his ex- treme limit. *“Fhirty-two,” said Strellenhaus prompt- ly. Holloway grew angry at this persistent oppositien. His red face flushed redder il Hirty-three!” he shouted. “Thirty-four.” sald Streilenhaus. Holloway became thoughtful and en- tered a few figures in“his notebook. “At the end of your rope, Mr. Hollo- way?" asked the salesman, with the sus- picion of a sneer. “Thirty-five,” cried Holloway gruffly. “Thirty-six,” said Strellenhaus. “Then I wish you joy of your bargain,” sald Holloway. “I dom't buy at. that brice, but 1 should te glad to sell you some.” Mr. Strellenhaus took no notice of the frony. He was still looking critically at the horses. The salesman glanced round him in a perfunctory way- “Thirty-six pounds bid,” sald he. “Mr. Jack Fiynn's lot is going to Mr. Strellen- haus of Liverpool at £36 a head. Golng— going— *‘Forty!” cried a high, thin, clear voice. A buzz rosé from the crowd, and they were all on tiptoe again, trying to catch a gilmpse of this reckless buyer. Being a tall man, Dodds could see over the others, and there at the side of Holloway he saw the masterful nose and aristocratic beard of the second stranger In the coffee-room. A sudden personal interest added itself to the scene. He felt that he was on the verge of something—something dimly seen—which he could himself turn to ac- count. The two men with strange names, the telegrams. the horses—what was un- derlying it all? The salesman was all animatfon again, and Mr. Flynn was sitting up .with his white whiskers bristling and his -eyes twinkling. It was the best deal which he had ever made in his fifty years of ex-. perience. ““What name, sir?” asked the salesman, “Mr. Mancune.” * “Address?" “Mr. Mancune of Ghuo “Thank you for your bid, pounds a head has been bid by Mr, Man- cune of Glasgow. Any advance upon torty ?* Forty-one,” said Strellenhaus. “Forty-fiv said Mancune The tactics had changed and it was the turn of Strellenhaus now to advance by ones, while his rival sprang up by fives. But the former was as dogged as ever. “Forty-six,” sald he. “Fifty!” crled Mancune. It was unheard of. The most that the horses could possibly average at s retail price was as much as these men Wwers willing to pay wholesals. “As a mere matter of business, gentle- men,” said the salesman, “it Is usual in such cases to put down a small deposit as a guarantee of bona fides. You will un- derstand how I am placed, and that I M not had the pleasure of doing business with either of you before.” “How much?”’ asked Strellenbaus, briefly. “Should we say five hundred?” “Here is a note for a usand pounds.” And here is another,” said Mancune. Nothing could be more handsome, gen- tlemen,” s the salesman. “It's a treat to see such a's competition. The lagt bid was fi unds a head from Mancune. The word lies with you, Mr. Strellenhaus. Mr. Jack Flynn whispered something to the salesman. “Quite so! Mr. Flynn suggests, gentle- . that as you are both large buyers. would, perhaps, be a convenience to you if he was to add the string of Mr. Tom n, which consists of seventy anfmals of precisely the same quality, making 40 in all. Have you any eb- Mancune?” . Mr. Strellenhaus?* “I should prefer It.’ #Very handsome! V salesman “Then 1 under~ stand, Mr. Man- cune, that your of- ter of fifty pounds a head extends to the whole of thess horses?” “Yes, st A long breath went up from the crowd. Seven thou- sand pounds at one deal. It was cord for Duns- advance, haus?"* T‘*") could hard- ly helleve their ears. Holloway stood with his mouth open, star- ing blankly in front of him. The salesman tried hard to look as If such bidding and prices wers mnoth- ing unusual. The crowd listened In silence. “Sixty-one,” sald Strellenhaus. “Sixty-five.” “Sixty-six.” “Seventy.” But the alock- work had rus down. No angwer- Ing bid came from Mr. Strellenhaus. venty bid, Mr. Strellenhaus shrugged his shoul- d 1 am Dbuying for another, and I have reached his limit,” said he. “If you will per- mit me to send for insiructions—"" “T am afraid, sir, that the sale must proceed.” “Then the horses belong to this gen- an.” For the ¢ first time he ed toward his g and their glances crossed e swordblades. “Tt s possible that I may see the horses again.” “I hope so,” sald Mr. Mancune, and his white, waxed mustache gave a feline up- w bristle 0, with a bow they separated. Mr. Strellenhaus walked down to the tele- graph office, where his message was de- layed because Mr. Worlington Dodds was already at the end of the wires, for, after dim guesses and vague conjecture, he had suddenly caught a clear vieWw of this eom- ing event, which had cast sq curious a shadow before It in this little Irish town. Political rumors. names, appearances, tel- z*an-q seasone orses at any price, here could only be one meaning to it— he held a secret and he meant to use it. Mr. Warner, who was the partner of Mr. W gton De and who was suf- fering from the same eclipse, had gone down to the Stock Exchange, but had found little consolation there, for the Eu- ropean system was in a ferment, and ru- mors of peace and of war were succeed- ing each other with such rapidity and assurance that It was impossible to know which to trust. It was obvious that & fortune lay efther way, for every rumor : uz t without spe- nformation it was impossible to act. returned to his office in the afternoon, ialf inclined to back the chances of peace, for of all war scares not one in ten comes to pass. As he entered the office a tele- gram lay upon the table. It was from Dunsloe, a place of which he had never heard_and was signed by his absent part- ner. The message was in cipher, but he soon translated it, for it was short and crisp. “I am a bear of everything German an French. Sell, sell, sell, keep on selling. For a moment Warner hesitated. What could Worlington Dodds know at Dunsics which was not known In Throgmorton street? But he remembered the quick- ness and decision of his partner. If he was to act at all he must act at once; so, bardening his heart, he went down to the house, and, dealing upon that cu- rious system by which & man can seil what he has not got and what he could not pay for if he had it, he disposed of heavy parcels of French and German se- curities. He had caught the market In one of its Httle spasms of hope, and thers was no lack of buying until his own per- sistent selling caused others to follow his lead, and so brought about a reaction. When Warner retyrned to his offices it took some hours to work out his accounts, and he emerged into the streets in the evening with the absolute certainty that m next settling day would leave him ither hopelessly bankrupt or exceedingly pr/\p(‘r\‘us It all depended upon Worlington Dodd' information. What could he possibly have found out at Dunsloe? And then suddenly he saw & newspaper boy fasten a posteér upon & lamp post, and a little crowd had gathered around it in an instant. One of them waved his hat in the air; another shouted to & friend across the street. Warner hurried up and caught a glimpse of the poster between two craning heads: “PRANCE DECLARES WAR ON GER- MANTY!™ “By Jove!" cried Warner. “Old Dodds was right after all.” —_——————— Two German explorers are planning to g5 to the North Pole submarine boats. They think it wlii be casier to steam un- der the ice pack and come out at or near the pole than t b over the pack with dog siedges They are not afrald of get- ting lost. for they end to use wireless telchraphy to keep In communication with their base of supplies. Let us hepe that they may be more successful than Andre, who safled away in a balldon ‘to find the pole and has not been heard from since.