Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/35

 "I'll be there with hells on," declared Tom Grogan emphatically.

"Leave the bells home," chuckled Templeton, "or we won't let you in."

When Templeton returned, his wife was still reading.

"Where under the sun have you been?" she asked.

"I've just been down to Broad Street," he explained sheepishly. "I've staged a tiny personal panic and almost got arrested as well. I've got the best hunch that a fellow ever had. We're going to be rich, honey, but first of all it will be necessary for me to pawn your jewels."

"Which is an excellent way to start," she said drolly.

"Oh, you needn't worry," he hastened to assure her. "I've got plenty of ready cash, more money than I ever had, but I want still more. I've got a hunch that is simply perfect."

"Has it anything to do with railroads?" she asked demurely.

"Yes," he said.

"Then I believe in you," she told him, "and you can have my jewelry willingly. If you ever go broke it will not be in railroad stocks. Your knowledge of them is simply uncanny."

"I've studied them," he said simply. "I know my subject. That is all."

"It's enough," said she.

Early the next morning, Templeton was at his office. He was fortunately a member of the Stock Exchange. He had paid the enormous sum of forty-one thousand dollars for the seat. Therefore his appearance on the floor caused no comment Tom Grogan had visited his office and had brought five thousand dollars in cash. Templeton had secured a personal loan of thirty thousand dollars on his Stock Exchange seat. The friend who had put up the money, a prominent Wall Street banker, had been sworn to secrecy. Then cautiously, in small blocks, Templeton commenced buying Northern Pacific railroad stock. He continued doing so the next day and the next. He strove to appear unconcerned but in reality he was more excited than he had ever been in his life. He couldn't eat. He scarcely slept. Helen grew worried. But his very enthusiasm carried him through. He