VII.
MORTIMER found Colonel Casimir enjoying an after-breakfast cigar and reading the financial news. The colonel was spick and span, freshly brushed, cleanly shaven, newly polished, and even wore a flower in his buttonhole.
"Sit down, seh—sit down!" he exclaimed cordially, motioning Mortimer to a chair. "Fine mawnin', Misteh Mo'timer. Makes me feel almost young again. And how do you find yourself, seh, and how is my young friend Collin'wood?"
"Quite well, both of us, colonel," replied Mortimer. "I ran over this morning to have a few words with you about a matter of business."
The colonel did no! appear surprised.
"In that case, seh," he said, "perhaps it would be as well for us to imbibe our mawnin' drink first."
"Not for me, thank you, colonel," Mortimer declined. "I really can stay only a minute."
"Well," sighed the colonel regretfully, "you young men pu'sue wealth to the exclusion of rational enjoyment. Prayeh, seh, and a propeh amount of stimulant hindeh no man's journey. But as you please. Pe'mit me to offer you a segah."
Mortimer took the long, black panatela and bit off the end nervously. The colonel cut a V in its counterpart with exceeding care, lighted it, and turned an eye of bland inquiry on the other.
"You spoke of business, seh?" he hinted gently.
"About the Silver Queen shares," said Mortimer, endeavoring to speak indifferently. "I gathered from your conversation last night that you were anxious to buy a control."
"I was speaking in confidence, seh," said the colonel, "but it is a fact. What then, seh? Have you stock to dispose of?"
"Not exactly.*' said Mortimer; "but I happen to know—that is, I think I could perhaps find some."
Colonel Casimir stroked his goatee.
"The fact is, seh," he said, "I am through foolin' about with small lots. I want enough to give me the control, or nothing."
"This isn't a small lot," said Mortimer.
"No?" The colonel's face expressed polite doubt.
"One hundred thousand shares," said Mortimer.
The colonel sat upright and regarded him with interest.
"Have you an option on them?" he asked with what seemed to be hardly concealed eagerness.
"Well—not yet," hesitated Mortimer. "I know who has them, though," he added, as the colonel sank back in his chair.
"Without bein' discourteous," said Colonel Casimir, "I have known as much for some time. When you speak of a block of one hundred thousand shares—I assume it is in one block—I also nachully assume that you mean Lowrey's holding. Am I right?"
"Yes," Mortimer admitted.
"Quite so. Well then, seh, I presume you have information as to his whereabouts."
"Perhaps I have," said Mortimer, with what he considered a knowing air. "The point is, colonel, if I can deliver you one hundred thousand shares, what will you pay for them?"
Colonel Casimir smoked for a moment or two in silence.
"Are you in a position to guarantee delivery?" he asked.
"Not exactly," Mortimer replied.
The colonel shook his head.
"Then I can't make you a definite offer for what you may or may not be able to sell. If you come to me shares in hand it might be different."
"I don't see why," said Mortimer. "I only want to know what they will be worth if I can get them. If I can't get them that settles it."
"The fact is," said Colonel Casimir, "that time is impo'tant in this matteh. They might be worth more to me to-day than a week hence, or they might not. I can't make you a definite offer, seh, open for an indefinite time. If I make one at all there must be a time limit on it."
"How long?" asked Mortimer.
The colonel considered, stroking his goatee. Mortimer waited anxiously.
"Put it this way. If in three days you can deliver me one hundred thousand Silver Queen I will pay fifty cents per share. If after that, up to one week, I will pay fo'ty. After that I don't want them at all. I'll fo'feit my options and stand my loss."
"That's satisfactory," said Mortimer, relieved. "I hope to get them in three days."
"Very good, seh," said the colonel. "Of course you unde'stand that in the meantime my agents will continue their inquiries, and if they can locate the owneh of this block and buy the shares for me they will he quite within their rights."
"Of course I understand that," Mortimer replied. "That's fair. Would you mind giving me a little memoranda of the agreement, colonel?"
"My word, seh," said Colonel Casimir with dignitv, "is prob'ly as binding as any writing. And yet you are quite right. Mode'n business destroy old-fashioned ideas of honah. You shall have our memorandum, seh."
With the brief note penned by the colonel in his pocket Mortimer almost ran to the bank where he kept his account, for the train for Coppercliffe was due in half an hour. As he would need ready money to deal with a total stranger such as Lowrey he withdrew almost his entire balance, leaving only a nominal sum to keep the account open. On the two-hundred-mile run to Coppercliffe he was nervous and excited, and frequently felt the inside pocket in which he carried his money to make absolutely sure of its possession. He tried to formulate a plan of action which should give Lowrey no inkling of the value of the shares and yet adequately explain his desire to buy them; but he failed to do so and made up his mind to confine himself to a cash offer and refuse all explanations.