CHAPTER 3Before returning to Higbeeville, Mr. Clackworthy spent a busy week in Chicago. Some of his activities, so far as his co-plotters against idle and surplus wealth were concerned, were clothed in utmost secrecy. This was for the fun of springing his financial climax as a complete and often breath-taking surprise.
He rented a somewhat elaborate office and placed George Bascom in charge as president of “Bascom & Co., Jobbers.” This detail attended to, he bought machinery and had it shipped to Higbeeville.
If Apperson Pool, cashier of the State Bank of Higbeeville, had the idea that Mr. Clackworthy was small fry—and he undoubtedly did—he was startlingly disillusioned when the master confidence man walked into the bank on his return from Chicago and calmly deposited a Chicago draft for
