The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-02-21

the "B.lt" theory. he ended "wild-cat-
ting In other words. he assumed tx.
traorl'nary risks. His efforts were at
tended with varying success. lie cNpe.
ricnccd downright bad luck. and rare
good fortune, too.
In a year less timc-his old friends
scarcely knew Eugene F. lie was
energetic, confident, positive and de-
cisivo; very fair specimen oi thor
ough-coing American business man.
His ventures proved profitable In the
main. and then. all at once. accident
filed his pockets one night when he
slept. He was the poSscssor Of half
million. He was in the middle Of the
current. prominent craft in the stream
that allurcd thousands, lloatcd frac-
ton into safe harbor. and stranded the
great majority.
I seldom met Eugene now. We were
in different channels. Chance brought
US face Ia face ono day in front of the
Era Office.
GLOW are YOU. Ned? Hal dinner?
Come with me. want company. No
refusal now
"Alakc it tonight, at home, and I'll
be- ON hand"
81 wish ! could; but the truth i. |
am SO seldom at home now-l don't
know when I've spent night, or rather
an evening. at home"
And this was my booki,h friend who,
n year AGO, could not be induced 10
leave his snug library, or coy living
room. where his wife and children were
his chief companions.
Half an hours conversation proved
To me that my fricnd-tEe man | had
respected aud loved was rs dead rs
the Pharo1hs. In his place found
man who seemed a bundle OF nerves.
He had lost the rcposc Of my old
friend. and with il his grace. While IL
was impossible for Eugene F to be-
come either coarse or bruSquc, his posi-
tive manner and tones, his decision.
gave him an angulari,y that was less
To be admired than his former ease and
urbanity.
Nov YOU have made your pile. En-.
gene. suppose YOU will be OF TO Europe
some of these days. Possibly We may
lose YOU altogether"
He looked at me with undisgiised
aslonishmcn;. "What makes you say
that?'
"zhcy say you are worth nearly a.
Million"
"Seo herc-this is in confidence,
Ned hey sdy' great deal that isn't
true. But in this instance tbey are not
far wrong. But why should quit on n
million? Have some more mushrooms.
This is the only place l can gci II decent
steak in town.
i've seen the time YOU would have
been content with quarter of n mill
ion."
"Ycs; in the long ago. DO YOU
know, | was fool in those days. Ma
turc never intended man should bc
content. He ought to DO just rs eager
to make his ,cnth-yes, his hundredth
million for that mattcr-as his first.
For my part-but mind YOU don't let
your hive know IL; don't care IN get
them after mc-rvo no Intention OF
quitting till I've made five millions"
You have only another step to take.
and YOU will establish your claim to all
the privileges enjoyed by aristocrats."
lie laughed.
"No. | am too sensible for that" he
replied; although. for that matter,
you know | always held nature had
ers 81 wood and drawers OF water ~
long rs grass grows or water runs.
III meant there Is danger that one day
YOU will look with contempt on man
with less than ten thousand year"
Don't blame me, my boy" he re-
piled. in patronizing manner immc-
diately resented. Iii I've set my peg for
five millions"
''Tyc seen the time YOU we're rs well
of, enjoyed the world. literature, art,
the society Of your friends, and, above
all. the companionship Of your wife and
children. and all on less than three
thousand year, for | happen to know
you gave literally and lent freely"
IL can only repeat--ilyc million is
my figure And I've only made the
first notch on that stick"
GLOW If you fail? You never know
when the sec-saw will bump you on the
ground"
The next day Eugene F. lost hun
dred thousand. A week later he was
not worth ten. There came ont of
contest. such as was never witnessed
before nor since between oil operators.
Nero wrecks OF II en- mentally and NOR
ally, physically and financially. chief
among whom was Eugene F.. The
tarantula's bite had poisoned his LIES
blood. He was was no longer the brisk,
neat. scrupulously-dressed, quiet-man.
nercd gentleman. lie was unshayen
half the time. His eyes were shifting,
never steady, and partly discolorcd.
Unrest and che fever Of speculation left
their traces-stamped-I should say
branded him as an unsuccessful man.
once heard n man land he belonged
20 my own guild. more's the PITY, say
that all labor was degrading. lie cited
our great manufacturing centcrs-point-
cd To the homes of the workers whose
products are the very pillars OF the
earth, so far as its commercial, monied
and many OF its social institutions arc
and proved to his own salts
that the tendency Of all labor
was to brutalize; to harden; To destroy
the sensibilities. He made the too COM
mon mistake Of confounding effects
with causes.
wonder what this student would say
Il some one should cite to him the case
Df Eugene F.. II might puzzle him
TO define the precise value OF the patent
n nobility he derived through two
years intercourse with The men who gov |
,rn the worlds marts. and represent the |
interests OF trade.
Eugene was rushing-he never |
walked rs other men walk now--past
me one day. when caught his arm.
"Hello! How,l'y old boyP"
That's precisely the question I have
10 ask you. Como In here |