The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-20


II hearing that Marge
was to marry Lu-
cha. Not knowing of this rumor, he called
at the Tramlay abode, ostensibly TO invite
Lucia and her mother to the theatre, and
from the manner of the ladies he assumed
that Phil, with the over confidence of youth
had proposed and been rejected. Marge's
curiosity as to what the head of the family
could want of the young man was allayed by
Mrs Tramlay'S statement that the visit was
due wholly to her husbands ridiculous man
uer Of inviting each country acquaintance to
come and see him if he ever reached New
York; his subsequent hospitality TO Philip
was only for the purpose of keeping on good
terms with some old fashioned people who
might some day again be useful as hosts, and
who could not be managed exactly as pro
fessional keepers of boarding houses.
But Marges curiosity was rearoused the
very day after he received this qLeting in
formation for he CHANGED to meet the mer-
chant with the young mans father, and was
introduced to the latter
4aSLantly the old question returned TO his
AsT7iJ3s "What can Tramlay want of that fell
ADw" Again his curiosity subsidized, when he
kepned Of the cottage city project, and,
bile agreeing ~ assume quarter Of the eX-
= pense of the enterprise, he complimented
Tramlay on his ability TO find something to
profit by, even while ostensibly enjoying an
occasional days rest in the country. But
when a day or two later, Phil reappeared
enl was presented to him as the old farmers
represenlative-aS the real holder in fact, of
u full quarter of the companys stock-Marge
looked sIspiriously at the merchant, and asked
himsef
what can Tramlay want of that fellow"
Reasoning according to the principles on
Which many szlall real. estate companies or
corporations developing patent are formed,
Marge soon informed himself that Tramlay,
who's, shrewdness he had always held in high
respect, preferred the son to the father, as
being the easier victim of the two The
processes OF frightening out or freezing out"
an inventor or farmer who had put his prop
erty in the hands of a stock company were
not entirely unknown to Marge, and he nat
uraIly assumed that they would be easier of
application to a green young man like
Philip than 10 O clear headed old man as
Farmer Hayn seemed to be. But if the
rural element of the company was to be de-
spoiled of its own, Marge proposed to see that
not ali the spois should go to the merchant.
How better could he improve his own posi-
sion with Tramlay than by making himself
the merchants superior in tinessel
He would have the advantage of being
able to watch Phil closely, and of knowing
first when he might be inclined to sell out at
safcfice should the young man, like most OF
his age and extraction, develop an Unsuitable
appetite for city joys that cost money, he,
Marge, would cLeerfuly supply him with
money from time to time, taking his stock as
Securty, and some day the merchant would
hoo
The mere thought of such a triumph impelled
the deliberate Marge to take a small. bottle
Of champagne with his midday luncheon-a
luxury which he usually reserved until even
ing at the club.
But again he was startled when light
headed friend complained that, although the
said friends father had been promised a
place for his son in Tramlay's Office when the
iron trade should look up, Tramlay had taken
ina coYntryman instead. His own eyes soon
safrmed the intelligence, and, as Tramlay
made no explanation or even mention Of the
fact, Marge again found himself asking:
What can Tramlay want of that fellowfn
Evidently 1t meant either business or Luz
cja Perhaps the merchant during the long
depression of the iron trade had borrowed
money of the young mans father, or was now
borrowing of him, to avail himself of his in
creasing opportunities. (Marge had the city
mans customary but erroneous impression as
20 the bank surplus of the average well to
do" farmer.l If Tramlay were merely n bor-
rover, except against notes and bills receiva-
ble iron had not looked up enough to justify
a prudent man in becoming the merchants
son-in-law If there had been such transac-
tons, perhaps a share of the business was to
pay for them. Inquiries of his banking ac-
eRlntances did not make the matter clearer
20 Marge; SO be resolved to devote himself TO
the new clerk, as he could safely do in his
pacity of co-director of the Improvement
company. The young man had considerable
self possession, Marge admitted to himself
but what would it avail against the fine
methods of Il man of twice his years, all spent
arnong men who considered it legitimate
Business to pry into the business affairs of
othersg
So Marge began operations at once; no
time WAS TO be lost. He had no difficulty in
making his approaches, and his courtesies
we're so deity offered that Phil could not
help accepting many Of them and feeling
grateful for kindness rendered. The young
mans suspicious were soon disarmed, for, like
honorable natures in general, he abhorred
suspicion. That there was purpose in al
of MaTge's actions Phil could not avoid be-
Eeving but little by little he reached the con-
clasion that it was simply to forward the
Improvement company s prospects As Marge
himself said, Phil knew the companys land
thoroughly, and was the only person who
could talk OF it intelligently. Amy vestiges
of distrust that remained were swept away
when Marge succeeded in having the privi-
Ieges of his club extended TO Phil for sAree
months, pending application for admission
/ d..
heard it named almost reverently by some
yo9ng men who longed to pass its portals,
ann among its members were q few men Of a
social set more prominent than that in which
the Tramlays moved.
To Marge's delight, Phil began to spend
money freely at the club; Marge had seen
other young men do likewise, and there was
bat one end to be expected if their parents
!. sfe not rich. Phil drank no wine, smoked
no cigars yet when he thought it proper to