The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-27

cia. Not knowing of this rumor, he called
at the Tramlay abode, ostensibly to invite
Lucia and her nsother 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. Marges
curiosity as to what the head of the family
could want of the young man was allayed by
Mrs. Tramlays statement that the visit was
due wholly to her husbands ridiculous man
ner of inviting each country acquaintance to
come and sec 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 Aarge's curiosity was rearoused the
very day after he received this quietng in
| formation, for he CHANGED to meet the mer-
chant with the young mans father, and was
| introduced TO the latter.
Instantly thepld question returned to his
| lips, "What can Tramlay want of that fell
| lowi" Again his curiosity subsidized, when he
learned of the cottage city project, and
while agreeing to assume a quarter of the ex-
pense of the enterprise, he complimented
Tramlay on his ability to find something to
occasional lays rest in the country But
when a day or two later, Phil reappeared
and was presented to him as tho old farmers
representatives. the real holder, in fact, of
full quartsr of the companys stock-Marge
looked suspiciously at the merchant, and asked
himself:
"What can 'framlay want of that fellow2"
Reasoning according to the principles on
oh, tata
corporations developing patent are formed,
Marge soon informed himself that Tramlay,
whose 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
urally assumed that they would be easier of
application to a green young man like
Philip than to clear headed old man as
Farmer Hayn seemed to be- But IL the
rural element Of the company was to be de
spoiled of its own, Marge proposed to see that
not all the spoils should go to the merchant.
How better could he improve his own posi-
ton with Tramlay than by making himself
the merchants superior in finessea
He would have tho advantage of being
able to watch Phil closely, and of knowing
first when he might be inclined to sell out at q
sacrifice; should the young man, like most of
his age and extraction, develop an Unsuitable
appetite for city joys that cost money, he,
Marge, would cheerfully supply him with
money from time to time, taking his stock as
security, and some day the merchant would
suddenly find himself beaten at his own game.
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
in a conntryman instead His own eyes soon
confirmed 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 fellowg"
Evidently 1t meant either business or Luz
cia. 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. CMarge had the city
mans customary but erroneous impression as
to the bank surplus of the average 'well to
do" farmer) IL Tramlav were merely bor-
rover, except against notes and bills receiva
BILE. iron had not looked up enough to Justify