Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-10-29
a TX nave or
Con science
BY FRANCIS LYNDE. "
CHAPTER XVII.-CoST1y1,rn
Copyright 400, by Francis Lynde.)

Copyright 400, by Francis Lynde.)
CHAPTER XVII.-CoNT1NUED.
Griswold's pale face flushed, and
his finger-tips tingled again. "You
are very kind; kind and charitable
I think sympathy has been an un.
known quantity in my equation
May I really come to see you as q
friend?'' =
Haven't said it," she asked; and
she might have emphasized it had
not Raymer come to take Griswold
home.
Raymer's sorrel had covered hall
the distance from the lake edge to
Mrs. Holcombs before it's owner
said:
"Well, how near do we come to
aping the manners. of the effete
east?'
I'm no authority" said Griswold;
adding as a salve: II enjoyed it."
'"Then you weren't bored?"
II fancy Miss Grierson doesn't
often bore people. does she:"
No; she has knack of stroling
you the right way. 1t takes her ia
Their to do the other thing"
''The magnate? I thought you
said he was a public benefactor."
Ibid I? We've told ourselves that
till we've come to believe it. But
he's principally for Jasper Grierson
at bottom"
NATURALLY. Greed is the Jugger-
naut of this end of the century,
bah! That's sheer platitude in
your mouth, Griswold. You don't
know anything about it, you men of
letters and leisure. It's simply a
savage fight for survival, and the
man with the money wins"
Yes? I believe I've said some
such thing myself. But I've been
hoping you'd manage to escape"
II might have escaped. I was do
ing we'll enough, but I coulcn' t
stand it to see the town growing
away from me- So I borrowed
money and spread myself; and now
I'm fighting for dear life with the
rest of them"
Griswold's comment was brief and
to the point. Tell me about it," he
said.
cts short horse and soon cur
ried,' said the iron master, bitter
ly. "Two months ago 1 borrowed
s95,ooo of Jasper Grierson's bank. I
gave him 6o-day note and a mort
gage, with the verbal understanding
that l was to have my own time for
payment. The 80 days will be up
Tuesday. and he has notified me that
I must lift a third of the indebted
ness on that day."
"a third"
Eyes. Of course it's preposterous.
He knew all the circumstances at
the time; that the loan was build
ing fund which couldn't bear fruit
until it was planted"
Griswold shook his head. s'You
certainly took terrific chances"
didn't I? 1t proves what a man
will do when he is greed-bitten.
And the worst of it is that three
fourths of the original capital be-
long to my mother and sister, and
they were both distrustful of the
spread-eagle move with Grierson as a
backer."
Griswold was silent while the sor-
rel was measuring a full square.
Then he said: "What is Grierson's
object?"
II don't know. To break me or TO
own me, suppose"
There may be an alternative:
what was it you told me this morn
ing about the little social melee?"
Raymer pulled the sorrel up short.
"Heavens! you don't suppose she
has put him up to it for that"
II suppose nothing that involves
Miss Grierson. But isn't it possible
that her father may be resentful for
her? I believe if you could persuade
your mother and Miss Gertrude to
call
-Raymer's laugh was not mirthful.
"You would be The last man in the
world to act upon a suggestion of
that sort yourself, Griswold.'
!: 'Oh, don't know. If it is only a
little social friction-'
cts more than that; though why
it should be I don't know. I 1elieve
my mother and Gerty would face
beggary cheerfully before they
would pay that price. Anyway,
shant' ask them"
:. 'What will you do?'
r I'LL 4
ing my grief on YOU"
/: They had reached Mrs. Holcomb's
= gate and Raymer cramped the buggy
at the curb. But Griswold did not
get out. Instead he put one hand on
Raymer's knee. and said: "Have you
ever thought of taking partner?"
Raymer's smile was a mere grim
ace.
ut begins to look as If I should
have to take one that I don't want
1T needn't come to that. I have
some money which I want to invest
& where it will do the most good to
] the greatest number. You spoke
! this morning of some plans you had
( in view for the betterment Of your
workmen. If you will carry them
/ out, and let me help, we can arrange
( q little surprise for Mr.. Grierson."
Raymer was stupefed, as he had a
good right to be. But he managed
to ask how. H.. 80
I'm the simplest way Imaginable.
\ Come to me, tomorrow morning and
Z I win give you the money to take
up your note and the mortgage"