River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-08-13

swift marks. Here" he said.
THAT'S the way to do it."
The mechanic looked at the draw
| ing and exclaimed: eyes, sir, that
will do it, sure thing. But / never
heard of fixing a chimney that way"
Randolph smiled and passed on.
Fannie looked at him in admiration.
His power to do things gave her a
sort of awe of him.
During the ride she drew him out
as to his life in the west. He was as
frank as child. He had worked out
a plan to irrigate an immense valley
| in Nevada and transform tens of
thousands of acres of useless land
into fertile farms. His plan was
perfected and Lad been carried out
enough to demonstrate it's practica-
| biIity. But he had run out of
money. 1t would require a vast
amount of money to work out the
plan, and get hold of the Ind so as
to secure a proportion of the bene-
| fit. A great railroad was ready to
penetrate the valley with a branch
as soon as they saw evidence of the
| plans being carried out. He had come
east to interest capital enough to de-
velop his plans. 1t would require
| about $1,o0O,000 to complete the irri-
cation system and secure control OF
the land. She listened so eagerly
| and asked SO many questions that he
was delighted, and came again and
| again to see her. She found real
interest in the plans of this enthusi-
asst to rehabilitate desert, and
poured over the scheme and the
principles it involved with an appli-
cation she had not displayed since
leaving school.
Hence, when he came to her one
day with white face and told her
that Mortimer and the crowd with
whom he had been figuring had
thrown the project in the air, she
felt nearly as badly as he did.
'SThey admit it is the most allur-
ing thing they have ever had offered
Them" he exclaimed, passionately,
''but they don't know for certain if
irrigation will irrigate-great heav-
ems! what have I been about for the
past five years if Z don't know about
that?"
He said he would make one more
trial with another party of capital
lists with whom he had correspondent.
"But I know what they want-to
get all the profits and give me thanks
and salary for my share. But
they won't get it excepting on my
terms. I'll burn the plans first"
The next day Judge Patten was
surprised by a visit from his fair
client, Fannie Verdevere. He had
beer her fathers legal adviser and
executor of the estate, and had
handled it since the distribution.
Fannie had never been in his Office.
GLOW much money have got?"
she asked.
"Eot much, not much. my DEAR"
chuckled the judge. "BuU you have
quite bundle of securities. What's
the matter2 Want to buy an English
duke?"
Glow much money can [ raise on
my securities?" she persisted.
''Well, I should say million and a
half, if you take plenty of time.
Mebbe million if they were forced
on the market" replied the judge.
"Well," announced Fannie, demure-
". ST am going to invest a mil
lion in western irrigation scheme,
and / want you to arrange it for me-"
We will pass by the apoplectic
condition of the judge and the cool
- Ct,.f4s AL
say that Henry Randolph received an
unexpected visit from Judge Patten
the next day and was told that some
clients of his desired to have in
formation regarding his irrigation
plans, with view to investing. Ran
dolph was suspicious and moved with
due caution. The judge and Fannie
had several stormy interviews.
"The plans certainly look all right,
and if it works there might be a bar
rel of money made, but it all depends
on this man Randolph" asserted the
lawyer.
'He is the man am betting on"
replied Fannie, coolly.
Eyes; but it is madness to put
practically your entire fortune into
one venture-and that not of an APP
proved character
$50 YOU have remarked BEFORE re-
marked Fannie, sweetly.
Randolph told Fannie of the deal
after it was made, saying the only
thing he disliked about it was the
mystery regarding the principals
During the following year he
wrote her occasionally, telling her
of the progress of the work. 1t was
two years before he returned east, |
and after some important business
calls FASTENED to present himself at
the Nandeverc home. His scheme had
won out. The land was not yet sold,
but irrigation was complete. and the
railroad built, and the Mortimer
syndicate offered to take the entire
thing from him for 100000 He
was iubilant.
''And 1 want to thank you for your
interest and encouragement" he
said, gravely. Her eyes twinkled.
''You did more than you know to
keep up my courage while / was try
ing to finance the DEAL" he con-
tinued.
Her eyes twinllled again. There
was another expression in them, too,
noting which he grew more grave
and earnest, and said, abruptly, seiz-
ing her hand in his.
miss Vandevere, I am able to