The Washington times., 1903-02-22

aimlessly and at last fades into the
country. Centropolis stretches its dreary
length along the river. It is a patch
work OF staring white packing houses
and dingy dramshops. caught in the gi-
gantic meshes Of a web Of railway
tracks: on the hilltop a tumble Of i'll
paved, dirty streets lined with low, box
like, red brick shops. with here and
there an office building, ostentatious.
new. bristling above its humber neigh
bors like n selr-Tade man among his
less successful fellows. Through the
residence quarter. toward the south.
stretch treeIess, dusty avenues. bordered
by vacant ground. broken only at inter
walls by pTetentious houses Of ford ar
chitocture. Crude. unlovely. blatantly
new. the town sprawls ever under a
heavy canopy Of duh smoke
Tho gray afternoon of a November day
was deepening into twilight. Two men
sat in the private oficc OF tho president
of the Higgins Investment Company. in
the Higgins Building. the most ornate
and towering structure Of the city. One
OF them. a pompous. red-faced man with
thin brown hair smoothed carefully
across his bald head. had been talking
earnestly and long, tapping meanwhile
with his pencil on the plans OF bridge
which lay spread open on his desk. His
smooth flow OF words ceased at an i'm
patient movement on the part OF his
companion. and his small. heavy lidded
eyes watched that person narrowly as
he said;
"It's no use wasting words. Higgins
We have been all over those points be
fore. Your bridge scheme may prove
the bonanza you prophesy. but I haven [
faith enough in Il to advise my clients
10 invest Mark my words, CentropoIis
has seen it's best days; a collapse is
coming. and coming quick
The speaker arose and picked up his
hat.
You will see your mistake when the
bridge is built and is coming money. ="
replied Higgins. smiling uneasily. and
rubbing his great hands together. you
had better reconsider your decision
CrandaIl
NO, I have made up my mind Good
night. Higgins"
Good might"
When his visitor had gone Higgins
still sat drumming impatiently on the
desk with his pencil, look of per
plexity and chagrin upon his face
Finally he rolled up the bridge plans
fastened them securely with rubber
band. and touched an electric bell a
his side He waited for a response u
his call with his arms cIasped across
his ample stomach, his fingers tapping
thoughtfulIy one against another. Thu
door opened slowly, admitting a thin
visaged man. sallow. middle aged. def
erential.
We'll. sir?"
There is no hope from Crandall. H
absolutely refuses 20 touch 81. And h
means no when he says it-damn him
He has only to say the word, and none,
would pour In like water. 1t simpl
amounts to this: I have got 10 Loo
somewhere else. We must have tn
money by the 1st OF next month"
Yes. sir. or let our guaranteed mort
gage bonds 20 to the wall; and tina
means"
Careful. Dodgei"
The man flushed slightly. We'll, 20
know what I mean" he said.
II know what you fear-you're a COW
ard, Dodgel You always were one. Con
hdence Is what you want. Look at me
Where would I be by this time If
hadn't had confidence 20
Yes. 1 know" returned Dodge, hum
bly,: but 1 didn't see just where III
money was coming from unless Gran
dali would interest his people. tn
bank won't do anything more"
NO. Between ourselves. the ban
is devilish hard up. too. Let me see
today is Friday"
Yes. sir"
well. I shall leave tomorrow nigl
seven o'clock for the East"
rs there a chance there. Go yc
Think"
The big man arose from his chat
cycling his companion majesticaII
Think? 1 know, Am / in the hab
OF jumping in the dark?'
Dodge withdrew nervously. closing Il
door carefully and silently behind lii
Higgins was a story common enoul
In the boom" towns Of the Weste
States. Ten years before. at the cor
mencement OF the wave OF real esta
speculation which swept over the cou
try west OF the Missouri. he had arriv
at CCntropolis with $500 in cash, u
limited faith in his own judgment, a
a afurrfIarfv elastic r.Oneriaucp with