The southern sentinel., 1903-09-18
He started and looked at her ear.

ly, but Stul crlmSon'
81 will come" said he.
He called the next cay, and she
took him for long ride through the
park and drives.
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 had been carried out
enough to demonstrate its practica-
bility. 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 '~nd so a.
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,0OO 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 a 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 I don't know about
that?"
He said he would make one more
trial with another party of capital
lists with whom he had corresponded.
"But 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
been her fathers legal adviser and
executor of the estate, and had
handled it since the distribution.
Fannie had never been in his Office.
.How much money have I got?"
she asked.
'.Not much, not much, my DEAR"
chuckled the judge. "But you have
quite bundle of securities. What's
the matter? Want to buy an English
duke?"
"How much money can / raise on
my securities?" she persisted.
"Well, should say a million and .
half, if you take plenty Of time.
Mebbe million il they were forced
on the market" replied the judge.
". 81 am going to invest a. mill
hon in a western irrigation scheme,
and want you to arrange it for me-"
We will pass by the apoplectic
condition of the judge and the cool
insistence of Fannie. Suffice it to
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 a view to investing. Ram
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 bar
rel of money made, but it all depends
on this man Randolph" asserted the
lawyer.
"He is the man 1 am betting on"
replied Fannie, coolly.
"Yes;. but it Is madness to put
practically your entire fortune into
one venture-and that not of an ap-
proved character"
So 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 1t 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 hastened to present himself at
the vandeverc home. His scheme had
won out. The land was not yet sold, |
but irrigation was complete, and tho |
railroad built, and the Mortimer
syndicate offered to take the entire
thing from him Tor $4,000. 900. He
was jubilant.
.And want to thank you for your
interest and encouragement" he
said, gravely. Her eyes twinkled.
"You did more than you know to
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