The Holly chieftain., 1904-09-16
CHAPTER XXI.
Unreasoning Passion.

sons knew that such man as John
Burt lived-James Blake and Peter
Burt.
John Burt owned stock in thou
sands of miles of railroads. He was
an investor in ether great enterprises
and activities. An army of men
worked under e. direction, and the
stock market rose and fell at the pres
sure of his unseen hand. For years
he had rebelled at the fate which had
made him a recluse, which denied
him the fellowship and confidence of
his peers He felt keen joy over
the knowledge that the day was ap-
preaching when he could assume his
true place in the world of vast affairs.
But of earth's countless millions
there was one above all others to
whom he wished to tell his secret.
He impatiently awaited the time when
he could look into Jessie Gardens
face and read the verdict in her eyes.
Were years of patient waiting and
working to be rewarded or unrequit
ed?
Blake arrived at his Office at an I'M
usually early hour on the morning
following his introduction to Jessie
Garden. He had spent miserable
night. No sleep came to his blood
shot eyes. and for hours he restlessly
paced the floor.
Il love her; my God, how I love
her, but | also love john" he eX-
claimed again and again, as the night
hours crawled slowly away. What
shall l do; what can | do? cannot
give her up. By God, I'll not give her
up for any man; not even for John
Burt! Would John surrender the
woman he loved for me? What am i
to do? I must decide before | see
him. If / tell John she is in New
York he will see her inside of twenty
four hours That will be the end of
my hopes. She shall love me! She
| must love me! | cannot live without
her! Oh. why did ever see her."
In this unequal contest between
loyalty and passion in weak and
self-indulgent nature. passion won the
battle. but at frightful sacrifice.
| His judgment warned him that he
was doomed to defeat, but with the
| frenzied desperation of a gambler he
staked everything-honor friendship,
| loyalty his business career-all on
the turn of card, and dared to meet
John Burt with treachery in his heart
and lie on his lips.
f, Blake knew that John Burt was in
his private office. but for the first
| l.; h. trr
it. Prosperity had erected no wall
of formality between these two.
From the day they fought their boy
ish battle, on the edge of the fishing
pool, they had called each other
John" and "Jim." In tacitly accept
ing John Burt's leadership, Blake rec
ognized in his companion those traits
which attract allegiance, and which
hold it by unseen but powerful bands.
BY display of tact which amounted
to genius, John Burt had aided James
Blake without patronizing him, ind
had forgiven his repeated mistakes
without offending him.
Blake strolled slowly through the
connecting Offices and entered the
large room reserved for customers.
Those who knew the famous oper.
ator bowed respectfully. Blake gazed
absent-mindedly at bulletin board
containing the early London and Paris
quotations. He read them, but they
had no meaning. He was thoroughly.
abjectly miserable.
who is that gentleman" asked a
smooth-cheeked and dapper young
man, who had embarked on his first
speculative venture by risking the
major part of his quarterly allow
| ance.
why, don't you know" exclaimed
his companion. Il should have intro
duced you. That's James Blake--the
famous and only James Blake. Five
years ago he didn't have dollar.
Twenty millions in five years is his
record? And it hasn't enlarged his
hat in the least. He tells good
story, sings a good song. and no man
in the club can drink him under she
| table"
Ito be continued.)