The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1904-07-28

John Hawkins was publicly named rs
the manipulation and principal winner.
but james Blake was hailed as the
daring operator whose brilliant gen
eralship had crowned the success of
the deal In the speculative frma-
ment he suddenly blazed forth as
star Of the first magnitude.
James Blake suddenly developed
traits which bewildered his friends
and surprised himself. Under the
guidance OF John Burt he mastered
the details OF the business. displaying
ability in dealing with the intricacies
which formed the daily routine. In
capable Of acting for himself, he could
follow a chartered course with the
precision of pilot.
Nature had denied to James Blake
that spark of genius which inspires
the leader. but he possessed In a high
degree those traits which leadership
attracts and invests with power. He
grasped Burt's plans Of campaign with
the intuition of Bernadotte. and ex-
ecuted them with the dash and skill
of a Murat. In the two years which
followed. wealth poured into the cof-
fers OF James Blake & Company.
Blake's name figured In great finan-
cial transactions. and his opinion was
eagerly sought in matters OF CONNER
ciai moment. Handsome as Apollo,
and the reputed possessor OF a large
fortune. he became n society lion, a
popular club man and the target 70
matrimonial archers.
Blake accepted his honors with dig
nifty and modesty. He was willing
and proud TO shine in the reflected
endured unmerited disgrace as Sc
renely as he wore unwon honors.
From the moment when Peter Burt
stood with uplifted arms in the light
ning's glare and gave him q blessing,
John Burt had no doubt of his finan-
cial future. With his eyes fixed I'M
waveringly on an immediate purpose.
do his bidding.
A profile portrait of Jessie Garden
rested on an easel which stood near
the desk in his library. 1t was the
work OF an artist of local fame. drawn
from n tintype photograph-his sole
memento of the women he loved. The
pink paper frame. with design in
hearts and roses, which surrounded
the photograph. was frayed and torn.
but Jessies sweet face was revealed
on the glossy surface of the metal
the face which had looked into his one
summer day when they rode to Hing
ham. and Jessie proposed they should
have their tintypes taken"
Jessie wns in her sixteenth year
long riding-habit and the queenly pose
OF her head against the plain back
ground added dignity to the nascent
charms of face and figure. John
would sit for hours during the long
evenings and gaze at this portrait 1t
was tho one visible connecting link
between the past and the present, tiJzr
ocular Inspiration for his future.
Again and again he attempted to pic
ture the Jessie Garden of the pres
emit. With his eyes fixed on the por-
tThit, anu MS nlHu CtnttTtu Ou ltS
original, he struggled to span the void
OF miles and years which parted them.
and to hold communion with her. At
times he imagined the message was
received. and that loving answer
came, bidding him to have faith and
to persevere. Surely such correspon-
dence was not in violation of his
promise to Peter Burti Then he
would turn to his books, and with a
light heart toll far into the night In
this room he mastered the secrets of
finance and of commerce. With him
self as tutor, he took postgraduate
course IN business. No detail was
too slight. no problem too intricate, to
escape his attention. The world was
the chessboard of his future opera
lions. and he explored its past aud
studied its present with zeal unfixg-
ging and faith unbounded.
But when slumber fell upon him,
and his soul wandered into unknown
regions, he dreamed-dreamed not OF
millions nor of triumphs over master
minds. He dreamed OF Jessie Car
den.
ITO be continued.)