Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-30

! John Hawkins was publicly named as
/ the manipulation and principal winner,
/ but James Blake was hailed a. the
| daring operator whose brilliant gen.
! eralship had crowned the success OF
! the deal. In the speculative nrma-
/ ment he suddenly biazed forth ~ .
! 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 iutricacies
which formed the daily routine In
capable OF acting for himself. he could
follow 8 chartered course with rAe
precision Of a pilot
Nature had denied to James Blake
that spark of genius which inspires
the leader, but be possessed In high
degree those traits which leadership
attracts and invests with power He
grasped Burtss plans Of campaign with
the intuition Of Bernaaotte, and ex-
eeuted them with the dash and skill
Of Murat- In the two years which
followed. wealth poured into the cof-
fers of James Blake & Company.
Blake's name figured In great hnan-
cial transactions. and his opinion was
eagerly sought In matters OF CONNER
cial moment Handsome as Apollo.
and the reputed possessor OF large
fortune. be became . society hon. n
popular club man and the target 10
matrimonial archers.
Blake accepted his honors with dig
nifty and modesty. He was willing
and proud to shine in the reflected
light of John Burt He would have
endured unmerited disgrace as se-
renely as he wore uawon honors.
sFro,n the moment when Peter Burt
stood with uplifted arms In the light
ning,s glare and gave him a biessins.
John Burt had no doub; Of his imam
cial future With bis eyes hxed un-
waverinsiy on an immediate purpose.
he had boldly commanded fortune TO
do his bidding
4 proaie portrait Of Jessie Garden
rested on an easel which stood near
the desk in his library. II Was the
work OF an artist OF local fame. drawn
from a t.ntype photograph-his sole
menento of the women he loved The
pink paper frame. with design In
hearts and roses. which surrounded
the photograph. was frayed and torn.
but Jessie's sweet face vas revealed
on the glossy surface Of the metal
a. - =. ars1 "a.
simmer day when they rode 70 Hing
ham. and Jessie proposed they should
have theb tintypss taken-
Jessie N.s in her sixteenth year
when the picture Wa taken. but the
hong ridine-hahit an; the quecniy pose
of her head against the palm back
ground added dignity to the nascent
charms Of face and figure. John
would sit for hours during the long
evenings and gaze t this portrait II
was the one visible cpaaectirg link
between the pas; and the present, the
ocular Inspiration for his future
Again ana again he attempted TO pic
ture the Jessie Garden Of the pres
eat With his eyes hxed On the por-
trait. and his mind csntered oc its
original. he struggled TO span the void
Of miles and years which parted them.
and 20 hold communion with her. AT
times he imagined the message vas
received. ard that a loving answer
came. bidding him to have faith ard
TO persevere. Surely such co-respor-
aence was not in violation Of his
promise to Peter Burt, Then he
would turn TO bis books. and with =
/ light heart toll far into the night L.
/ this room lie mastered the secrets OF
! finance ana of commerce. With hin
/ self as tutor, he took \ postgraduate
course in business No de,al was
: too slight. no problem too intricate. 10
escape his attention- The world was
the ehessboard Of his future opera
tons. and be explored Its pas, ard
studied its present with zeal uneas
/ ging and faith unbounded.
Blu; when siumher :cli upon hin.
7 and his soul wandered into unknown
regions. he dreamed-dreamed not Of
millions nor Of triumphs over master
minds He dreamed of Jessie Car
Ito be continued-l
i