Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1904-07-14

John Hawkins was publicly named as
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 hrma
ment he suddenly blazed forth as a
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 intrlcacies
which formed the daily routine. In
capable of acting for himself, he could
follow a chartered course with the
precision Of a 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 a 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
cial moment. Handsome as Apollo,
and the reputed possessor OF a large
fortune, he became a society lion, a
popular club man and the target TO
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 Sc
renely as he wore unwOn honors.
From the moment when Peter Burt
stood with uplifted arms in the light
nings glare and gave him a blessing,
John Burt had no doubt of his finan-
cial future. With his eyes fixed UNI
waveringly on an immediate purpose,
he had boldly commanded fortune to
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 a tintype Photographers sole
memento of the women he loved. The
pink paper frame, with a design in
hearts and roses, which surrounded
the photograph, was frayed and torn,
but Jessie's 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 was in her sixteenth year
when the picture was taken, but the
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 the one visible connecting link
between the past and the present, the
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-
trait. and his mind centeTed on its
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 a loving answer
came, bidding him to have faith and
to perseyere. Surely such cOrrespon-
dence was not in violation of his
| promise to Peter Burt! 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 a 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,
! tions, and he explored its past and
studied its present with zeal unhag
| ging and faith unbounded.
But when slumber fell upon him
and his soul wandered into unknown
regions, he reamed-dreamed not Of
millions nor Of triumphs over master
minds. He dreamed Of Jessie Car
den.
Ito be continued)