Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-07-29

JOnn HAWKINS was DnDllcly named ~
| 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 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 intricacies
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 high
degree those traits which leadership
attracts and invests with power. He
srasped Burt's plans of campaign with
the intuition OF a Bernadotte. and ex-
ecuted 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-
ciai transactions. and his opinion was
eagerly sought In matters of CONNER
cial moment. Handsome rs Apollo.
and the. reputed possessor OF large
fortune. he became a society lion. n
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
light of John Burt. He would have
endured unmerited disgrace as Sc
renciy rs he wore unwon honors.
From the moment when Peter Burt
stood with upliftcd arms In the light
nlns's glare and gave him n blcssinA.
John Burt had no doubt OF his hnan-
cial future. With his eyes nxed un-
waverInsly on an immediate purpose.
he hRd 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. II was the
work OF an artist Of local fame. drawn
from tin,ype pho,ograph-his sole
mcmcnio Of the women he loved. The
pink paper frams, with u design In
hearts and roses. which surrounded
the photograph. was fraycd and torn.
but Jcssic's sweet face was revealed
on tho glossy surface Of tho metal
the face which had looked into his one
summer day whom they rode TO Hln..
ham. and Jessie proposed they should
have theb' tintypes taken"
Jessie Ms In her sixteenth year
when the picture was taken. but the
long ridins. habit and tho auccniy pose
Of her head against thc plain back.
ground adacd dignity To tho nasecnt
charms Of face and hEurc. John
would sit for hours during the lon.
evenings and gaze at this portrait. IL
was the one visible connecting link
between the past and tho present. the
ocular inspiration for his future.
Again and again he attempted TO pic.
turc the Jessie Garden of tho pres
cnt. With his eyes axcd on tho por.
trait. and his mind ccnicrcd on Its
original. he Struggled TO span the void
Of miles and years which parted them.
and to hold communion with her. AZ
UHuVs nv tHNktu'H w" HSs>sks Ses
received. aaa. that a loving answer
came. b!dains him 10 have faith and
TO pcsc,crc. Surely such corrcspon.
dcucr was not 10 vioiatioa OF his
promise TO Peter Burt Then hc
would turn TO his books. aud with .
i.sht 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. 20
escape his attention. The world vas
the chcssboara Of his future opera.
,ions. and he explored It's past, saa
studied Its present with zeal unflAs.
EinE and faith unhoundcd.
hut when slumbcr ell upon him.
and his soul wandered into unknown
regions. he ,ircamcd--drcamcd not OF
millions nor Of triumphs over master
minds. Hs drcassy- -of Jessie Car