Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-10-28


Cny." replied Jessie. "uncls Tom
plays a splendid hand ut whist and you
can take raps's place"
Biako's spirits mounted high as hope
fed the springs Of his longing. The
hour was late when he bade his fellow
guests goodnight at the carriage door.
rId bis being thrilled with the touch
OF her hand and the light OF her smile
NJ parting.
Blake strolied slowly up the ave
rre. In Tho direction OF his apartments.
He had not gone two squares when he
met John Burt. In all the years In
San Francisco and New York this waa
the first time they had mot In a public
thoroughfarc. One OF the hCrses haul
Ing wagon laden with stage settings
had fallen and blocked the street.
Blake concealed his confusion by
looking up and down the street for .
carriage. lie finally hailed n driver,
ard they were rapidly driven to hlz
apartments.
I'VE must perfect our plans for ,o-
morrow" said John. The city coun.
ell defeated tEc Cosmopolitan fran.
cEfsos to night. and I shall move
against l.. 4 o. tomorrow morning."
Tho voice was calm. but II held =
note OF triumph and of quiet CONF
denee. II h!nted at no suspicion. and
Blake drew Ion. breath OF relief M
he thought OF his third escape.
He shuddercd to think OF what
would have happened had Gen. Garden
postponed his departure from tho din.
ing room by few minutes. lie pic
tcrcd John burt entering tho room.
his steady gaze nScd first on himself
| md then ON Jessie Garden. So vivid
was the imaginary picture that he fcit
all the horror OF the situation.
This Ia my last speculative cam
raisn." said John. For years I have
been n Eoid.Irubb!nE and moncy.mak-
ing machine. and I hopo my bctter IL.
stiIctE have survived the strain. We
Hl.Rll triumph tomorrow. and when II
IL ended you shall be. In fact rs well
ne In name. the head OF the firm Of
Jamss Blake l. Company. can retire
from active participation In Its nffa!rA
IL quietly as entered. and you have
fairly won whatever OF prestige At.
trchcs To tho name"
Before blake could ind words to re-
ply. the carriage stopped In front OF
his apartment. They entered and
{, und Hawkins awaiting them.
J I'm making myself at home. Blake"
he said. I've kcp; your man busy get.
ting cigars and Refreshments. Let's
get down to buslncss. gentlemen. li's
past midnight. and well reed all rs
sleep We can get
For nearly two hours they worked
at the plans for the battle which was
to come. Al times Blake was ab.
rorbch In the discussion. ngnin his
| mind wandered to the woman he
would buy at the price OF his honor.
Then he thought OF John BuFt's
pIinccly pledge. and like n flash there
clmc TO him an impulse which thrilled
his very soul with n happiness In
which were throbs OF poignant pain.
Not many blocks awny another con.
ference was In progrcSs. Staid BAN.
diI cctors and hnnncicrs associated
with Arthur Morris had been aroused
from their BlumborR and were assem-
blcd in his rooms. Bcwi!dcrcd for tao
moment by the unexpected blow. Nor.
lis took measures for defense with \
| yigor which was Keyed by n sense of
| imminent danger. His suspicion that
| James Blake was the cause OF fA
Ccfcat became n certainty when ra
porter Informed him that Blake anu
Samuel l.. Rounds were boyhood com
aplons. and that the latter had been
Icen in Blakc's Offices.
Tho east was crimBoncd with sun
| lif,ht before the conference ended.
| The weary men OF money left Morris
rooms and sought few hours OF rost
before facing the ordeal OF the dhy.
For mutual protection thcy had formed
n pool: had pledged themselves to sup.
| port the market against the expected
| onslaught of Blakc's millions.
why were these masked millionS
| Drawn mp In battls array? Why did
men OF vast afiairs walt with drawn
| faccs and batcd wrcaths the hour
when the clash OF opposing fortunes
should sound the signal for merciless
conflict?
Because of woman--a woman pure
as an opening bud and gentle ms tho
dow which kisses IT,
Why had James Blake proved false
| TO the man who unseliishly befricndcd
him? Why had he sought to repay 10y
atty with perhdy?
Because OF wOman-a woman
whose loving heart was incapable Of
deceit.
(To be continucd)