Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-04
CHAPTER TX.
The Return of Richard Strong.

OF y house divided against itself had been
succeeded by the new birth. The recon-
stfuction OF the Union and the restoration
of the states. lately in rebellion. to their
political rights had Impaired the healing
touch to old industries and a strong IN
centive for new ones. A wholesome re-
juvenescence swept over the land The re-
united states awoke to the railroad age;
glorious, golden period. when many master
minds sang their verses In hpmmihs
wheels.
In solving the problems of transportation,
forcing the Juggernaut to harness, and faS-
tening to the iron deity an imposing tram
OF full-Iaden cars, the development ana
sturdy growth OF all sections OF the land De-
gar The American seer. looking at pro-
Eress, discovered 1t consisted of the ACTIVITY
OF today, combined with the assurance OF
tomorrow. or activity there could be no
lack: eye, hand and brain had ever been
ready. OF assurance, or faith, that IN
spring handnaideu of industry. no one
was heard to lament her absence. Clear
headed a ROBUST nymph, she urged her
servitors to new endeavors.
aTiui till! Dig digi" she said. and the
race of men, ike ants. obeyed her behestS.
Everywhere the obedient monsters of bur
den puffed and whistled. and proudly
whisked behind them their long and moving
appendices.
Being literally a golden age-not In the
Arcadian sense of ''lOve in ldleneSS, the
sound of pipes and the bleating of berib-
boned lambs-it was necessarily period or
combinations and consolidation. But Where
there are builders wreckers also are round.
The gentle art of destroying values became
nice game of chance. whenever the norm
of plenty grew too full the temptation TO
pillage was irresistible. Thus. roads were
created, wrecked and recreated-a merry
hazard The lambs were not beribboned,
in the golden days of yore. In this for
tuiteus period Chloe would not have reeog-
nized her pretty pets. for natures soft
adornment was ruthessly shorn from them.
and man turned them over to Providence
to temper the wind to their plight.
Richard Strong belonged uncompromis
ingly to the builders; he had rather discour-
aged than encouraged undue inflation he
preferred equitable. not an overissue or
bonds. and assumed obligations based upon
the actual earning powers of the properties.
But he could not control the coterie of tenn
erarious spirits who tempted fortune and
the public in a blind bargain with spectac-
ular changes. In fact, he paid little atten-
ton to the sportive operations of the va
rious cliques, unless the onslaught became
too fierce. and actual disaster was feared
when Of necessity he became participant
in the game.
Upon their arrival at New York after
another dusty trip on the commodore's ia
nous Hudson River railroad. Mr.. and Mrs
Strong repaired to the Fifth Avenue Hotel
That hostelry then the scene of all up
town speculatlons; its corridors much
part of Wall street as the convenient steps
OF the Subtreasury AT the corner Of 9TH
avenue and 23d street crowds might now be
seen, despite the hour. attracted by a blood
red transparency, announcing a petroleum
board that evening, and the opportunities
OF dealing in railway and petroleum stocks
In gold. Richard Strong from the carriage
noted the unwonted activity, and surrnised
that some of his own properties were not
the least among those being traded in on
the curb at that unhallowed time for bust
ness Elinor. however, glanced indifferenty
at the spectacle What was there in rail-
roads or oil TO warrant that feverish earn
es1ness? The world to her appeared all
topsyturyy,
At the hotel MIR. and Mrs. Rossiter and
Tim Taplin were in waiting
My dear! What disappointment ex-
claimed Mrs. Rossiter. clasping the girl in
her arms. ITO be called back from your
honeymoon, 1t must nave been Important
business. Mr.. Strong"
1t was, madam, replied that gentleman.
And that same business makes 1t neces-
sary for me to go out now"
w hereupon. leaving his wife to make such
explanations as she saw fit, Mr.. Strong
took his departure
Now" he said to Tim Tapln. as the
vehicle in which they found themselves
shortly afterward sped down Broadway at
brisk pace. what is it all about?'
Il don't know what the text is" answered
the Bible
And he briefly related the episode at the
Church and the circumstances growing out
of it All day the street had been black
with dark imaginings and forebodings af-
fecting the general list of securities; the
unfavorable state of the crops. manufacture
Ing and trade; the insufficient earnings of
transportation companies: the unsatisfac-
tory course of imports and exports; the dis
apo .nting movements of the precious
metals, and the cherries conditions of the
LoLdon and the continental markets
Amid e turbid atmosphere of sophistry
speclousress and mystitication, one special
stock had been selected for bombardment
and storrning-the D. B. and c. railroad, a
property recently acquired and now con-
uolled and managed by Richard Strong.
That person listened griny to the alleged
INC al and front of his offending. The cash
value or his new railroad. said detraction
was less than % per cent of the stocks
AID bonds issued against the property; the
first mortgage more than doubled the legit-
Innate cost of building, and the construction
president. had MIXED" the property of all
It's pronts, leaving the army of robbed
stockholders to face disastrous future
is that all?" quietly asked the listener
when Tim finally paused.
THAT'S ALL said the other, sadly Eek
cept considerable liquidation has begun in
d. b. and c."
''Liquidation,'' returned Richard Strong.
"A short interest. you mean"
Yes, sir. But here we are, sir You wait
moment, Mr.. Strong. and I'll light up the
ball and the offices. Then you won't STUN
bic. sir
Never mind the light In the hall 1
know my way You remain here" he con-
trued to the driver. the man. dlsmount-
Ing. swung open the door of the carriage.
And following Tim Taplin through the door
way OF the office building Richard Strong
disappeared into the dark corridor beyond.
The man the box waited then
he climbed down again and waited. FL
nally, after what seemed an interminable
period, he lighted cigar and moved i'm
patiently 10 and fro. He had looked for
short fare and CHANGED upon a long one.
He yawned and smoked. and glanced from
time to time at the light in window. The
clock in the distant steeple struck two.
Il guess III have time to drop around
the corner for quick bite" thought the
man, and suited the action to the word,
leaving the horses standing with down.
cast heads. as a guaranty of good faith
and his near presence in the neighborhood.
Meanwhile. unmindful OF the hour, Rich
ard Strong had been working with charac-
teristic concentration. Letters. instruc-
lions. orders were tersely dictated. Tim.
an automaton of precision, wrote and
wrote wondering what his sister would
think of his long absence whether she
would attribute 1t 10 an unwonted outbreak
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