The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-16


do not now misunderstood: We have
somewhat the same weakness."
Il shouldn't call it a Weakness said
/. Its the quality that makes the
chief difference between us and the
common run-the fellows that have lie
purposes beyond getting comfortably
through each day"
And getting real happiness" he in
terrupted. with just a tinge of bitter
ness.
I'VE wouldn't think 1T happiness"
was my answer.
THE worse for us" he replied. 'We're
under the tyranny of tomorrow-and
hanpiness is impossible"
May L look at your bedroom?" I
asked.
Certainly" he assented.
l pushed open the door he indicated.
At first glimpse / was disappointed.
The big room looked like a section of
a hospital ward. 1t wasn't until L had
taken a second n very careful look
at the tiled floor, walls, ceiling, tina
| noted that those plain smooth tiles
We're of the very finest, wer. probably
Of his designing, ceGts;':i. mad
been imported from some great Dutch
cry, not a picture, nothing that could
hold dust or germs a~nywhere; a square
of sanitary mating by the bed: anoth-
er square opposite an elaborate eXercis-
ing machine. The bed was of the SIM
plest metallic construction-but | noted
that the metal was the finest bronze.
On 1t was 4 thin. lard mattress. You
could wash the big room down and
out with the hose, without doing any
damage.
~Guite a contrast said I. giacing
from the one room to the other.
My architect is a crank OF SANTA
tion.' he explained, from his lounge.
l noted that the windows We're huge
to admit floods OF Highland hat they
We're dramatically sealed so that the
air shout be only the pure air supplied
from the ventilating apparatus. To
many people that room would have
seemed a cheaply got together cell; to
me-, once I had examined it, it was
evidently built at enormous cost and
represented an extravaganza of COM
mon sense luxury which was more than
princely or royal.
Suddenly my mind reverted to my
business. How do you account for the
steadiness of Textile, Langdon?' L
asked. returning 10 the carved sitting
room and trying to put those surround
ings out of my mind.
Il don't account for it," was his
langlid, unintecested reply.
ANY OF your people under the mar
ket?'
1T isn't to my interest to have it sup
ported, is it?" he replied.
II know that" I admitted. Tut why
doesn't it DROP"
Those letters of your may have
overeducated the public in confidence"
suggested he. Your followers have the
habit OF believing implicitly whatever
you say"
~ 100 t ,....4 - ~
about Textile for nearly a month now"
I pretended to object, my vanity fairly
purring with pleasure.
That's the only reason I can give"
said he.
You are ure none of your people
is supporting the tock?" l asked, as
a form and not for information: for
1 thought l knew they WEREN'T trust
ed him to have seen to Cat.
I'D like to get my holdings back"
said he. I can't buy until it's down.
I know zone of my people would
dare support it,"
You will notice he did not say direct
ly tht-t he was not himself supporting
the market; he simply so answered me
that /, not suspecting him, would think
he reas~'red me. There is another of
those mysteries of conscience. Had it
been necessary, Langdon would have
me the lie flat and direct, would
told it without a tremor of the
voice or a blink of the eye, would have
lied to me as I have heard him, and al
most all the big fellows, lie under bath
before courts and legislative commit
tees; yet, so long rs it was possible,
he would thus lie to me with lies that
were not lies. AS if negative lies are
not falser and more cowardly than posi-
tive lies, because securer and more de-
ceptive.
We'll, then, the price must break"
said I. ut won't be many days before
public begins to realize that there
isn't anybody under Textile"
N sharp break" he said carelessly.
NO PANEL"
TN see to that" replied I, with no
a shadow Of a notion Of the subtley be-
hind his warning.
IT ',ope it will break soon" he then
said. adding in his friendliest voice with
I now know was malignant
treachery: You I'VE 1t to me to bring
1t down." That meant that he wished
me to increase my already far too
heaS and dangerous line of shorts.
Just then n yoice-a woman's voice
from the salon. May I come in?
I interrupt" it said. and it's tone
me as having in it something of
p%laintive appeal.
he. rising with what was for him
But he was too late. The woman en-
tered searching the room with a pierre
Ing, suspicious gaze. AT once 1 saw be-
hind that look, a jealousy that bounced
on every object that came into its view.
and studied it with a hope that feared
and a fear that hoped. When her eyes
had toured the room, they paused UPON
him, seemed to be saying: you've
baffled me again. but I'm not discour-
aged. I shat catch you yet"
We'll, my dear?" said Langdon.
whom she seemed family to amuse.
It's only Mr.. Blackjack. Mr.. Black
lock, my wife,"
1 bowed; she looked coldly at me, and
her slight noe was more than a hint
she wished to be left alone with
1 said to him: We'll. I'll be off. Thank
you for"
One moment" he interrupted. Then
to his wife: Anything special?"
She flushed. 'No-nothing special. 1
Just came to see you. But il l am dis
turbfng yOu-as usual"
Not at all" said he. "When Black
lock and I have finished. III come to
you. 1t won't be longer than an hour
Or So"
rs hat all?" she said almost a
". Evidently she was one Of those
vvho do no not :, - H.