The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-29
SilaS of Hebron
Valley
By M. J. PHILLIPS
Copyright, 1905. by Ruby Dough-.

y
He had the air Of good living and
prosperity which the man OF the word
is supposed to wear.
All guesses as to his profession, how
ever, would probably have gone wide
Of the mark. He was senior member
Of the firm Of Davidson & Cole Of Wall
street, firm which bore q rather shady
reputation. Even now he was hurry
ing home from hunting trip in Maine.
which had been cut short by the tin.
irregularly received. Of a big '.ktllinR'
to be made the next day on the Stock
Exchange.
In other words, Davidson q Cole
were preparing to garner several hun
dred thousand dollars because the Hill
mans and the Silvers were about to
close in death grapple for the control
Of the New York and Western. Each
faction held about one-third Of the
stock. Spectators and investors held
the other third, mostly in small blocks.
The Silvers needed the road, It was
said, to stifie its chances Of becoming
dangerous competitor The Hiliman
crowd desired it for those very posi-
bilities.
The stock was down to ST; but, 40
cording to the information cleaned By
the brokers, the Silvers were prepared
to pay 160 If necessary for the shares
constituting the balance Of power.
Despite the suspicion which attached
tn Vail u<~
was one people instinctively liked and
trusted. When, at a remote junction
point, SIlas Ashlar entered the smoker
Of the train, shaking the snowfakes
from his ulster-it was midwinter and
storming-he took the seat beside the
broker.
Ashlar was twenty-five, and his eood
natured face, unchiseied by the stress
OF city life. was round and immatured,
yet withal there was native shrewdness
IN 1t and frank honesty.
Davidson was a man to inspire not
only confidence, but condolences. Be-
sides. he was In the mood for eouve9sa-
ton. In the course of half an hour the
country youth was unburdening him
self to this agreeable stranger as be
had never talked to his closest TREND
Il live over to Hebron Valley, in Yer
mont" he said I'm clerk In old man
Briggs general store; been wofkin'
there since was fourteen. The old
man wants to retire now, and H'd like
to buy the business"
II see," rejoined Davidson politsiy.
Sllas beat tattoo with clumsy I'm
gers on the window sill and smiled
with embarrassment before he proceed
ed "There's-there's girl. you know"
Indeed. Briggs daughter, sup
poser
"No; Jennie Gardner. Were-we're
engaged. you see That's why want
the store"
Feel as II you'd ought to DO set up
in business before you marry, chr
Queried the broker. smiling little.
well. no; DON'T" replied the young
man reluctantly, "and Jennie don't;
neither does her ma. But her father
he's John Gardner, the banker there at
Hebron-he don't like me; thinks amt
got money enough, guess Then
there's another fellow, the postmaster.
He wants Jennie to marry"
Davidson's interest Quickened. 'sWhy
don't you run away with the girlT' be
asked.
'She won't do it. She's afraid Of her
father. So is her mother, for that mat
ter. He's hard man."
He'd be satisfied to let you marry b
you owned the storer'
Yes, and that's just some moro Of
his meanness," returned gilas. HE
thinks it's impossible for me to buy It
or he wouldn't say 80. All COTS $500
Briggs wants $1,000. I'm goin' down
to New York to see IL can't raise It.
I've heard Of money being made pretty
quick on Wall street.
They'd get your hay In about TWEEN
ty minutes on Wall street." responded
Davidson decisively. II know, because
that's where hang out But see bare,
Ashlar I've got little sporting blood
in my veins, and I've been under dog
myself. Suppose help you down this
tu'-penny bankerY
Say, If you only would"
VERY well. Let's have your i've hun
dred. There's something on for tnmor-
row, and maybe can clean up your
little pile for you during the excite
ment. Are you willing to trust me ana
take the chanceT
Ashlar's answer was to draw, with
trembling fingers, a bulky envelope
from an inner pocket and pass it over
to the broker, who tore it open and
counted the contents dexterously. There
was $500 in the package IN well thumb
ed tens and twenties.
The broker slowed the money away
and produced a bit OF pastsboand.
There's my address," he said, handing
the card to Ashlar. You come to that
number day after tomorrow at 10, and
I'll have some news for you"
When at dusk Ashiar, bewtidered b.
the appalling noise and confusion ee
the big city, ventured from the nx&S
way station into the street he sudden
ly felt that he had done a foolish fhinG
in intrusting all bis money to q per
feet stranger, but the remembrance q
Davidson's face with its undeanabie
attraction treasured him. II was a
darn fool for ever thinkin' Of this
thing" he rnuttered They'd surely
beat me II / tried speculatin' By my
self. guess Davidson is square"
The New York and Western episode
On the Stock Exchange next day was
merely skirmish In the great indus-
trial warfare which goes on ceaselessly
In that slit in the granite called Wall
street. A few profted; scores were
ruined. Before Davidson & Cole had
loaded up irretrievably with the stock
Davidson smelled danger and had be-
gun to let go.
His suspicious proved justified. The
story of the fight for control was a
clever fake, which had already caught
many small firms. 1t developed that
the Silvers and the Hlllmans had long
since come to an amicable agreement
In regard to the road.
"Then we're out about SOS, 600" said
Lucius Cole the morning after the skir~
mish as he sat with bis partner In their
private Office
"About SOS, agreed Davidson,
'and If / hadn't got wise until half
hour later we'd have been down and
out today"
A clerk ushered In 9ilas Ashlar. The
country youth was haggard with anxi-
ETY.. "The morning paper says We
were hit hard" he began. my mon-
cyl
Your moneys all right" interrupted
Davidson. II had your little old a.
600 saited before the balloon ascen-
sion. Here's your check" He handed
Ashlar slip of paper.
Silas for a few moments was daxed |
by the good news. Then he began 20 |