The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-11
ODE Deluge
BY DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS

ancholy pity--the look with which he
always regarded anyone whom the
Roebuck God Almighty had commanded
Roebuck To destroy. He and his God
were I'm constant communication; his
God never did anything except for his
benefit. he never did anything except
on the direct counsel or command OF
his God. Just now his God Ii COM
handing him to destroy me. his conf
Dental agent In shaping many n vast
| Industrial enterprise and In Inducing
the public to buy by the million It's
| bonds and stocks
invited the angry frown OF the Roe
buck God by saying: And I bought In
the Mannsqualc mines on my own ac-
count"
ION your own account" said Roe
buck. Then he hastily effaced his In
voluntary mir OF the engineer startled
by sight OF an unexpected red light.
Yes" replied i. as calm as IL were
not realizing the tremendous signifi-
canoe OF what I had announced. Il
look to you To let me participate on
equal terms"
That is. had decided that the time
had come for mo To take my place
among the kings OF finance. I had de.
cided To promote myself from agent to
principal. from prime minister To king
II must, myself. promote myself. for
In this world all promotion that Is solid
comes from within. And I'm further
Rncc OF my object I had bought this
group OF mines. control OF which was
vital TO the Roebuck- Langdon- Melville
combine for "A monopoly OF the coal OF
tn. country.
did not Mr.. Langdon commits
sion you To buy them for
him and his fricnds-" inquired
Rocbuck. I'm that slow. placid tone
which yet, for the attentive ear. had n
note In 10 like the scream OF a jagunr
that comes home and finds It's cub gone.
But couldn't get them for him."
explained. THE owners wouldn't sell
until l engaged that the National Coal
and Railway company was not To have
them"
'Oh. Sec" said Rocbuck. sinking
back relieved. We must get Browne
10 draw up some sort of perpetual. ir-
rcvocable power of attorney To US for
you to- sign"
But won't sign It," said I.
Roebuck took up "A sheet OF paper and
began To fold Il upon itself with great
care To get the edges straight. He had
grasped my meaning. h. was deliberat-
In.
For four years now" went ON. you
people have been promising to take me
I'm M n principal In some one OF your
deals-to give me recognition by max
Ing me president. or chairman OF an
executive or finance committee. I am
an impatient man, Mr.. Roebuck. Life
IN short. and have much To do. SO l
have bought the Manasqunle mines
and shall hold them"
Roebuck continued TO fold the paper
upon Itself until he had reduced IL To n
short, thick strip. This he slowly
twisted between his cruel fingers until
It was In two pieces. He dropped them.
one nj n time. into the waste basket.
then smiled benevolently nj me. You
are right" he said. ''You shall have
what you want You have seemed such
a mere boy to me that. In spite of your
giving again and again proof OF what
you are, I have been putting you or.
Then. too" He halted. and his look
was that OF one surveying delicate
ground.
THE bucket shop?" suggested ].
Exactly" said he gratefully. Your
brokerage business has been invaluable
To us. But-wcll. l needn't tell you how
pcoplc--the men of standing-look on
that sort OF thing
Il never have paid any attention To
pompous pretenses." said l." "and 1
never shall. My brokerage business
must go on, and my daily letters To In
ycstors. BY advertising l rose: by adj
vertislng | ann n power that even you
u
keep that power"
You forget that in the new circum-
stances. you won't need that sort OF
power. Adapt yourself To your new
surroundings. Overalls for the trench;
n business suit for the office"
II shall keep TO my overalls for the
present" said ]. They're more COM
Portable. and"-here smiled signifi-
cantly ut him-''if shed them. might
have to go naked. The FIRST principle
OF business IL never To- give up what
you nave until your grip Is tight on
something better"
mo doubt you're right" agreed the
whIte-haircd old scoundrel. giving no
sign that I had fathomed hts motive
for trying TO hint me out OF my
stronghold. II will talk the matter
over with Langdon and Melville. Rest
assured. my boy. that you VIII be sat
ished." He got up. put his arm affcc-
tionately round my shoulders. We all
like you. have n feeling toward you
as II you were my own son. l arm get
ting old. and like to- see young men
about me. growing up To assume the
responsibilities OF the Lords work
whenever He shall call me TO my re-
ward"
II will seem incredible that n man OF
my shrewdness and experience could
be taken I'm by such Shiny stun as that
Il who knew Roebuck az only n few
insiders knew him. who had seen him
nj work. ms devoid OF heart az an empty
spider In an empty web. Yet / was
taken In 20 the extent that thought
he really purposed to recognize my
services. Co yield TO the only persuasion
that could affect him-force. fan
cIed he was actually about To put me
where could be OF the highest use
fulness to him and his associates. as
well as TO myself. as n an old man
ever yielded power or permitted an
other To gain power, even though IL
were TO his own great advantage. The
nvarIce OF age is not open to reason.
II was with tears In my eyes that I
shook hands with him. thanking him
emotionally. IL was with a high chin
and "A proud heart that ! went back
To my offices. There wasn't n doubt In
my Tnind that I was about to get my
deserts. was about to enter the
charmed circle OF high finance"
That small and exclusive circle. into
which I was seeing myself admitted
without the usual arduous and unequal
battle. WAS what may be called the In
dustrial ring-a loose, yet tight. com
blne OF about dozen men who con-
trulled in one way or another prncti-
cally all the industries OF the country.
They had no formal agreements: they
held no official meetings. They did not
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