The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-07-26
CHAPTER III.

~ AKLEY took the satchel from
General Cornish's hand as the
~ H.4s latter c,r stepped from his pri-
You got my note, see,'' he said.
Il think I'll go to the hotel for the rest
of the night
He glanced back over his shoulder
as he turned with Dan toward the bus
which was waiting for them at the end
of the platform.
II guess no one else got off here.
It's not much of railroad center"
No." agreed Oakley impartially;
there are towns where the traffic is
heavier"
Arrived, at the hotel, Oakley led the
way upstairs 10 the generals room. 1t
adjoined his own. Cornish paused on
the threshold until he had lighted the
gas.
Light the other burner, will you?"
he requested. There, thanks that's
befter.''
He was a portly man of sixty, with
a large head and heavy face. His
ANSASA AAou pS5S1 u v GA uOAI Atil luSly
man of position and means according
to the easy standard of his times.
When the civil war broke out young
Cornish who was just commencing the
practice of the law. had enlisted as q
private in one of the first regiments
raised by his state. Prior to this he
had overtiowed with fervid oratory and
hoI %,.;n1 hnv vI To ;-J
ster, but a skirmish or two opened his
eyes to the fact that the waging of
war was sober business and the pol
ishing off of his sentences not nearly as
important as the polishing off of the
enemy. He was still willing to die for
the Union if there. was need of it, but
while his life was spared it was we'll
to get on. The numerical Importance
OF numHer one was belief too firmly
implanted In his nature to be over
thrown by any patriotic alteration.
His own merits, which he was among
the first to recognize, and the solid
backing his father was able to give
won him promotion. He had risen to
the command of regiment and when
the war ended was brevetted briga-
dier general of volunteers along with
n score of other anxious warriors who
wished to carry the title of general
back into civil life, for he was an ami
able sort of Shylock, who seldom
overlooked his pound of flesh, and he
usually got all and little more than
was coming to him.
After the war he married and went
west, where he resumed the practice
of his profession. but he soon abandon
ed it for Il commercial career. 1t was
not long until he was ranked as one
of the rich men of his state. Then he
turned his attention to politics. He
was twice elected to congress and serv-
ed one term as governor. One of his
daughters had married an Italian
prince, a meek, prosaic little creature
exactly five feet three inches tall. An
other Was engaged to an English earl,
whose debts We're a remarkable
achievement for so young a man. His
wife now divided her time between
Paris and London. She didn't think
much of New York, which had thought
even less of her. He managed to see
her once or twice year. Any oftener
would have been superfluous.
There were moments, however, when
he felt his life to be wholly unsatisfac-
tory. he derived very little pleasure
from all the luxury that had accumu-
lated about him and which he accepted
with curious placid Indifference. He
would have liked the affection of his
children, to have had them at home,
and there was Il remote period in his
past when his wife had inspired him
with sentiment at which he could
only wonder. He held it against her
that she had not understood.
He lurched down solidly into the
chair Oakley placed for him. Il hope
you are comfortable here" he said
kindly.
"Oh, yes" He still stood.
"Sit down." said Cornish. II don't,
as a rule, believe in staying up after
midnight to talk business, but must
start east tomorrow
He slipped out of his chair and be.
gan to pace the floor, with his hands
thrust deep in his trousers pockets 81
want to talk over the situation here
l don't see that the road is ever going
to make a dollar. I've an opportunity
to sell it to the NJ. and w. OF course
this is extremely confidential. 1t must
not go any further. l am told they will
discontinue it beyond this point, and
of course they will either move the
shops away or close them" He paus
ed in his rapid walk. ITS too bad II
never paid. 1t was the first thing ]
did when l came west thought 1t q
pretty big thing then. I have always
hoped 1t would justify my judgment
and it promised to for awhile until the
lumber interests played out. Now
what do you advise, Oakley? / want