The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-25


stand the highest and get the biggest
fees. are just what you would expect
human beings TO be who expose them
selves tn such temptations. and yield
whenever they get an opportunity. as
eager and compliant rs cocottc.
My lawyers had sold me out: ]. fool
that i was. had not guarded the only
weak plate In my armor against my
companions-the plate over my back.
TO shed assassin thrusts. Roebuck and
Langdon between them owned the gov
crnor: he owned the canal commission:
my canal. which gave me access to
tidcwater for the product OF my Man
asquale mines. was as good M closed.
1 no longer had the whip-hand In Ma
tional Coal. The others could sell me
out and take two-thirds OF my fortune
whenever they liked-for OF what use
were my mines with no outlet now To
any market. except the outlets the coal
crowd owned7
As soon as had thought the situa-
ton out In all Its bearings realised
that there was no escape for me now.
that whatever chance to escape might
have had vas closed by my uncover
Ing to SAKE and kicking him. But 1
did not regret: II was worth the money
IL would cost me. Besides. I thought 1
saw how I could later on turn II to
good account. A sensible man never
make fatal errors. Whatever he does
In at least experience. and can also be
used TO advantage. IL Napoleon hadn't
been half dead at Waterloo. I don't
doubt he would have used It's disaster
AZ means TO greater victory.
Was downcast by the discovery that
those bandits had me apparently at
their mercy? Not n bit. Never In my
life have I been downcast over money
matters more than n few minutes. Why
should be? Why should any man be
who has made himself all that he Ii?
As long as his brain In sound. his cap
itai Is unimpaired. When walked into
Mowbray Langdon's Office was like
thoroughbred exercising on clear
frosty morning. and my smile was az
fresh as the flower In my buttonhole.
I thrust out my hand ut him. Il con-
graduate you" said i.
He took the proffered hand with a
questioning look.
ION what ?" said he. II is hard tn
tell from his face what Is going on I'm
his head. but I think ! guessed right
when I decided that Sake hadn't yet
warned him.
81 have just found out from SAKE"
I pursued. about the canal bill"
what canal bill?" he asked.
THAT puzzled look was n mistake.
Langdon." said ]. laughing at him.
When you don't know anything about
n matter, you look merely blank. You
overdid IL: you've given yourself
away"
He shrugged his shoulders. AS you
please" said he. As you please was his
favorite expression; stcreotyped
irony. for i'm dealing with him. things
were never as you pleased, but always
as he pleased.
Next time you want To- dig n mine
under anybody" I went on. don't hire
SAKE. Really I feel sorry for you-to
hnNa aurh "A clever Srhgma messed ny
such an ass"
! "lf you don't mind. I'D like To know
what you're talking about" said he,
with his patient. bored look.
"As you and Rocbuck own the gov
ernor. / know your little law ENDS my
little canal"
"still don't know what you're talk
ing about" drawlcd he. You are al
ways suspecting everybody OF double
dealing. I gather that this is another
instance OF your innrmity. Really.
Blackjack. the world isn't wholly made
up Of scoundrcls."
II know that" said l. And / viii
even admit that It's scoundrcls are sell
dom made up wholly OF scoundrelism.
Even Roebuck would rather do the de-
cent thing, II he can do IL without en-
dangering his personal interests AS
for ycu-I regard you as one OF the
decentcst men / ever knew-outside OF
business. And even there. j believe
you'd keep your word, as long as the
other fellow kept his"
Thank YOU" said he, bowling ironi-
Cally. This iiattcry makes me sus-
pcct you've come To get something"
ION the contrary" said !. Il want
To give something. ! want To give you
my coal mines
Il thought you'd see that our offer
was fair" said he. And I'm glad you
have changed your mind about quar-
rcling with your best friends. We can
be useful tn you, you To us. \ break
would be silly"
That's the way IL looks Ia me-" I
asscnted. And 1 decided that my sharp
talk To- Roebuck had set them To csti-
mating my value To them.
sam Ellersly." Langdon presently
remarked, tells me he's campaigning
hard for you at the Travellers. l hope
you'll make IL. We're rather n slow
crowd: few men like you might stir
things up"
am always moro than willing so
give others credit for good sense and
good motives. IL was not vanity. but
this disposition To- credit others with
sincerity and sense. that led me To be-
lIcvc him. both as To the coal matter
and as Ia the Travellers club. Thanks.
Iangdon." I said: and that he might
look no further for my motive. i added:
Il want To- get into the club much az
the winner Of n race wants the medal
that belongs 10 him. I've built myself
up into rich man, into one OF tho
powers In finance, and I feel I'm en-
titled To recognition"