Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-08-31
aQAR5 NE22ZL OQIIQZNG

rover trust Is ROebuck, and Roebuck
Is the Power Trust. He is seated at
his desk and, thinking | do not see
MIN, is looking at me with an express.
sion OF benevolent and melancholy
plty-the look with which he always
regarded any one whom the Roebuck
God mad commanded Roebuck to de.
stroy. He and his God were in con.
slant communication; his God never
dld anything except for his benefit
he never did anything except on the
direct counsel or command of his God
Just now his God is commanding him
TO destroy me, his confidential agent
IN shaping many vast industrial an.
terprise and in inducing the public to
buy by the million its bonds and
stocks.
invited the angry frown of the
hoeouck God by saying: And I
bought in the Manasquale mines on
my own account"
On your own account" said Roe.
buck. Then he hastily effaced his in.
voluntary air of the engineer startled
0! Slsht OF an unexpected red light.
Yes, replied |, as calm as if were
not realizing the tremendous signifi-
canoe Of what had announced 81
look to you to let me participate on
equal terms"
mat is, had decided that the time
had come for me to take nv Mace
among the kings of finance. I had
decided to promote myself from agent
10 principal, from prime minister to
KING must myself, promote myself
for in this world all promotion that
Is solid comes from within. And in
1urtherance of my object | had bought
thls group of mines, control of which
was vital to the Roebuck-Langdon-
Melville combine for a MONOPOLY of
N NN"i vi luc Country.
Did not Mr.. Langdon commission
you 10 buy them for him and his
friends?" inquired Roebuck. in that
SLOW, placid tone which yet, for the
attentive ear, had a note in if like tba
scream Of a jaguar that comes home
and finds its cubs gone
But | couldn't get them for him
l explained. The owners wouldn't
sell until | engaged that the National
Coal and Railway company was not to
have them"
oh, | see," said Roebuck. sinking
pack relieved. I'VE must get Browne
TO draw up some sort of perpetual
lrreVocable power of attorney to us
for you to sign"
But l won't sign It." said T
Roebuck took I'D a sheet NJ nanor
and began to fold it upon itself with
great care to get the edges straight
He had grasped my meaning; he was
celebrating.
For four years now" l went on
you people have been promising to
TAKE me in as a principal in some one
OF your deals-to give me recognition
by making me president, or chairman
OF an executive or finance committee
l am an impatient man, Mr.. Roebuck
Life is short, and l have much to do
80 l have bought the Manasuuale
mlnes-and shall hold them"
Roebuck continued to fold the naner
upon itself until he had reduced It to
snort, thick strip. This he SLOWLY
twisted between his cruel fingers I'm.
I'll 1t was in two pieces. He dropped
them, one at a time, into the waste
basket, then smiled benevolently at
me. You are right" he said. "You
snail have what you want. You have
seemed such mere boy to me that
IN spite Of your giving again and
again proof of what you are have
been putting you of. | will talk the
matter over with Langdon and Mel.
Vile. Rest assured, my boy, that you
Will be satisfied He got up, put his
arm affectionately round nv sboul.
ders. I'VE all like you. l have a feel.
Ing toward you as If you were nv own
son. am getting old, and | like to
see young men about me, growing IN
10 assume the responsibilities of the
LORDS work whenever He shall call
me to my reward"
1t will seem incredible that A man
OF my shrewdness and experience
could be taken in by such slimy stuff
at that-l who knew Roebuck as only
few insiders knew him, I who had
seen MIN at work, as devoid of heart
as any empty spider In an empty web
yet was taken in to the extent that
thought he really purposed to recog.
nize my services, to yield to the only
persuasion that could affect him
force. | fancied he was actually
ABOUT to put me where l could be of
the highest usefulness to him and his
associates, as well as to myself
1t was with tears in my eyes that
l shook hands with him, thanking him
emotionally. 1t was with a high chin
and proud heart that l went back
10 my Offices. There wasn't a doubt
In my mind that l was about to pet
my deserts. was about to enter the
charmed circle Of high finance"
III.