Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-09-07


that whatever chance to escape
might have had was closed by nv
uncovering to SAKE and kicking him
But | did not regret; it was worth the
money 1t would cost me. Besides
thought | saw how I could later on
turn it to good account. A sensible
man never makes fatal errors. What.
ever he does is at least experience
and can also be used TO advantage
If Napoleon hadn't been half dead al
Waterloo, don't doubt he would have
used its disaster as a means TO a
great victory
When | walked into Mowbray Lang.
dons office, was like a thoroughbred
exercising on a clear frosty morning:
and my smile was as fresh as the
flower in my buttonhole. | thrust out
my hand at him Il congratulate
you" said |.
He took the proffered hand with a
questioning look.
"On WHAT" said he. II is hard TO
tell from his face what is going on in
his head, but think guessed right
when | decided that SAKE hadn't vet
warned him.
Il have just found out from SAKE. A."
| pursued, about the canal bill"
What canal bill?" he asked.
That puzzled look was a mistake.
Langdon,' said |, laughing at him.
When you don't know anything about
matter, you look merely blank. You
overdid it; you've given yourself
away"
He shrugged his shoulders. AS
you please" said he. As you please
was his fayorite expression: a stereo.
typed irony, for in dealing with him.
things were never as you pleased, but
always as he pleased.
Next time you want to dig a mine
under anybody" went on. don't hire
SAKE. Really feel sorry for you-to
nave such a clever scheme messed by
such an ass"
III you don't mind, I'd like to know
what you're talking about" said he,
with his patient, bored look.
AS you and Roebuck own the gov.
ernor, know your little law ends nv
little canal"
sui | don't know what you're talk.
Ing about drawled he. you are al.
ways suspecting everybody of double.
dealing. | gather that this is another
instance of your infirmity. Really
Blackjack, the world isn't wholly
made up of scoundrels."
Il know that" said |. "And I will
even admit that its scoundrels are sci.
dom made up wholly of scoundrelism
Even Roebuck would rather do the
decent thing, If he can do it without
endangering his personal interests As
Tor you'll regard you as one of the
decentest men ever knew-outside of
business. And even there, | believe
you'd keep your word, as long as the
other fellow kept his"
Thank you" said he, bowling iron.
ically. This fattery makes me sus.
pect you've come to get something"
ION the contrary" said |. Il want
to give something. | want to give
you my coal mines"
81 thought you'd see that our offer
was fair" said he. And I'm glad YOU
have changed your mind about quar-
reling with your best friends. We can
be useful to you, you to us. A break
would be silly"
That's the way it looks to me-"
| assented. And | decided that my
sharp talk to Roebuck had set them
to estimating my value to them.
Sam Ellersly," Langdon presently
remarked, tells me he's campaigning
hard for you at the Travellers. | hope
you'll make it. We're rather a slow
crowd; few men like you might stir
things up"
| am always more than willing to
give others credit for good sense and
good motives. 1t was not vanity, but
this disposition to credit others with
sincerity and sense, that led me to
believe him, both as to the coal mat
ter and as to the Travellers club.
Thanks, Langdon," said; and that
he might look no further for my mo-
tive, | added: 81 want to get into
that club much as the winner of a
race wants the medal that belongs to
him. I've built myself up into a rich
man, into one Of the powers in
finance, and l feel I'm entitled to
recognition"
TO BE CONTINUED