The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-11-15

somewhat the same weakness.
II shouldn't call ~ o weakness" said
I. ITS the quality that makes the
chief difference between us and the
common run-the fellows that have no
purposes beyond getting comfortably
| through each day"
"And getting real happiness" ne In
terrupted. with just a tinge Of bitter
| ness.
I'VE wouldn't think II happiness. g
| was my answer.
The worse for u.s." ne replied. We're
under the tyranny OF tomorrow-and
happiness n impossible"
May ! look ut your BEDROOM
asked.
| Certainly" ne assented.
| pushed open the door he indicated.
AZ FIRST glimpse ! was disappointed.
| The big room looked like n section OF
q hospital ward. II wasn't until I had
taken n second and very careful look
NJ the tiled floor. walls. ceiling. that
/ noted that those plain smooth tiles
were OF the very finest. were proba bly,
OF his own designing. certainly had
been imported from some great Dutch
OF German kiln. Not an inch OF drnp-
cry. not picture. nothing that could
/ hold dust or germs anywhere: n square
OF sanitary mating by the bed: nroth-
r square opposite an elaborate exercis-
| ing machine. The bed was OF the sim
piest metallic construction-but noted
that the metal was the finest bronze
on ~ was n thin. hard mattress. You
could wash the biz room down and
out with the hose. without doing any
| damage.
quite a contrast" said I. giacing
! from the one room 20 the other.
MY architect In crank on SANTA
tion." he explained. from his lounge.
noted that the windows were huge
to admit Hoods OF Highland that they
were Theoretically sealed so that the
mir should be only the pure air supplied
| from the ventilating apparatus. To
many people that room would have
seemed cheaply got together cell: to
me. once had examined n. II was
| evidently built ut enormous cost and
represented an extravaganza or COM
mon sense luxury which was more than
| princcly or royal
Suddenly my mind reverted 20 my
business. How do you account for the
stcadlness OF Textile. LangdonF" !
asked. returning to the carved sitting
room and trying tn put those surround
| inrs out OF my mind.
II don't account for IT, was his
languid. unintcfeSted reply.
ANY OF your people under the mar
ket?"
1T isn't to my interest TO have Il sup
ported. Is IT." he replied.
II know that" admitted. but why
doesn't II drop"
Those letters OF yours may have
overeducated the public In confidence"
suggested he. your followers have the
habit OF believing implicitly whatever
you say"
YES. but I haven't written line
about Textile for nearly Il month now"
| I pretended TO object. my vanity fairly
purring with pleasure.
That's the only reason / can give"
said he.
You are sure none OF your people
| Is supporting the stockg" 1 asked. as
n form and not for information: for
I thought knew they WEREN'T trust
cd him to have seen to that.
| "I'd like TO get my holdings back"
said he. 1 can't buy until It's down;
And know none OF my people would
dare support g."
You will notice he did not say direct
/ ly that he was not himself supporting
| the market: he simply so answered me
| that /. not suspectinC him, would think
he reas-'rcd me. There II another OF
those mysteries OF conscience. Had IL
been necessary. Langdon would have
| told me the lie fiat and direct. would
have told ~ without n tremor or the
voice or n blink OF the eye. would have
| lied 10 me as have heard him, and nj
| most all the biz fellows. lie under oath
before courts and legislative commit
| tees: yet. so long ms II was possible.
/ he would thus lie TO me with lies that
were not lies. As II negative lies are
not fnlscr and moro cowardly than POSI-
| tie lies. because securer and more de-
| ceptivc.
"wcll, then. the price must break"
said I. 1T won't be many days before
| the public begins 10 realize that there
| Ia
mo sharp break" he said cnrelcssly.
mo pnnic,'
"I'il see 20 that" replied I. with not
n shadow or n notion OF the subtley be-
hind his warning.
"I lone II win break soon" no then
said adding In his friendliest voice with
| what / now know was malignant
| treachcry: You we II TO me to bring
II down" That meant that he wished
/ me TO increase my already far too
hea' and dangerous line OF shorts.
Just then voice-a woman's voice
came from the salon. May come In?
| Do I interrupt? ?" u said. and it's tone
plnintive appeal.
Excuse me moment. Blackjack"
| said he. rising with what was for him
haste.
But no was too late. The woman en-
tered searching the room with n pierre
u
hind that look. n jealousy that pounced
on every object that came into its view,
and studied II with hope that feared
and n fear that hoped. When her eyes
had toured the room. they paused upon
| him. seemed to be saying: You've
bafiled me again. but I'm not discour-
aged. shall catch you yet"
well. my denr?" said Lnngdon,
whom she seemed family 20 amuse.
IT'S only MIR. Blackjack. Mr.. Black
lock. my Wife"
bowed: she looked coldly ut me. and
her slight nod was more than "A hint
that she wished To be left alone with
her husband.
said TO him: We'll. I'll be OF. Thank
you for"
"One moment" he interrupted. Then
to his wife: Anything spcCial?"
She flushed. "No--nuthing special. I
just came to see you. but IL 1 am dis
turbing you-as usual"
Not IT ALL" said he. when Black
lock and I have finished. I'll come To
you. il won't be longer than an hour
or so"
lis that all?" she said almost savage
~. Evidently she was one OF those
women who dare not make scenes"
with their husbands I'm private and so
are compelled To take advantage OF the
Il