Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-05-31

tlOn. In Tue COuTst Vi uhii az houi snS
country youth was unburdening him
self to this agreeable stranger as he
had never talked to his closest friend.
81 live over to Hebron Valley. In Yer
mont" he said I'm clerk In old man
Briggs general store; been workin'
there since | was fourteen. Tie Old
man wants to retire now, and I'd like
to buy the business"
II see," rejoined Davidson politely.
Silas beat a tattoo with clumsy fla
gers on the window sill and smiled
with embarrassment before he proceed
ed. "There's-there's girl, you know"
Indeed. Briggs daughter. | sup
poseT'
mo: Jennie Gardner. We're-we're
engaged, you see. That's why want
the store"
Feel as if you'd ought TO be set up
In business before you marry, chg
I queried the broker, smiling a little
"well, no; don't" replied the young
man reluctantly, land Jennie don't:
neither does her ma But her father
he's John Gardner, the banker there at
Hebron-he don't like me; thinks amt
got money enough, guess. Then
there's another fellow, the postmaster
\ He wants Jennie to marry"
! Davidson's interest quickened. why
don't you run away with the grip he
asked.
..She won't do II. She's afraid of her
father So is her mother, for that mat
| ter. He's hard man."
! He'd be satisfied to let you marry If
/ you owned the storeT
! Eyes, and that's just some more of
his meanness." returned Silas. "He
! thinks it's impossible for me to buy 1t
or he wouldn't say so. All COTS $500.
Briggs wants $1,000. I'm goin' down
to New York to see II can't raise it.
I've heard of money being made pretty
quick on Wall street
They'd get your hay In about TWEEN
ty minutes on Wall street." responded
Davidson decisively. II know, because
that's where I hang out But see here,
Ashlar. Eve got little sporting blood
In my veins. and I've been under dog
myself. Suppose I help you down this
tn penny bankerr'
'-Say, If you only would"
Every well. Let's have your ave hun
dred! There's something on for tomor-
row, and maybe I can clean UP your
little pile for you during the excite
ment. Are you willing to trust me and
take the chanceT"
Ashar's answer was to draw, with
trembling fingers, bulky envelope
from an inner pocket and pass It over
to the broker. who tore Il open and
counted the contents dexterously. There
was $500 In the package in well thumb
ed tens and twenties.
The broker slowed the money away
and produced a bit of pasteboard.
There's my address," he said, handing
the card to Ashlar You come to that
number day after tomorrow at 10, and
I'll have some news for you"
When at dusk Ashlar, bewildered by
the appalling noise and confusion Of
the big city, ventured from the rail-
way station into the street he sudden
ly felt that he had done foolish thing
In intrusting all his money to per-
fect stranger, but the remembrance Of
Davidson's face with Its undefnable
attraction treasured him. II was q
darn fool for ever thinkin' Of this
thing he muttered. They'd surely
beat me II tried speculatin' by my
self. / guess Davidson is square"
The New York and Western episode
nm tho CfocIx E,vobopDa paxf do, x.,as
merely skirmish in the great indus
trial warfare which goes on ceaselessly
In that slit in the granite called Wall
street. A few profited; scores were
ruined. Before Davidson & Cole had
loaded up irretrievably with the stock
Davidson smelled danger and had be-
gun to let go.
His suspicious proved justified. The
story of the fight for control was
clever fake, which had already caught
many small firms. 1t developed that
the Silvers and the Hillmans had long
since come to an amicable agreement
In regard to the road.
Then we're out about SOS, O00," said
Lucius Cole the morning after the skir-
mish as he sat with his partner in their
private Office.
"About $65,0OO," agreed Davidson,
''and II hadn't got wise until half
hour later we'd have been down and
out today"
A clerk ushered In Silas Ashlar. The
country youth was haggard with anxi-
ETY.. The morning paper says we
were hit hard" he began. my mon
ey"--
"Your moneys all right" interrupted
Davidson. Il had your little old ST.
600 sailed before the balloon ascen-
sion- Here's your check" He handed
Ashlar slip Of paper.
Silas for few moments was dazed
by the good news. Then he began to
stammer his thanks, but Davidson
waved them aside. mot q word, now,
Silas. want just two promises Of
you-that you'll never monkey with the
Stock Exchange again and that you
will 60 shome and fix up wedding
within two weeks. Do you agreeY'
There were tears In the young mans