The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-10-11
ODE Deluge
BY DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS

L 90 not see MIN, Is LOOKING at IHe Win
an expression of benevolent and mel
ancholy pity-the look with which he
always regarded anyone whom the
Roebuck God Almighty had commanded
Roebuck to destroy. He and his God
were in constant communication; his
God never did anything except for his
benefit. he never did anything except
on the direct counsel or command OF
his God. Just now his God is COM
handing him to destroy me. his conf
Dental agent in shaping many a vast
industrial enterprise and in inducing
the public to buy by the million it's
bonds and stocks.
invited the angry frown Of the Roe
buck God by saying: And l bought In
the M~anasquale mines on my own ac-
count"
ION your own account" said Roe
buck. Then he hastily effaced his in
voluntary air Of the engineer startled
by sight of al unexpected red light.
Yes" replied I, as calm as If I were
not realizing the tremendous signif-
canoe Of what I had announced. II
look to you to let me participate on
equal terms"
That is, 1 had decided that the time
had come for me to take my place
among the kings of finance. l had de-
cided to promote myself from agent to
principal, from prime minister to king
I must, myself, promote myself, for
80 hAAAo - Sii NAiShs ~ IA
comes from within. And in further
ance of my object I had bought this
group of mines, control of which was
vital to the Observation-Disclosures
combine for Il monopoly of the coal of
the country.
"Did not Mr.. Langdon commits
him and his friends?" inquired
Roebuck, in that slow. placid tone
which yet, for the ear. had a
note in it like the scream of a jaguar
that comes home and finds it's cub gone.
"But 1 couldn't get them for him." I
explained. The owners wouldn't sell
until l engaged that the National Coal
and Railway company was not to have
them"
"Oh, I see" said Roebuck. sinking
back relieved. W. must get Browne
to draw UP some sort Of perpetual, ir-
~revocable power of attorney to US for
you to sign"
But l won't sign it," said I.
Roebuck took up a sheet of paper and
began to fold it upon itself with great
care to get the edges straight. He had
graSped my meaning; he was deliberat-
in-.
''For four years now" I 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 MAX
ing me president, or chairman Of an
executive or finance committee. 1 am
an impatient man, Mr.. Roebuck. Life
is short, and l "a much to do. So I
have bought the Manasquale mines
and I shall hold them"
Roebuck continued to fold the paper
upon itself until he had reduced it to a
! short, thick strip. This he slowly
twisted between his cruel fingers until
one at a time. into the waste basket,
then smiled ~benevolently at me. you
are right he said. you shall have
, what you want. You nave seemed such
\ a mere boy to me that, in spite of your
giving again and again proof of what
. Then, 90" He halted, and his look
was that OF one surveying delicate
: ground.
> "The bucket shop?" suggested I.
Exactly" said he gratefully. "Youl
brokerage business has been invaluable
to us. But-well, I needn't tell you how
+ people-the men of standing-look or
r that sort of thing
81 never have paid any attention tt
4 ponlpous pretenses," said T." land
never shall. My brokerage business
q must go on. and my daily letters to in
~vestors. BY advertising | rose: by ad
/. vertising 1 am a power that even vol
recognize; by advertising alone can
d keep that power"
you forget that in the new circum
stances, you won't need that sort O
power. Adapt yourself to your new
surroundings. Overalls for h trench
g a business suit for the Office"
IT shall keep to my o~veralls for tn,
present." said 1. They're more com
Portable. and'-here I smiled signifl
: cant.y ct him-"if l shed them, 1 nigh
have to go naked. The first principl
# OF business is never to give up wha
e you nave Until your grip is tight OF
d something better"
,e"Ne doubt you're right" agreed tn
d white-haired old scoundrel. giving n
i. sign that I had fathomed his motiv
Is for trying to hint" me out of IN,
IS stronghold. II will talk the matte
over with Langdon and Melville. Res
ID assured, my boy, that o will be sat
isfed." He got up. put his arm affec
t~ionately round my shoulders. "We a.
y like you. I have a feeling toward 70
~ as If you were my own son. l am get
ting old, and / like to see young me
g about me. growing up to assume tn
le whenever He shall call me to my re-
!. ward"
le It will seem incredible that a man c
q my shrewdness and experience coul
be taken in by such Shiny stuff as tha
le II who knew Roebuck as only a fe'
= insiders knew him. l who had seen hi
= at work, as devoid of heart as an empt
spider in an empty web. Yet I wa
taken in to the extent that I though
he really purposed to recognize m
g services, to yield to the only persuasic
y that could affect him-fofee. I fal
q cied he was actually about to put N
8 where / could be of the highest us,
fitness to him and his associates, {
70 we'll as to myself. AS if ar old ma
= ever yielded power or permitted al
~ other to gain power, even though
:, were to his own great advantage. II
= ayarice OF age is not open to reaso
y 1T was with tears in my eyes that
- shook hands with him. thanking nj
emotionally. 1t vas with a high CHI
~ and a proud heart that ! went bat
~ to my offices. There wasn't a doubt
g. my mind tina I vas about to get n
"a deserts, was about to enter Il
az charmed circle OF high finance"
& That small and exclusive circle, N
Z !, which ! was seeing myself admit
q without the usual arduous and unequ
Ia battle, was what may be called the
Is. dustrial ring-a loose, yet tight, col
al bine Of about a dozen men who &C
4 trolled in one way or another prac'
IL cally all the industries Of the COUNT
a. They had no formal agreements; tn
as held no official meetings. They did =
d i50k=apon themselves as an associatic