The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1907-08-17

public and the financierv that I had
broken with speculation aud specula
tors, could | have had a better than
this unexpected opportunity sharply
to define my new course9 And as
Textiles, unsupported. fell toward the
close of the day, my content rose to
ward my normal high spirits. There
was no whisper in the Street that
was in trouble; on the contrary, the
| idea was gaining ground that had
really long ceased to be stock
gambler and deserved much better
reputation than | had.
| searched with good deal of anx.
iety. as you may imagine, the early
editions of the afternoon papers The
first article my eye CHANGED upon
was mere, wordy elaboration of the
brief and vague announcement Mon.
son had put in the Herald. Later
came an interview with old Ellersly
Not at all mysterious" he had said
to the reporters. Mr. Blackjack
found he would have to go abroad
|
! just when. On the spur of the mo-
ment they decided to marry" A
good enough story, and | confirmed
II when | admitted the reporters. |
read their estimates of my fortune
and OF Anita's with rather bitter
amusement-she whose father was
living from hand to mouth; who
|
settlement with enough to enable me
to keep a trap. Still, when one is
rich, the reputation of being rich is
heavily expensive; but when one IL
poor the reputation Of being rich can
be made wealth-giving asset.
Even as | was reading these iSuies
of my millions, there lay on the ders
before me u statement of the exa,
posture Of my affalrs--a memoran
dun made by myself for my own eyes,
and to be burned as soon as | mas
tered 1t. On the face of the figures
the balance against me was appalling.
My chief asset. indeed my only asset
that measured up toward my debts,
was my Coal stocks. those brought
and those contracted for; and, while
their par value far exceeded my LA.
bilities, they had to appear in my
memorandum at their actual market
value on that day. I looked at the
alendar-seventeen days until the
reorganization scheme would be an.
bounced, only seventeen days!
Less than three business weeks,
and | should be out of the storm and
sailing safer and smoother seas than
I had ever known. ITO indulge in
vague hopes is bad" thought /, but
not to indulge In a hope, especially
when one has only 1t between him
and the pit" And proceeded to
plan on the not unwarranted assump.
ton that my Coal hope was a present
reality. Indeed. what alternative had
|? To put 1t among the futures un.
certainties was to put myself among
the utterly ruined. Using an collat
eral the Coal stocks had bought
outright, | borrowed more money
and with 1t went still deeper into the
Coal venture. Everything or nothing!
since the chances in my favor were
a thousand, TO practically none agains,
me. Everything or nothing!-sincC
only by taking everything could
possibly save anything at all.
Home! For the first time since
was squat little slip of shaver the
worlc had a personal meaning fol-
me. Perhaps, II the only other home
of mine had been less uninviting,
should not have looked forward with
such high beating of the heart TO that
cold home Anita was making for me
No, | withdraw that II is fellows
like me. to whom kindly looks and un
bought attentions are as unfamiliar
as flowers to the 'Arctic--it is men
ure and warm up under The faintest
show or shadowy suggestion OF the
sunshine of sentiment. I'd be a lit,
tie ashamed to say how much money
| handed out to beggars and street
gamins that day. had a home to
go to!
As my electric drew up at the VIII
ioughby's. carriage backed to make
room for 1t. | recognized the horses
and the coachman and the crest.
"fiow long has Mrs. Ellersly been
with my wife?" | asked the elevator
boy, as he was taking me up.
About half an hour, SIR" he an
swered. But Mr.. Ellersley-I took
up his card before lunch, and he's
still there"
Instead of using my key, rang
the bell, and when Sanders opened,
said: rs Mrs. Blackjack in?" In q
voice loud enough to penetrate to the
drawing-room.
As | had hoped. Anita appeared
Her dress told me that her trunks
had come-she had sent for her
trunks! Mother and father are
here" said she, without looking at me
! followed her into the drawing
room and, for the benefit OF the ser
wants, Mr.. and Mrs. Ellersly and
greeted each other courteously
though Mrs. Ellersly's eyes and mine