The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-13
CHAPTER ~.
Diamonds Va. Hearts Win.

We
Diamonds va. Hearts Win.
BY the calendar II was Oct. 20, and
therefore time Of cool. fall weather;
but as a matter OF climatic fact the
day had the mildness of early spring
was SO mild. indeed. that all three
Of the great windows OF Tynans pri-
Vate office, fronting on Broad-st.. were
thrown wide open.
Through these windows came an
unsteady roar that was like the sound
OF many waters" Its sub-bass was
the steady diapason OF the city's life.
but over that there rose and fell a
series OF shouts and cries that came
from near at hand, They came from
struggling. lighting knots OF men gath
cred on the curbstone on Broad-st.
and around the corner on Wall; from
the hurrying masses OF men that strove
about the doors OF the exchanges;
from the open windows OF the stock
markets: where wild-eyed brokers
were fighting like slaves. in the arena;
from shrill-voiced newsboys shrieking
their hysterical news; and from a
thousand threats made strident by
their owners nervousness.
There were black doings on the
street. Such shaking up. such a
rafting OF the dry bones had not been
heard since the fateful days OF $50.
Someone. some master had precipi'
tated q demand for sudden hquida-
tion--the instantaneous payment OF
obligations No one seemed TO know
just exactly where the first crushing
demand had been made, but everyone
knew that this demand had brought
rush for settlement all along the line.
II was as though someone mad toppieu
over the first of row or prlcks anu
as though each brick In faiiing hao
leveled its neighbor.
There were five men who knew the
row OF bricks were topping and whose
foot 1t was that had kicked over the
first brick. but though o. w. James
had once or twice been led into the
weakness of newspaper interview,
none OF them was the man TO take the
public into his confidence. They were
workers in the dark, the silent powers
of Wall-st., the hidden movers OF mil
lions. But clever, INSCRIPTIONS man
ipulators as they were: accustomed 10
fiurries as they might be; and aware
as they were of what one man NOV
ing hand could do, they stood amazed
at the destruction that had followed
the practical adoption OF Tynans pro
gram for re-establishment or true
values
But lyman was not surprised. ROT
~. hn Uin
that has swollen securities ten times
past their safety limit. He knew that
IL the squeeze were started thou-
sand big concerns and hundred
big men might be swamped In the co..
lapse. but he knew that Barholm
would be one of the men so swamped
and that the wreckage OF his rivai
house would be so far carried into the
sea of ruin that IL would never be
heard OF again.
So lyman sat In his big office and
listened TO the roar In the street anu
waited for the appeal which ne feit
sure would come.
II was anything but an appeal, now
ever, that was made when Peter
Sterling brushed past the guardians
at Tynan's door and staggered into
Tynan's presence, furious and nag
gard.
Sterling was an old man when ne
sat in the conference In lyman h-
brary. but he seemed 80 years oider
now than he was then and that was
only three days ago. He faced lyman
with wild. angry eyes and shook with
excitement when he spoke.
Nice, pretty piece OF work you We
done. lyman" he cried.
Keep quiet Peter said lyman.
There's no occasion for wildness-
this is time for the steady hand.
Wild! Steady" screamed Sterling
you're nice one to talk OF being
wild. It's your damned wild work
that is running us; that is running the
Street. running the city and. II you
don't look out, II will ruin the whole
blamed country What the hell are
you up to anyhow
Look here, Sterling" said lyman
showing answering anger for the nrst
time. Il object to your personalities
I'm not the only officer on the imam
cial ship: I'm not the captain
that's wrecking her. Didn't we
agree last Tuesday that necessity
of the time was a REIMBURSEMENT OF
securities? You conceded that an
operation was necessary and. now, at
the first touch OF the knife you squeal
and sauirm like an old woman. and
talk like French dragon instead OF
Baptist deacon"
''Oh. do, do II" cried Sterling. his
old mans voice quivering with rage.
81 saueal and swear do I? Well may
be you'll have chance OF showing
how you behave under the knife. I'm
not blind. lyman you're doing dirty
work. You're pulling down things
for your own purpose, but thank the
Lord you'll go down with us.
"Oh, guess not" said lyman.
"Oh, guess yes" retorted Ster'
ling. Don't you believe that you're
the only man who can pull down.
look 10 your own house, Pat lyman.
and look at this paper! And good-day
and be damned 20 you"
And with that Peter Sterling stag
gered out as he had staggered in.
The paper which he had flung on
Tynan's desk lay there with It's scare
headlines in type big enough and
black enough To be read across the
room. Ordinarily lyman never looked
al the paper, but the paper was look
ing AT him now--full In the face.