The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-05-14
The PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, NAY H. 1908

more. Pm going to squeeze him I'LL h1a
body is as dry as the state Of Texas!
I think you told me that you knew his
son. The old mans name is Bill vii
liams."
Richards brain was in whirl. The
Houston. Matagorda City and Gulf
Railroad and Improvement company
was his fathers pet, the darling of his
heart. He had worked over it, shaved
over it and owned the controlling inter-
est in which he had invested an enor-
nous sum. If what Mr.. Renwyck
said was true the coming crash would
overwhelm his father completely. Not
only had that gentleman invested his
own money in the company, but he had
induced his friends to iOin with him.
and we'll Richard knew that his father
would feel responsible for their loss
Again, the young man was not the
kind of man who could stand meekly
by and see his dear old dad bested by
an enemy. With mental gasp he re-
allied that he stood in possession of
information by which he could turn
the tables on Jacob Renwyck and
watch Bill Williams do the squeezing.
"Jerusalem, how dad will laughp' he
mused, then bit his tongue at sud-
den thought which came to him.
He could not tell his father!
To pose as an English nobleman for
the sake of joke or even to win
girl was one thing; to receive mans
confidence in that capacity and by
means of it detach him from the major
portion of his fortune was quite an
other. Richards mind was made up
instantly. A confession Of his deceit
would cause a scene beyond doubt,
and, moreover, his hope of winning Miss
Harriet would fade in the general
wreck, but even with this depressing
fact in view he could not for an in
slant bring himself to be branded as
swindler and a thief.
''Mr. Renwyck." he began, but the
daring Spectator once more checked
the good intention.
"Now, my dear Croyland," he begged.
II don't want you to go into this thing
prematurely. Sleep on it. Think it
over tomorrow, and We'll talk about it
again in the evening. I'm going to
town in the morning to attend a quiet
meeting of the new company's stock
holders. l will then be in a position to
show you even more clearly where we
stand. Let's go to bed" He linked his
arm through Richards and started
across the grass. by the way, have
O new team of horses coming out to-
morrow on trial. I should like to get
your opinion Of them before buy"
The light Of dawn found Richard still
staring at the ceiling and wondering
how he could get out of the tangle. No
longer was he justified in concealing his
identity on any pretext. He must con-
TESS to Mr.. Renwyck. But how could
he do that when everything was pro-
crossing so favorably, when he was
making so good an impression both on
MIR. Renwyck and, as he hoped, his
daughter? How could he throw away
his opportunity there? On the other
hand, how could he see his dad walk
blindly into the mouths Of a set of
New York sharks? Over and over he
turned the questions till his brain
grew added and his head was aching
viciously. One of two things he must
do. But which? What good would
confession do anyway? To tell his IA
Their afterward would not make him
less culpable. He turned and twisted
In his bed, but found no solution of the
problem. The questions hit each other
like wild express trains on a single
track. and the solitary engineer had no
earthly chance to jump.
Now. it's this way" he murmured
to his rumpled pillow-"when an ire
sistible force meets an immovable body
heavens! wish we'd given those
blasted Englishmen a bigger licking
than we did in '76r'