The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-30
CHAPTER XVII.
BY
DOUBTS.


The time OF 5,.bilutton-At the bankers
The last auord from Fnrso'l-Sarch ana
40 to sec the pdradc-We meet the
Dru1nds-A fading utc--Sod thoughts.
Jane speaks out-Whdt nert7-SdrIh is
no longer Jealous.
r. n was that autumn Of jubilation
after the Spanish war. The
morning when l drove through
the city to the bankers office
workmen were putting up great arch
across the avenue for the coming day
of celebration. Our people had shown
the nations Of the world the might and
the glory in US. Forgotten now was
the miserable mismanagement Of our
brave men. the shame Of rotten ra-
lions. the fraud Of politicians-all but
the pride Of our strength! A new spir-
it had come over our country during
these months-a spirit of daring and
adventure or readiness for vast enter
prises. That business world Of which
I was q part was boiling with activi-
ties. The great things that had been
done in the past in the light Of the
present seemed but the deeds Of babes.
And every man who had his touch
upon affairs felt the madness of the
times.
Among the gentlemen gathered in
the bankers office that morning was
my old friend Farson. l had not seen
him since our unpleasant luncheon at
the railroad station. He greeted me
cOurteeusly enough, as ii he had once
been acquainted with somebody by
my name. 1t was apparent that he
had come there to represent what was
left Of the old New England interests
in the railroad properties. but he did
not count in that gathering. The men
at Morris Bros. listened to me most Of
the time that morning.
AS we broke up for luncheon Farson
congratulated me dryly on the success
l had met with in the negotiations.
81 hope. then. we shall have your
support" l remarked forgetting our
past dispute.
Il am here to see that my friends
are taken care Of" he replied grimly.
"All we hope is to get our money back
from the properties. Ny people do
not understand you and your genera
ton. We are better apart"
Il am sorry you think so." l said.
understanding we'll enough what he
meant.
Il am sorry. too; sorry for you and
for our country in the years to come.
For she it is who suffers most by such
ideals as you stand for"
II think you are mistaken there"
answered peaceably. I'VE are the
ones who are making this country
great. Ii it weren't for men like me
you good people wouldn't be doing any
business 10 speak of. There wouldn't
be much to be done!''
Our fathers found enough to do"
he retorted dryly, land they did not
buy judges nor maintain Hobbies in the
legislature"
There wasn't any money in it those
days" laughed.
Talking thus. we reached the place
where l was to lunch with some others,
and I asked him to join the party.
The uncompromising old duck refused.
He wouldn't even break bread with
me at hotel table.
Il am sorry you won't eat with me,
Mr.. Farson. don't hope to convert
you to my way Of thinking and feeling.
But you were good to me and saved
my life when l was in tight place.
and I am glad to think that no loss
ever came to you or your friends
through me. l have made money for
you all. And l wish you would stay
with me and let me make a lot more
for you in this new deal we are put
ting through
THANK you." he said. with q dry
little smile. but and my friends will
be content with getting back the money
we have spent NJ. Harrington. there
Is one thThg that you western gentle
memo: it is unfair to casA tina, slul
on one section of the country. and
have met honora bic gentlemen west Us
well as east-but there is one thine
that you gentlemen Of finance today
fail to Observation-Disclosures Is always il
greater rascal than any one Of you
somewhere. and it is usually only a
question OF time when you viii NEE,
him. When that time comes. he vii!
pick the flesh from your bones. and nc
one will care very much what happens
to you then. And one thing more
to one who has lived life and knows
what it is. there Is mighty little happi
ness In q million dollars! Good morn
ing, sir
He was a lovable old fool, though
All through luncheon and the business
talk that followed In the afternoon ths
old gentieman's res>arks kept comiEe
back to me in = queer, persistent way
Feeling my oats as did. in the full