Evening star., 1909-05-26
CHAPTER I.
Caleb Conover Wins.
red-baired man was fighting.

Caleb Conover Wins.
The red-haired man was fighting.
He had always been fighting. The
square jaw. the bull neck proclaimed him
Of the battling breed even before one had
scope to note the alert light eyes, the
tight mouth, the short, broad hands. with
their stubby strength OF finger.
In prize ring, in medieval battlefield. In
longshore tavern, Caleb Conover would
have slugged his way to supremacy In
business he won as readily-and by SIM
liar methods. His was not only the force,
but also the supreme craft Of the fighter.
Therefore he was president, instead of
t,ouncer. In the offices of the c. G. and \.
railroad.
1t was not railroad business that en-
crossed Conover as he sat at his desk
one day In early spring. tearing open a
ceaseless series of kilograms, scr1DDllns
replies. ringing now and then for a mes
senger, to whom he gave curt order.
kilograms and messages ceased. In the
lull Conover jumped to his feet and be-
gan to walk back and forth. HIS Dig
hands were clenched, his head thrust for
ward, his whole muscle-bound body tense.
Then began violent ringing from the
long distance telephone, In the far corner
of the room. Conover picked up the re
ceiver, grunted a question, then listened.
the receiver at his ear, his broad. freckled
face impassive save for growing nre
in the pale alert eyes. A grunt of dis
missal and the receiver was hung on its
hook.
Conover crossed the room, threw him
| self into q big creaking chair, cooked his
| feet on the window SILL drew out and
| lighted a fat cigar. The tenseness was
gone. His whole heavy body was relax
| ed He smoked mechanically and let his
\ vi fnQrfneSS
| blank wall across the street. He was
| resting as hard as he had fought.
| A clerk timidly' opened the door lead
| ing from the outer Offices.
"Mr. Caine. sir ventured the employe
| HE says he
send him in" vouchsafed Conover
without turning his head.
| His eyes were still fixed in unseeine
| comfort on the wall when his guest en-
| tered. nor did he SHIFT his glance with
| out visible reluctance. The newcomer
seemingly was used to his hosts lack OF
cardiality. for. favoring Conover with
and stick on the table and lighted
| cigarette before speaking.
| Conover surveyed the well-groomed fig
ure of his guest with an air of disparag-
| ing approval that reached Its climax as
he noted the cigarette.
| "Heren' he suggested ''throw away
that paper link between fire and fool, and
smoke real tobacco. Try one Of these ci.
gars If you want to. They'll fit your
mouth lot better: Why does a grown
This grown man." replied Caine. un-
rufiled. has way Of doing what he
chooses. l came to see If you were ready
to go to your execution"
Execution. eh?" grinned Conover
well, it's just on the books that there
may be a little executin' done. up there
But won't be the gent with his head or
the block. Besides, you're an hour
early"
Il know 1 am. It's an ideal day TO,
| work. So I haven't done any. I left the
Office ahead of time and came to see if
could lure into walk before we go tG
| the club. You don't seem much worried
| over the outcome
win
| ''Conover.' said Caine. observing hi:
friend with the condescendingly interested
air of a visitor at the zoo. III had YOU
sublime conceit I'd be President of the
| United States or the richest man IL
America. or some other such odious per
sonage whose shoes We all secretly feal
we may some day fill.''
| President? Richest mani" repeated
conover. mildly attracted by the dua
idea. ''Give me time and I'll likely bt
both. I've made a little start on thu
second already, today
| Won another fight?" queried Caine.
''Yes, a big one. The biggest yet, b,
far"
Nothing to do with Steeloid, l sup
pose!" suggested the visitor. a note of rea
concern peering through his customar,
air of amused calm.
"All about Steeloid." returned Conover
The Independent steeloid Company i.
THE Independent! That means {
slump in our U. S. Steeloid. You cal
that winning a fight? 1 thought"
You'd be better off, Caine. if you'e
leave the thinkin' part of these things t.
You talk about our U. S. steeloid
You seem to forget that 1 own y pei
cent of the stock and you own just wha
l let you in on
| Never mind all that" interposet
together. they'll make things warm fol
u.s."
! Not enough to cause any hurry cal
for electric fans, l guess" chuckled Con
over If you'll stop 'thinkin'' a minute
or two an listen to me. I'll try to explain
An maybe l can hammer into your heat
a few of the million things you dom
know about finance. Here's the idea.
built up the Steeloid Trust, didn't I? Ant
Blacarda and his crowd who had beer
steeloid companies. set up q squeal be
| cause I could undersell EN-"
Go on" urged Caine. II know all that
You needn't take running start with
/ yOuI 1cSSOH III HISH uAdnCc- e III take II
for granted that l read at least the news
paper l own and that i know Blacarda
has been trying to organize the independ
ent companies against you. What next?'
Well, they're organized. Only Bla-
| carda didn't do it, A high-souled phi
| lanthropic geezer that worked through
! agents. jumped in an combined all the
| Independent companies against us an
got 'em to give him full voting power or
| all their stock. Put themselves into his
| hands entirely. you see. for the fight
against my Steeloid Trust Then this
noble e-hearted trust buster Incorporated
the independents. The deal went through
today. l got final word on it just now
The independents are organized. The
| the control Of one man.
But HE'LL
AN that one man. resumed the
| fighter. happens to be Caleb Conover"
| But" gasped the dumfounded Caine
II don't understand"
.caine:" protested Conover, gently. I'll
all the things you don't understand abou,
| finance was to be placed end to end-like
| they say in the Sunday features Of your
| paper-they'd reach from here to Bla-
| carda's chances of swingin' the Inde
pendent Steeloid Company. An that's q
| long sight farther than twice around the
world. What I'm gettin' at Is this:
went to work on the quiet and formed
that independent combine. Then l gave
it to myself as a present. 1t is now par
Of my U. g. Steeloid Company. Or will
| be as soon as l can strangle the legisla
| ture kick that Blacarda's sure to put up.
Il see now" said Caine. slipping bacl
into his armor of habitual calm. "and
| take of my hat to you. Conover. yo,
missed your calling when you failed to g,
into the safe-breaking profession
| There's more money in business" re