The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-06-17


and I've did heap. When stun
bled on the ore couldn't be sure. but
wrote to Aunt Rebecca Winter. She
sent a man down. He looked up
things. 1t would take heap of money
to work the mines. but II might be a
big thing She paid of the mortgage
and took another First TO last, she's
have done more had we let her. So i
went to Pittsburg and learned my
trade and made enough to pay inter
est, and the people at home got fair
ly good living. When | was 21 ! was
back home, and got company started
and put up a mill. You know how
those things have to creep up. But
there was ore. all right, and | under
stood my business and taught the
hands. We'd a right sweet little mill.
Well, I don't want 10 take up your
time. sub. Those next 10 or ~ years
were right hard work. but they were
happy, too. We prospered; we helped
the whole county prosper. We paid
Aunt Becky. We were in good shape.
dends Just as regular and making
them. too. though we didn't much
more-it was close sailing. But we
were honest: we made a mighty good
article: and everybody trusted us.
Then came the craze for mergers. and
a number Of us got together. Still we
weren't very big, but we were big
a. h. let n I.tN
but some OF the men thought II was a
terrible fine thing TO be Iron Kings
That was how. Keatcham was look.
ing over the country for fish for his
net: he somehow heard that here was
a heap OF good ore and new mills. The
first intimation we had was his sec
rotary coming as a northern invalid
why, he stayed at our house because
we were so sorry for him. the hotel
being in new hands and not right com.
Portable. He seemed so interested in
our mills. and bought some stock. and
sent presents TO Phil and my mother
after he went"
That was Keatcham's private secre-
tary. you say7"
yes. sub. Atkins. You met him on
the train-as sleek and deadly n little
scoundrel as ever got rich quick. Oh.
he's deep. Well. sub. you know the
usual process. Convinced OF the value
OF the property. Keatcham and one or
two others set out to buy H. They
got little blocks OF II here and there.
Then Atkins wrote me in confidence
that some men were after the con
trolling interest and meant TO squeeze
us all out-offered 20 lend me money
! to buy-of course, on a margin. And
/ was plumb idiot enough 10 be tolled
into his trap! /. who had never spec
ulated with a dollar before, didn't
borrow his money. but / took all
could raise myself. and bought enough
to be sure | could control the next
election. Then-the slump came. and
after the slump the long. slow crum-
bling. | controlled the election all
right, OF course. but before the next
one came I was ruined. and Keatcham
put his own men ia. I went desperate
ly 10 New York. didn't know how
70 fight those fellows; it was a new
game. | didn't find Atkins Maybe
because that wasn't his name when |
had known him. | was so sure that
the property was good-as II that mat
tered AS II anything mattered with
these gamblers who play with loaded
dice and dope the horses they bet
against! Phil had all his property In
the mills; we all had. We mortgaged
the house: we had too. 10 protect our
stock. You know how the fight ended,
and what happened at Cambridge.
That isn't all. My wife" He stood
little straighteT, and the light went
out of his eyes. Il told you ! don't
make friends easily. and am not the
kind of man women take to; all the
same, the loveliest girl In the south
loved me ever since jumped over the
mill-dam TO save her rag doll, once,
when she was visiting her aunt near
us. I'd married. when we seemed pros
porous. Now, understand me, | don't
say It was my ruin and Pills death
that killed her and the baby; she had
pneumonia, and It may be that seeing
that paper by accident didn't turn the
scale; but do say that she had her last
hours em5ittered by It. That's enough
for me. When | got home WITHIN n
Phil, she was dead"
Tough" said the colonel He De-
gan to revise his impressions OF
Mercer
wasn't it," the other asked, with
simplicity of appeal that affected the
listener more than anything he had
heard. He jumped out OF his chair
and began pacing the room, talking
more rapidly. You're a man; you
know what / wanted to do"
XIII somebody, suppose. should"
Just that. l ran Atkins to cover
after a while through Endicott Tracy.
That boy is one of the noblest fellows
that ever lived; yes, sub. He was
going to help poor Phil, Pills room
mate had told him. All those boys
look a-here, Col Winter. II ever any
body talks to you about Harvard fell
lows being Indifferent"
Il shall tell him he can't get under