The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-07
CHAPTER I. Caleb Cenover Wins.

| The read-haired man was fighting. | He had always been fighting. Int | 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 oi finger.
 1 Tn prize ring, in mediaevai battle | field, in 'longshOre tavern, Caleb Con- over would have slugged his way to supremacy. In business he won as readily-and by similar methods. His was not only the force but also the supreme craft of the fighter. There fore he was president, instead oi bouncer, in the offices of the c. G. & x. Railroad
 It twas not railroad business that desk one day in early spring; tearins open a ceaseless series of telegrams, ecribbling replies, ringing now and then for a messenger to whom he gave a curt order.
 Telegrams and messages ceased In the Hull, Conover jumped to his feet and began to walk back and forth. His big hands were elenched, his head thrust forward. his whole muscle Then began a violent ringing from the long distance telephone in the far corner of the room. Conover picked up the receiver. grunted question, then listened For nearly five min- utes he stood thus. the receiver at his ear, his broad freckled face impressive rave for g. growing fire in the pale, alert eyes. A grunt of dismissal and the receiver was hung on @ it's hook, tsrsv himself into g. big creaking chair, cooked his feet on the window sill. drew out and lighted fat cigar. The tenseness waS gone. Ills whole heavy chanically and let. his gaze rove with dull inertness over the blank wall across the street. He was resting as hard as he had fought.
 leading from the outer office4 eMr Caine, sir," ventured 'the em- ployee. He says heT
 '6end him in," vouchsafed Conover without turning his head.
 His eyes were still fixed in unseeing comfort on the wall, when his guest entered. Nor did he shift his glance without visible reluctance. The new Hack of cordiaiffy. For favoring Con over with a slight nod, he deposited his hat, gloves and stick on the table and lighted a cigarette, before speak ing.
 Conover surveyed the well-groomed figure Of his guest with an air of dis paragfng approval that reached its cli- max as he noted the cigarette
 "Herei" he suggested. Throw away that paper link between fire and a fool, and smoke real tobacco. Try one of these cigars if you want to. Theyu fit your mouth a lot better. Why does grown man smoke a -?"
 This grown man" replied Caine, he chooses. I came to see if you were ready to go to your execution"
 Execution, eh ?' grinned Conover-
 bs . ss t.s Sn tns aseeSt ssah: aoae ne there But I won't be the gent with his head on the block. Besides. you're an hour carly"
 "I know I am. It's an ideal day left the office ahead of time and came to see if could lure you into a walk before we go to the Club. You don't seem much worried over the out
 Why should be? I'll win al ways wfn,"
 .SConover," said caine. observing his friend with the condescendingly inter had your sublime c6hceit I'd be Presi- dent of the United States or the rich est man in America, or some other such odious parsonage whose shoes we all secretly fear we may some day
 "President? Richest mar? ?" repeat ed Conoyer. mildly attracted by the dual idea Gfve me time and I'll likely be both. I've made a little start on the second already, to-day
 "Won another fight?" queried Caine.
 .-Yes. big one. The biggest yet. by far.'' <
 ..Nothing to do with steeloid. sup real concern peering through his GUS tomary air of amused calm.
 "All about Steelofd," returned Con- over. '-The Independent Steeloid Com pany is incorp'rated at last. Capital
 ..rhe Independent. That means a slump in our U. 8. Steeloidl You call that winning a fight? I thought leave the thinkin. part of these things to me. Thinkin' is my game. Not yours. You talk about our U. s. Steeloid. You seem to forget I own seventy-two per cent. of the stock and you own just what I let you in on."
 Never mind all that. interposed Caine- 'sIf the Independents are band ed together they'll make things warm for us."
 Not enough to cause any hurry. call for electric fans, guess" chuckded Conover 'If you'll stop 3thinkin' minute or two an listen to me, I'll try to explain An maybe can million things you don't know about finance. Here's the idea. I built up the Steeloid Trust, didn't I? And Blacarda and his crowd who had been steeicid companies. set up squeal because I could underseH 'em.''
 "Go on," urged Caine. "I know all that. You needn't take a running start with your }esson in high finance. We'll take it for granted that, read at least the newspaper own and that know Blacarda has been trying to organize the independent companies against you. What next?"
 "Well, they're organized. Only Blecarda didn't do it. A high souled philanthropic geezer that worked through agents. jumped in an com bined~ all the independent companies against us an got 'em to give him full voting power on all their stock Put themselves into his hands entirely, you see, for the fight against my Steeloid Trlist. Then this noble hearted trust buster incorporated the Independents. The deal went through to-day. I got final word on it just now. The Inde- pendents are organized. The votes on every share of their stock is in the control O. one man."
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