Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-03
CHAPTER ".

Without offending Mr.. Van Torp,
Lady Maud managed not to see him
again for some time, and when he I'M
derstood, as he soon did, that this was
her wish. he made no attempt to force
himself upon her. She was probably
thinking over what he had said, and
In the end she would exert her IN.
fuence as he had begged her to do.
He was thoroughly persuaded that
there was nothing unfair in his pro.
posal and that, when she was con-
WINGED that he was right, she would
help him.
But when he had taken the first
step towards accomplishing his pur-
pose, he was very much at a loss as
to the next, and he saw that he had
never undertaken anything so diff
cult since he had reorganized the
Nickel Trust, trebled the stock,
cleared profit of thirty millions and
ruined nobody but the small-fry, who,
OF course, deserved it on the principle
that people who cannot keep money
ought not to have any. Some unkind
newspaper man had then nicknamed
1t the Brass Trust, and had called him
Brassy Van Torp; but it is of no use
to throw mud at the Golden Calf, for
the dirt soon dries to dust and falls
of, leaving the animal as beautifully
shiny as ever.
Mr.. Van Torp did not quite see how
obi tnlr,
OF money to further his plans with
effect He knew his adversary's finan-
cial position in Europe much too we'll
to think of trying to attack him on
that ground; and besides, in his rough
code 1t would not be fair play to do
that. 1t was "all right" to ruin hos
tile millionaire in order to get his
money. That was business" But
to ruin him for the sake of woman
was low down." 1t would be much
more "all right" to shoot him, after
fair and due warning, and to carry off
the lady. That was Impossible in a
civilized country, of course; but as it
occurred to him, while he was think
ing, that he might find it convenient
to go somewhere in hurry by sea, he
bought perfectly new yacht that was
for sale because the owner had died
Of heart disease the week after she
was quite ready to take s'm to the
Mediterranean. The vessel was a
least as big as one Of the ocean liners
OF 80 years ago, and had done "a 1-16
knots on her trial Mr.. Van Torp took
her over as she was, with her officers.
crew, cook and stores, and rechris-
tened her. She had been launched as
the Alwayn: he called her the Ian.
cashire Lass-a bit of sentiment on
his part, for that was the name of a
mare belonging to Lady Maud's
father, which he had once ridden
bareback when he was In an amazing
hurry.
He had one interview with the cap.
tain.
See here, captain" he said, ri may
not want to take a trip this season
I'm that sort of a man. may or /
may not. But if do want you, I'll
want you quick. See?"
With the last word, he looked up
suddenly, and the captain saw" fol
he met pair of eyes that astonished
him.
Eyes, see," he answered mechanic
ally.
"And If you're in one place with
your boat, and l wire that want you
in another, I'd like you to get there
right away" said Mr.. Van Torp.
YES, SIR
'They say she'll do % 1-10," contin
ued the owner, "but when 1 wire
want you I'd like her to do as much
more as she can without bursting q
lung. If you don't think you've go1
the kind of engineer who'll keep hel
red-hot, tell me right off and we'll gel
another. And don't you fuss abou,
burning coal, captain. And see tina,
the crew get all they can eat and MOI
a drop of drink but tea and coffee, and
If you let 'em go on shore once in 8
way, see that they come home right
side up with care. captain. and make