The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-26

|rHE MELANCHOLY MAGNATE
Nv Stuart II. Stone,

BY Stuart b. Stone.
The day that Allegheny & At
Ilantic, because of the announced
absorption of the Susquehanna
Isystem, jumped in one bound to
Hal, a sharp-featured. keen-eyed
| old man sat alone In a splendid
library. The sensational rise In
A. & A.. had increased his for
Itune by probably $5.000,000; YET
the old magnate sighed fervently
land gazed into the fire with 9
Imournful expression. A pile OF
flaming newspapers lay upon the
thick, soft carpet, and black lines
ran across the tops of the pages
Hines that jeered and snapped al
the great, lonely man.
A servant entered with card
The great man read: Miss Ma
RE Lumley-The Moon" He
started to rend the card, then
hesitated.
admit the lady" he ordered
The trim, serious-faced girl al
the door received the summons al
most with unbelief. Now when
she found herself in the great
silent library, she was abashed.
"Well?" he demanded.
The girl waded in, striving des-
perately for the questions that
had seemed SO easy before: "Mr
Markleheim, THE public-The
Moon is interested IN
The mans face hardened. SC
that she halted involuntarily.
"Sit DOWN." he Numbered
then his countenance lightened
again. you want an interview
he said. in low, earnest tones
"You are sent by that He
pointed to the topmost paper OF
the pile. "They called me practi-
cally a murderer today-shrieked
it in bold, black lines for my old
playmates and classmates to read
and condemn me for"
| The girl WINGED,
|" 1.-THE within came to me to dc
that which 1 have never done be.
FORE" continued the old million.
aire, "and I sent for you. l am
glad that l did,"
The girl clinched her hands
and something like sympathy
showed in her face.
at is possibly better that the
world should know the truth OF
Stephen l.. Markleheim," he wen
on. "The journal there called the
A. & A. deal holocaust oil
finance-but 1t isn't"
The magnate arose and walked
the floor. ct have given away
two-thirds of my wealth; I have
pensioned my old employees;
have held back here and struck
there, at great personal sacrifice
when holding back or striking
meant for the common veal;
have lain awake at night hunger.
ing for one small portion of sym.
|pathy from those whose prosperity
my simplified methods of industry
have made possible, but never a
word has there BEEN"
The old man talked on, walk
ing the floor, forgetting the cow
ering girl, bringing out the faded
picture of his long-dead wife, res
|urrecting grandchildren, old peda-
|gQgs, roommates, the companions
Iof his early struggles. At last he
ceased, dropping into the chair
with a limp collapse.
l"For one mite of understand
ling" he moaned, "for one little
|tehr of sympathy, I would give q
Million dollars!"
3Then a little shame for his
Weakness came over him, and he
Looked quickly up. The girl from
The Moon was crying softly into
la little, gauzy handkerchief. She
did not see the magnate looking.
With a quick gesture the old
man grasped piece of paper and
wrote. The girl, hearing the
scratching of the pen. looked up,
hurriedly wiping away her tears.
"Here!" said the millionaire,
thrusting the paper toward her.
Some time you must come again
and I will tell you more for The
Moon. You must go now-I am
tired and rather happy. Goodby."
Outside she read the slip of
paper with tear-dimmed eyes:
PAY to the order of Marie
Lumley $1,000,00O, for tears
shed for the sins Of
STEPHEN L. MARKLEHEIM. "