The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-29

unu W. NlH n utNVs Nutu I hiuU-
blcd on the ore couldn't be sure. hut
wrote to Aunt Rebecca Winter. She
sent man down. lie looked up
things. IL would take a heap OF money
to work the mines. but n might be a
big thing She paid on the mortgage
and took another. First TO last. she's
been mighty Kind 20 us. She would
have done more had we let her. so I
went to Pittsburg and learned my
trade. and made enough to pay intef-
est. and the people az home got n fair.
ly good living. When | was 81 was
back home. and got n 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 n right sweet little mill.
Wei. I don't want 20 take up your
time. sub, Those next 10 or ~ years
were right hard work, but they we're
happy. too. We prospered: we helped
the whole county prosper. We paid
Aunt Becky. We we're In good shape.
We went through 'ss paying our divi.
dends Just as regular and making
them. too. though we didn't much
more--lt was close sailing but we
were honest; we made a mighty good
article; and every body trusted us.
Then came the craze for mergers. and
a number OF us got together. SIN we
weren't very big. but we we're big
enough 10 be listed. I didn't want n.
but some OF the men thought Il was n
terrible fine thing TO be Iron Kings.
That was how. Kcatcham was look.
Ing over the country for fish for his
net: he somehow heard that here was
heap OF good ore and new mills. The
first intlmatlon We had was his sec
rotary coming as northern invalid
why. he stayed nj our house because
we were 90 sorry FOR him. the hotel
being In new hands and not right com
Portable. lie seemed so interested In
our mills. and bought some stock. and
sent presents TO Phil and my mother
after he went"
That was Kcatoham's private secre-
tary. you say"
Yes. sub. Atkins You met him on
the train-as sleek and deadly 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 a. They
got little blocks OF Il here and there.
Then Atkins wrote me in confidence
that some men were after the con.
trolling interest and meant 20 squeeze
US all out-offered 10 lend me money
10 buy-ot course. on a margin. And
! was plumb idiot enough TO be tolled
into his trap l. who had never spec.
ulated with a dollar before. l didn't
borrow his money. but took all |
could raise myself. and bought enough
10 be sure I 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 | was ruined. and Keatcham
put his own men In. went desperate.
~ 10 New York. | didn't know how
to fight those fellows: IL 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 n 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. TO protect our
stock. You know how the fight ended.
and what happened at Cambridge.
That isn't all. My wife" He stood
a little straighter. and the light went
out Of his eyes. Il told you | don't
make friends easily. and l am not the
Kind OF man women take TO: all the
same, the loyeliest girl In the south
loved me ever since jumped over the
milldam 10 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 u was my ruin and Fhil's death
that killed her and the baby: she had
pneumonia. and II may be that seeing
that paper by accident, didn't turn the
"fNf ~ wv HNf AhaA oAA' HtlA utA AtihA
hours embittered by II. That's enough
for me. When | got home with-with
Phil, she was dead"
Tough" said the colonel. lie be-
gan 10 revise his impressions OF
Mercer
Wasn't IT," the other asked, with
a simplicity of appeal that affected the
listener more than anything he had
heard. lie 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 I ran Atkins 70 cover
after a while through Endicott Tracy.
That boy is one OF the noblest fellows
that ever lived; yes. sub. lie was
going TO help poor Phil. Pills room
mate had told him. All those boys
look a-here, Col. Winter, II ever any.
h.1 nr fall -.