The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-20

SO easily disturbed. In tho midst OF |
our argument some one came into the |
room behind US and paused. listening. |
stopped.
What is IT. my .deary' Mr.. Drourd |
said, looking up. I'VE are talking busi- |
ness"
yes" she said slowly. She was In
street clothes. with hat. and she be-
gan to draw or her gloves slowly.
''Shall l disturb your"
why, no." he answered indifferent
", and resumed my argument An
Drounl sat down behind the table and
opened some letters. busyinS herself
there. But felt her eyes on my
words. Cnconsciousiy I addressed the
rest Of my argument to her. When
had finished Mr.. Dround leaned back
YEARLY In his seat and sighed:
yours is a very bold plan. Mr.. Har-
rington II might succeed II We could
get the necessary financial support.
But, as you know well enough. this 10
hardly the time to provide money for
any venture. The banks would not look
favorably upon such a speculative sug-
gestion- We shall have to wait until
better times"
We can't watt said brusouely.
Bad times or not. We must act"
Well. well. will think it over. 1t Is
time for my medicine. isn't it. Jane:'
he said. looking fretfuily at his wife.
1t was q broad hint for me to take
myself OF. and my wild schemes with
me- For a moment l felt disguised
70 m
thing could he accomplished with this
failing reed Mrs. Dround came softly
up to her husbands chair and leaned
over him.
You are too tired for more business
today. dear. Come. let me get your
medicine"
She took his arm and with all the
gentleness in the world led him from
the room. motioning to me with one
hand to keep my seat. When they had
gone removed the cloth from the
portrait on the easel and took good
look at it, 1t was the picture OF a gen
tleman surely. While l was looking at
it and wondering about the man Mrs.
Dround came back into the room and
stood at my side.
1t Is good, Ism I ltg
Yes l admitted reluctantly. think
! ing it was only too good. As l re-
placed the cloth over the picture l no
ticed that her lips were drawn tight as
! il she suffered. / had read a part of
their story in that pathetic little way
| in which she had led her husband from
the room.
! so you have started" she said soon,
| turning away from the picture. How
are you getting on? Tell me every.
thing"
When she had the situation before
her. she remarked:
Now is the time to take the next
step. and for that you need Mr.
Grounds help"
Exactly. ThIe separate plants
| must be taken over. a holding company
incorporated and the whole financed
| 1t can be done IT.
IF Mr.. Dround will consent" sh,
finished my sentence, and give his ait
In raising the money!"
Her shrewdness, immediate compre
| hensiOn, reused my admiration. Blu
what was her interest in the scheme
| AS Sarah had told me. IL was generally
believed that Jane Dround had a large
fortune in her own right. Why SHOULD
she bother with the packing business
She might spend her time more agree
ably picking up Italian marbles. He
next words partly answered my won
der:
"Of course he will see this and vii
consent or prepare to lose erything."
nodded.
Il don't like to pull out Of things.
she said slowly.
MIR. DroUnd is in such poor health.
l objected.
This is not his fight. It Il yours
All that he can do Is TO give you you
6rst support Leave that to me. Tel
me what you will do with this COZ
p0ratiOn-what next?'
She was seated in a little chair. res,
ing her dark head upon her hands
Her eyes read my face as l SPOKE
Again. as the other time wht n We ha
spoken In the garden, felt as thong
lifted suddenly on the wings OF
j strong will At bound my min
swept up to meet her mind. On tn
shelf near by there was large alta:
l took 1t down and. placing it on tn
rug at our feet. turned the leaves III
til l came to the plate OF the Unite
States.
Come here! Look therew I said. IL
dicatinc the entire eastern third Of III
map with a sweep OF my hand. ''Ther
is nothing for US that way to be hao
We could never get to the seaboar,
The others own that territory"
The map was streaked with lines {
: railroads running like the currents G
= a great river from the broad prairie
Of the Dakotas. across the upper Mi.
sissippi valley. around the curve {
: the great lakes. eastward to the \
lantic seaboard.
= Those are the old highroads."
went on. following the lines Of trad
!, with M; finger And those are I'll
old markets. We must find a new te
: ritory. make ii. create the roads. An
it must he a territory that Is waitinl
fertile. unexplored. Here ii IS"
My hand ran down the map soutl
l westward. crossing Kansas. Nebrask'
!, Oklahoma. Indian Territory. resting Q