The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-16

/ 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.
vinced 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 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
off, leaving the animal as beautifully
shiny as ever.
Mr.. Van Torp did not quite see how
he could Immediately apply the force
OF money to further his plans with
effect. He knew his adversary's finan-
cial position in Europe much too well
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 a hos
tile millionaire in order to get his
money. That was business" But
to ruin him for the sake of a 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
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 a 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 him to the
Mediterranean. The vessel was a
least as big as one of the ocean liners
of so years ago, and had done % 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
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, II may
not want to take trip this season.
I'm that sort of a man. l 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" for
he met pair of eyes that astonished
him.
"Yes, see," he answered mechanic
ally.
"And if you're in one place with
your boat, and 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 % 1-1O," contin-
ued the owner, "but when ! wire I
want you I'd like her to do as much
! more as she can without bursting O
| lung. If you don't think you've got
, the kind of engineer who'll keep her
red-hot, tell me right off and we'll get
another. And don't you fuss about
burning coal, captain. And see that
the crew get all they can eat and not
a drop of drink but tea and coffee, and
! If you let 'em go on shore once in a
way, see that they come home right
side up with care, captain, and make