The San Francisco call., 1910-03-06

Then, with his natural capacity for analysis and his
ability to absorb and pluck the meat from subject
he began to make some Roadway. Presently, under
expenses, he came to this line:
Relaying track between -th and -th
streets Sozl'ozo
Slowly this little announcement took meaning in
his mind. The distance between the streets named
could not at the most, be than half mile
And it had cost considerably more than quarter of
million take up the rails and replace them with
within that space Really, it simple
problem, this conducting of street railroad. To
him, of the uninitiated for instance, this item
appeared beyond comprehension Yet here it in
cold print. 1t was clear that if he was to under
stand the at all he must begin with funda-
mentals. He decided that the subjecv altogether
too abstruse to be mastered in afternoon and he
took the papers home with him.
Next day found him in the Astor library, occupied
with repeling books of statistics and state reports
By evening he felt that he had made progress. He
had upon statement from another street rail-
road dated few years previously. This other road
had also found occasion relay its tracks dis
of half mile, and the total expense, far
he could find, had been in the neighborhood of
$4,000. Yes, beyond doubt he was making progress
He made many other discoveries before he
the end of his Investigations and the question took
dim shape before him. shadowy, forbiddngly strange
but undeniably real He continued his explorations
He questioned the clerk who presided the books
He fell the trail of mysterious construction
pany that had, supposedly, done the track work on
the ---th avenue road He back into the
ancient history of the road He dug, wrought and
squirmed among the facts. Within week he had all
the necessary parts in place and confronted with
the astonishing result
THE DREAMING CARTER
Thereupon Robert Carter practical idler, clever
cite nd Of he beo
dreamed a dream. Some years had passed since the
Virginia country boy had his first foothold
toward the glittering goal His successes had been
many and easy In every essential he haG proved his
qualifications for the prize he desired. He had made
himself one with these of the purple and fine linen;
he had learned to live their lives to think their
thoughts. Throughout it all his supreme confidence
in himself had prospered and waxed fat
And now he went degree further and persuaded
himself that he could combat these mo1ders of for
tunes at their game Why should he not? He
had consistently used them, overreached them, ma
neuvered them in furtherance of his schemes for
social advancement. Should he not prove equally
their handling the forces and fortunes they
juggled? His weapons lay ready to his hand and the
taste for power sharp his tongue.
Decision taken, he wasted time in scru-
pies. His first move was to seek Mrs. Stton. She
received him coquettishly and quite willing to
follow him into financial waters when he headed that
way. Once started, he explained rapidly that he
"and others" would take advantage of bear raid
upon til avenue. Certain stories would be made
public next day that would bring the stock to hope
less smash. 1t unfortunate, of course, since lie
had been connected with the road But the connec-
ton merely ornamental, and since the raid could
not be stopped he might as well profit by the harvest
He had remembered her interest in -th avenue