The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-25

to him that he had about reached the
limit OF possibility within the narrow
heio In which he was engaged. It taxed
ms utmost energy to cover the district
Within The mountain territory he could
connect with. Some OF his people sent
their product to him because he could
not make the rounds II. addition, he
knew ne nov was supplying nearly all
the Knit socks the town would buy. More
than anything else he knew that IL he
ever was to make enough money 10
secure himself against need he never
could make 1t out of hand made
product that ca me into competition
with machinery. He had become am !.
bilious. The business blood of his
ancestors was stirring within him.
A man OF polish and refinement
claims attention anywhere. Not few
persons In addition to the s,orekeepers
came to know and fdmire the cult
waited and elegant gentleman who
brought the towns supply Of knit
socks down from the hin country. They
respected him for the brave nigh, no
was making against a dread disease.
One OF the men who came 10 know
Bellwether was banker. 1t is a bank
er's business to talk about business
Bellwether told him frankly in answer
10 any inquiry that about $500 a year
was all he possibly could make as he
was situated. but he told the banker
there were excellent possibilities for
proht If factory for making socks
was csta blished In the. town Labor
was plentiful. fuel was cheap, there
were good railroad connections, and
II there was any staple article OF wear
II certainly was the sock. Then he gave
some facts and figures about the cost
of production which re had collected
Well" said the banker, why don't
you go into it2''
Because" replied Bcllwether. II
haven't enough money"
But you have credit" rejoined the
banker
with whom?" asked Bellwether.
With me-" the banker replied
There was a factory started in that
town within seven months. 1t was
small. but the machinery was hrst-
class. the management was good and
the operatives capa BILE. A few skilled
workers from a New Jersey town had
to be imported That was all. His
life In the hills had strengthened Bell
wether wonderfully and had sharpened
MS wits, He still continued the old
business. but used young man to
make the rounds in his stead. AT
regular intervals he took a short vaca-
ton md went back into the mountains,
FOR he meant to take no chances with
his health. Mr.. Bellwether had every
incentive for safeguarding his precious
health now. for he not only was max
Ing money, but he had fallen In love
Before the factory had been estab-
lished year 1t had to be enlarged.
Soon after its capacity was increased
AIR. Bellwether took trip 10 New
York. After he had closed a deal with
a large commission house for the
handling of large part OF the pro-
ductton OF the factory he visited upper
Broadway. He had been absent less
than four years. but there had been
some great changes. Landmarks had
disappeared. new hotels had sprung
up. the centre of life and gaiety had
moved half a mile northward. a new
crop of people seemed to have come
TO New York, Bellwcther saw only
strange faces in resorts where once
he knew everybody fle was startled
once when a man came forward and
greeted him with a"Well, II this isn't
old Billy Bellwether! Where in the
world did you drop from?" B.
There were more of the old timers
left than Bellwether realized. but they
had been crowded into the rear by the
newcomers.
Bellwether did not find Broadway so
a. III III iltSl daG i lie SHOWS
did not interest him as much as before,
and the caravansaries 5ld not seem
the same. He did not know It, but he
and not Broadway had changed the
most. He felt no regrets when he left
New York the next day Possibly the
fact that he soon was to be married
had something 10 do with It, No one
he saw on stage, on street or in splcn-
did hotels in New York had half the
charm for him that the girl in that
West Virginia town possessed. I
It Is more than ten years since Bell
wether married. He comes to New
York occasionally now. for his bust
ness demands his presence here at
intervals. His business progress has
been amazing. That modest factory
which he started has grown and grown
and grown, To- day II occupies a
ground space $50 feet by 2lo and is,
fre stories high. 1t employs. 1900.