The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-04-27
SILAS OF
HEBRON VALLEY
A Wall Street Deal and What
It Brought Him.
BY N. J. PHILLIPS.

BnaVen, COHely lace, cIeIt cnln, Dlue
eyes and firm jaw. might have been
from appearances an actor He might
have been mistaken for popular
preacher or professional baseball
player His age was apparently any
where between thirty and fifty years
He had the air OF good living and
prosperity which the man Of the world
Is supposed to wear
All guesses us to his profession. how.
ever. would probably have gone wide
of the mark He was senior member
of the firm of Davidson X Cole of Wall
street a firm which bore rather
shady reputation Even now he was
hurrying home from n hunting trip in
Maine which had been cut short by
the tip, irregularly received. of a big
"killing" to he made the next day on
the Stock Exchange
In other words. Davidson & Cole
were preparing to garner several hun.
dred thousand dollars because the Hill
mans and the Silvers were about to
close in death grapple for the control
OF the New York and Western. Each
faction held about one-thrd of the
stock. Spectators and investors held
the other third. mostly in small blocks.
The Silvers needed the road, II was
said. TO sti6e its chances OF becoming
n dangerous competitor. The Hillman
crowd desired it for those very possi-
bilities
The stock was down TO 81: but. ac-
cording 10 the information CLEANED by
the brokers. the Silvers were prepared
20 pay $50 IL necessary for the shares
constituting the balance of power.
Despite the suspicion which attached
20 him on Wall street, Davidson's face
was one people instinctively liked and
trusted. When. at a remote junction
point, Silas Ashlar entered the smoker
of the train. shaking the snowHakes
from his ulster-it was midwinter and
storming-he took the seat beside the
broker.
Ashlar was twenty-five, and his good
natured face. unchiseled by the stress
OF city life, was round and immatured,
yet withal there was native shrewdness
in II and frank honesty.
Davidson was man to inspire not
only confidence. but condolences Be
sides, he was in the mood for converse.
tion. In the course Of half an hour the
country youth was unburdening him
self to this agreeable stranger as he
had never talked TO his closest friend.
II live over to Hebron Valley, in Yer.
mont" he said. I'm clerk in old man
Briggs general store; been workin'
there since l was fourteen. The old
man wants to retire now. and I'D like
10 buy the business"
II see," rejoined Davidson politely.
Silas beat a tattoo with clumsy fin.
gers on the window sill and smiled
with embarrassment before he proceed.
ed. 'There's-there's girl, you know"
Indeed. Briggs daughter, sup.
pose"
no; Jennie Gardner. We're-we're
engaged. you see. That's why ! want
the store"
Feel as If you'd ought to be set up
in business before you marry, eh?'
Queried the broker, smiling little.
well. no; don't" replied the young
neither does her ma. But her father
he's John Gardner, the banker there at
Hebron-he don't like me; thinks amt
got money enough, l guess. Then
there's another fellow, the postmaster.
he wants Jenny to marry"
Davidson's interest quickened. "Why
don't you r1ln away with the girlT" he
asked.
She won't do 1t. She's afraid of her
father. SO Is her mother. for that mat.
ter He's a hard man"
He'd be satisfied to let you marry II
you owned the storey'
> Yes, aud that's just some more of
his meanness," returned Sias. HE
thinks it's impossible for me to buy 1t
or he wouldn't say so. All got's $500
Briggs wants $1,000. I'm goin' down
20 New York to see II can't raise it,
I've heard Of money being made pretty
quick on Wall street.
"They'd get your hay In about twen-
~ minutes on Wall street." responded
Davidson decisively. 81 know. be-
cause that's where | hang out. But
see here, Ashlar. I've got a little
sporting blood in my veins. and I've
been under dog myself. Suppose
help you down this tu'penny bankerY
g. Say, If you only woudr'
"Very well. Let's have your fve
hundred. There's something on for
tomorrow, and maybe can clean up
your little pile for you during the ex-
ritement. Are you willing to trust me
and take the chance"
Ashlar's answer was TO draw. with
trembling fingers, bulky envelope
from an inner pocket and pass 1t over
TO the broker. who tore II open and
counted the contents dexterously.
There was $500 in the package in
well thumbed tens and twenties.
The broker slowed the money away
and produced bit of pasteboard
There's my address," he said. hand.
ing the card TO Ashlar. "You come
TO that number day after tomorrow at