Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-06-14
SILAS OF
HEBRON VALLEY
A Wall Street Deal and What
1t Brought Him.
BY NJ. ]. PHILLIPS.


eyes and firm jaw. might have been
from appearances an actor. He might
have been mistaken for a 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 ns 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 a rather
shady reputation. Even now he was
hurrying home from hunting trip I'm
Maine which had been cut short by
the tip. irregularly received. Of a big
killing" to be made the next day on
the Stock Exchange.
In other words. Davidson & Cole
were preparing TO garner several hun
bred 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-third Of the
stock. Spectators and investors held
the other third. mostly in small blocks
The Silvers needed the road. ii was
said. to stifie its chances of becoming
a dangerous competitor. The Hillman
crowd desired 1t for those very posi-
bilities.
The stock was down to 81: but. ac-
cOrding TO the Information cleaned by
the brokers. the Silvers were prepared
to pay 100 IL necessary for the shares
constituting the balance OF power.
Despite the suspicion which attached
to him on Wall street. Davidson's face
wassone people instinctively liked and
trusted. When. at a remote junction
point, Silas Ashlar entered the smoker
Of the train. shaking the snowfiakes
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 1t and frank honesty.
Davidson was man to inspire not
only confidence, but condolences. Be-
sides. be was in the mood for conversa-
ton. In the course of half an hour the
country youth was unburdening him
self to this agreeable stranger rs he
had never talked to his closest friend
Il live over to Hebron Valley, in Yer
mont" he said. I'm clerk in old man
Briggs general store; been workin'
fharn simon I al
man wants TO retire now, and I'd like
to buy the business"
Il 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 a girl. you know"
Indeed. Briggs daughter, sup
poser"
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 a little
well. no; don't" replied the young
man reluctantly, land Jennie don't;
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. | guess Then
there's another fellow, the postma ster.
he wants Jenny to marry"
Davidson's interest quickened. why
don't you run away with the girl?" he
asked
'She won't do it. 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 If
you owned the store?"
Yes, and that's just some more of
his meanness." returned Silas. He
thinks it's impossible for me to buy it
or he wouldn't say so. All COTS $500
Briggs wants $1,000. I'm goin' down
to New York to see If can't raise 1t.
I've heard Of money being made pretty
quick on Wall street.
They'd get your hay In about TWEEN
ty minutes on Wall street." responded
Davidson decisively. 81 know. be-
cause that's where l hang out But
see here, Ashlar. I've got little
sporting blood In my veins. and I've
been under dog myself Suppose I
help you down this tu'penny bankerY'
Say, II you only would"
VERY well. Let's have your five
hundred. There's something on for
tomorrow. and maybe / can clean ND
your little pile for you during the ex
element. 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 il over
to the broker. who tore 1t open and
counted the contents dexterously.