Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-06-14

perfect stranger but the remembrance
of Davidson's face with its urdefina-
BILE attraction reassured him. Il was
darn fool for ever thinkin' OF this
thing" he muteered. They'd surely
beat me IL l tried speculatin' by my
self. guess Davidson is square,"
The New York and Western episode
on the Stock Exchange next day was
merely skirmish In the great Indus
trial warfare which goes on ceaseless.
~ In that slit In the granite called
Wall street. A few profted: scores
were ruined. Before Davidson & Cole
had loaded -up irretrievably with the
stock Davidson smelled danger and
had begun to let go.
His suspicious proved justified. The
story of the fight for control was n
clever fake. which had already caught
many small firms. 1t developed that
the Silvers and the Hillmans had long
since come to an amicable agreement
In regard to the road.
Then we're out about Sos. OOO," said
Lucius Cole the morning after the
skirmish as he sat with his partner in
their private office.
"About S65.OOO." agreed Davidson.
"and If l hadn't got wise until half
hour later we'd have been down and
out today"
clerk ushered in Silas Ashlar. The
country youth was haggard with anx-
iety. THE morning paper says we
were hit hard" he began. my mon
ey''-
Your moneys all right" interrupted
hoI
600 sailed before the balloon ascen.
sion. Here's your check" He handed
Ashlar slip of paper.
Silas for n few moments was dazed
by the good news. Then he began TO
stammer his thanks. but Davidson
waved them aside. Not q word now
Silas. l want just two promises of
you-that you'll never monkey. with
the Stock Exchange again and that you
will go home and Ak up wedding
within two weeks. Do you agree?"
There were tears in the young mans
eyes. 'If Jennie says the word well
be married inside of twenty-four hours.
This money shuts her father up. /
don't want any more Stock Exchange
business either. you bet. I've been too
worried the last two days. God bless
you. Mr.. Davidson. II you ever come
to Hebron Valley I'll try to show how
much you've done for US"
dark flush mounted Coles thick
neck and overspread his face as the
grateful Ashlar left the office. Are
you crazy, Davidson he demanded
angrily. What the devil did you give
up that money for? The fool hayseed
would have believed anything you told
him." Although meant as n sarcasm,
note of anxiety crept into his high.
excited voice at the next question
You amt turning honest, are you?"
There was more bitterness than hui
NOR in Davldson's smile as he replied:
Its a little late in the day for that.
isn't 1t? But I'll tell you why L did it
If you want to know. Did you ever
stop to think why wasn't married?"
"Oh. girl away back probably"
Dead right. Lucius. Her folks
thought | didn't have money enough.
so they sold her Off to n tight listed
grubber with a few hundred dollars
and heart like hickory nut It's
her daughter Ashlar wants to marry.
Her husband doesn't like him. and he
put the same stumbling block up to
the boy that was laid in my path
money"
well. amt kicking, am II" snarled
Cole. with n change of front which
would have puzzled any one but his
partner
You're senior member OF this firm,
and you can make an ass of yourself If
you want to. But while | was about it
I'd have got the boy more than a
measly two thousand"