The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-16

| nevertheless misled into consuming to
the merger only to be subjected 10
| hold-up methods at the eleventh hour.
| Mr. Helmwood went to New York
ana Mr. Thomas. for some reason fol-
lowed on later train Mr.. Helmwood
thought the best way to proceed was
TO go to Mr.. Pierrepont and make a
cream breast of it to him. He did. and
was dismissed at once with the re-
mark that he was a fool As Helm
wood left the room Mr.. Pierrepont gave
orders to his lieutenant to send out
notlces the following day to all the
parties TO the project that the plan
mad been abandoned owing to the dou-
pie dealing of one OF the companies
prominent In the deal. That done Mr..
fierrepont lit cigar and promptly
proceeded to dismiss the disagreeable
subject from his mind.
He had not thought in tho world
that night at the opera abou, the
misery or Oscar Helmwood or the sen-
sation there would be in the brass
trade over the collapse OF tho trus,
negotiations. when he saw across tthe
boxes face that seemed familiar in
some way. but which he could not re-
call Once he caught the man looking
searchinsly at him. but that meant
nothing. He was accustomed to having
men and women watch him intently
lie tried to ind interest on the stage
out MS eyes would wander to the man
across the boxes. After a while no
summoned young man and asked him
to ascertain who the strangely familiar
person was
The opera was nearly over when the
young man returned. He is a strang-
err" he announced. NO one here seems
to know him
II told you to ascertain his name"
was the cutting response.
me young man moved away. About
y. NJ. when Mr.. Pierrepont was pre-
pairing to retire, he got a report by
telephone.
Henry a. Thomas. of -. was the
announcement
Henry A. Thomas" unused Mr.
Pierrepont. There was something fami-
liar about the name. but Thomas was
common name No he could not
place Henry a. Thomas
Mr. Pierrepont had climbed into bed
and was stretching out comfortably
when suddenly the key to the riddle
came to him. What fool ne had been
why, Thomas was the name OF the per
son Helmwood had spoken about The
town was the same. And Henry
Thomas! Henry y. Thomas, Yes he
knew. a s-rdonic look came over the
face of MIR. Pierrepont 1t was a long
time before he could compose his mind
and get to sleep. Oscar Helmwood was
surprised early next morning to re-
ceiVe telegram from Mr., Pierre
pont. kindly come to New York i'm
mediately." it said Mr. Helmwood read
that message twenty times on the train
and when he got to Mr. Pierrepont's Of
flee he knew the great man was wait
tF1e for n i'm fnr
the door a servitor called to him. This
way. Mr.. Helmwood." and he was
ushered into the private office at once
Mr.. Pierrepont asked various questions
about Mr.. Thomas his habits his re-
sources. his record. Then he asked
Mr.. Helmwood to remain in the city a
few days. Meanwhile the notices about
the abandonment OF the merger would
not go out.
Two days later Mr.. Helmwood got
another summons. '"his time Mr.
Pierrepont instructed him to resign
the presidency of the Helmwood Brass
Company. The merger woald be car
ried through without the Helmwood
MIR. Helmwood was too busy himself
at once on plans for the building of
plant near the Helmwood. bigger and
better equipped than the Helmwood
and no expense was to be spared Mr..
! Thomas was to be taught a lesson he
never would forget.
There was sensation in the trade
when it became known that a mighty
plant to surpass the Helmwood was to
be established Mr. Thomas laughed at
the idea. He smiled sarcastically when
land was bought and he was worried
when foundation were built He was
| in a panic when the first story was
built. Then he sued for peace He
sought an interview with Mr. Pierre
pont, but that gentleman refused to
see him. Then he went to Helmwood.
The new plant would ruin him. He had
borrowed every dollar he could get
| to buy control OF the Helmwood. and
| the bankers were pressing him to take
up his paper Tho -ieImwood com
pany was suffering severely from the
| competition of the combination and
was losing money
MIR. Helmwood was sorry but could
| do nothing. few days later MIR.
| Thomas was fearful. He would sell
at any price If he could be saved from
disaster. Some of his notes. overdue.
were about to be used to levy on his
possessions. Again he pleaded for
| Helmwood to intercede for him.
! MIR. Helmwood made an offer the fol-
lowing day and Mr.. Thomas accepted
| IT. The Helmwood plant was taken
over and soon after was merged with