Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-09-20
Then" l said, this is a case for
the Court OF Final Equity, If 1t ever

SllS. a4
1T is a case for me-" he said.
l looked at him in wonder.
"A Ease for your" l echoed. "You
said Execute the mortgage and let the
nan pay the bank"
Il did" he replied. You have fol-
lowed that direction, l believe"
I did not understand.
I'VE followed the inevitable" an
swered him. TT was the only thing
to do. You recognized that yourself
1T was the right thing to do he
said; but not the only thing
why, Mr.. Mason" l said, Il asked
you What them and you said there
would be another day tomorrow"
1T is here he answered. Each
day to It's own events. The fool con-
fuses his assistant with a multitude OF
directions. This is to be done now:
You will at once hold a meeting of
the Cruger Coa company under a call
signed by all the members OF the COM
pany, and as provided by law. Pre-
pare the record of the company IN
proper form, authorize a mortgage on
all the property of the company to the
London Trust company of this city as
trustee to secure a loan Of two hun
dred and twenty thousand dollars.
These mines, | discover, are easily
worth that sum, including the earnings
for one year. Some foreign clients
OF the banking house of Hurst & Sol
meyer will pay in cash two hundred
thousand dollars for these bonds up
on the execution Of the mortgage. Let
General Cruger take that sum and hide
it somewhere in Europe under his
daughters apron. Bring me the mort
gage when it is ready to be signed
In the face OF all my experience of
Randolph Mason, l haZarded an objec-
ton.
But" ! said, the first mortgage is
executed. Dc you meal that this prop
erty is worth enough to secure anoth-
err mortgage?"
NO he answered, Il have just
said that these mines are worth two
hundred and twenty thousand dol
lars"
Then l said, you mean this loss
to fall on Hurst & S~olmeyer?
NO." he said, Hurst & Solmeyer
will make twenty thousand dollars
Surely" l said, you do not mean
to date this mortgage before the other
one, do you? No notary could be got
to certify an incorrect date.
He looked at me a moment.
PARKS" he said, 81 fear that you are
beginning to be a fool" Then he came
down the steps and went into his pri-
vate office.
This light breaking suddenly on a
supposedly hopeless darkness, con-
fused me, or else l had not put use
less questions to Randolph Mason. |
should have known better. Mason's
words were never idle, nor were his
plans visionary and barren, whether
he bid one do a little or a great thing.
The story Of Naaman and the Prophet
was convincing precedent. l did not
understand these new instructions and
could not point out their intent to Gen
eral Cruger, but / knew that a pit was
being digged for Myron Gates. and
that was light enough.
explained all this frankly to the
| old mar that evening after dinner at
the Holland. l urged him with the
logic of the Syrian's servants. If Ran
dolph Mason had bid us build a great,
looming trap for the wolf, we should
nave done it. How much rather then
this easy thing which he suggested!
did not comprehend, n more than
he, how it could result as Mason a
it would. 1t would take, in my opin-
ion, words and passes, charmed anu
lets and the laying on of hands to in
duce n bankers to advance none
on a second mortgage when the prop
erty involved was worth scarcely the
value of the first. Still, Randolph Ma
son said the bankers would pay over
the money, and he Knew. would
pledge my life on that. | was aware.
too, tina Solmeyer believed in Mason
as the Maid of Israel did in Elisha,
n that the firm had made a fortune
of six figures through that faith.
1 had my way about 1t in the end.
The meeting Of the Cruger Coal COM
pany was held, the record correctly
made, the bonds authorized, and the
mortgage prepared in every detail as
the law required 1t. l tool 1t to Ran
dolph Mason when the scrivener had
finished. He examined 1t carefully,
called in a notary, dictated the GER
t~tfcate, had the signatures properly
affixed, and sent me with 1t to the
bankers. They took it with the bonds
n handed General Cruger a draft on
the Rothschilds in Paris for two hun-
dred thousand dollars. l walked up
town with the bewildered old man to
his club. He was silent for a block Of
the way, dazed by this incredible for
tune. Finally, he put his hand on my
arm.
my dear friend" he said, Il seem
to be quite awake, and yet this event
is after the Of dreams or the
illusion of some Oriental drug"
He went on slowly a little farther
up Broadway. Then he stopped as
though taken with a sudden resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Parks" he said, Randolph Ma
son directed me to go to Europe and
hide this money in my daughters
apron. I will go tomorrow On the Bal
tic. Come down to the ship at eleven
and explain this miracle to me. will
run up home now for the luggage"
Then he took a car to his train and
I returned to the banking house of