The Washington herald., 1912-04-07

".
guess that will hold you for a little
while. Turning to Blanchard he
offered .aapologetically, Jack is the most
impossible fellow on EARTH one never
knows just what to expect"
Or when to expect il, heyp Har-
rington interrupted But you see.
Blanchard, I've been talking money so
necessarily to-day, the habit has sort
OF grown on me; i just will come out
in spite Of the devil"
We'll, | sincerely trust your words
will be productive" Blanchard said,
arising to depart. Then with a know
ing glance at Tom he continued, "and
assure you of my keen interest in the
welfare OF this concern"
The younger men expressed their
hearty thanks for his kind wishes and
stood in silence until he had closed the
door behind him. Tom was the first
to speak.
Welt you didn't make iti" he ven
tured
Il did not-and I'm just beginning to
understand why so many men have
gone down to defeat at the hands of
this-this Iron Man. as you call him."
he said, bitterly. They have all fought
alone-not man to man, but against the
herd OF frightened creatures who dare
very name strikes terror to their in
most soul. Caldwell, millionaire though
he is, trembled at the thought of such
thing; even after ! had convinced
him victory must follow, he refused. ]
tell you this is incredulous, unbeliev-
able, even suspicious. | pleaded i'm
plored, but he would not bulge an inch,
and-well, l lost my patience, my
temper as well, and he ordered me
out"
Despite the lamentable situation Tom
roared. In these big United States
do you think there is capital free from
the contamination you suggest" he
asked.
81 doubt it seriously, unless it lies
buried somewhere between the Rockies
and the Pacific Ocean"
Let us hope it isn't as bad as that.
I'm going to see what | can do"
When alone. Harrington relaxed and
sank into a chair, overcome by
strange feeling that convulsed his mas
sive frame. Fear was unknown to him
nor had he ever experienced the crush
ing bitterness of defeat, and II his
strength waned now, it was not be-
cause of this. What little thing was
his fortune compared to the loss Of the
girl he loved. He was thinking of her
sweet words of courage, when he left
her that day with the assurance that
he would win. Win! The word ridi-
culed him and he laughed bitterly.
Win! when even in the first hour of his
career he must be branded failure.
He fanced seeing her fade out of his
life altogether. and his hands clasped
tiphter the arms of his chair "My
Godw he gasped. How can bear it?"
He thought of her father, who had
dccoycd him into the whirl of finance,
only to pounce upon and send him
skirting with its offal. At that minute
the door opened and "The Iron Man"
walked in.
Harrington sprang to his feet. His
features were terrible. For brief in
slant they glared at each other in grim
silence, one menacing self-sufticient,
the other like lion brought to bay.
well. young man" Mr. Winslow
began his voice rumbling like an ap-
preaching storm, you perhaps now
recognize your incapacity to cope with
IF yoa have come here to gloat over
your prey, ! warn you to stop before
YOU go too far" Harrington interrupted
tcrcely, choking down the hot rush of
words rising in his throat. Then mod
ulating his voice, with a great effort he
continued: Are you not satisfied hav-