South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-25


power over Wall
Street and Lombard Street II had just
been announced that he had absorbed"
the Great Eastern and Western Railway
system-of course. by the methods which
have made some men and some news
papers habItually speak OF him as "the
Royal Bandit" The city editor had two
reasons for sending Dayton-hrst. be-
cause he did not like him; second. be-
cause any other man on the stan would
walk about for an hour and come back
with the report that Mountain had re-
fused TO receive him. while Dayton would
make an honest effort.
Seeing Dayton saunter down Nassau
street-talI. slender. calm. and cheerful
you would never have thought that he
was on his way to interview one OF the
wOrst-tempered men IN New York. for
newspaper which that man peculiarly de-
tested. and on a subject which he did not
care to discuss with the public. Dayton
turned in at the Equitable Building and
went up to the floor occupied by Noun
tain. Ranger and Blakehill. He nodded
TO the attendant at the door OF Noun
t;in's own suite OF Offices. strolled
TRANQUILITY down the aisle between the
several rows OF desks at which sat Noun
tain's personal clerks, and knocked at
the glass door on which was printed "Mr.
Mountain" IN small gilt letters.
Comet" 1t was an angry voice-Moun-
tain's at its worst.
Dayton opened the door Mountain
glanced up from the mass OF papers be-
fore him. His red forehead became a
network OF wrinkles and his scant white
eyebrows bristled. And who are your"
he snarled
my name is Dayton-Fenimore Day
ton" replied the reporter with a grace
fully polite bow. "Mr. Mountain. I be-
lieve?"
II was impossible for Mr.. Mountain
altogether to resist the impulse TO bow
in return. Dayton's manner was compell-
ing
And what the dev-what can I do for
your"
I'm a reporter from the
What roared Mountain, leaping 70
his feet in a purple. swollen -veined fury.
The short hair on the nape OF his fiery
neck rose; his eye-teeth cleaned through
the hai-s OF his dropping. ragged mus
tache. Dayton returned his blazing gaze
calmly-fe had a curious power OF re-
naming calm before storms Of anger
without exasperating the stormer.
How dare you enter here?" Mountains
voice was low All its force was going
into intensity, leaving none for loudness.
"But-why not?" Dayton looked sur
'Impudence!"
Pardon me-not impudence." Dayton
smiled agreeably. "Impudence is unsuc-
cessful audacity. For example If you
had failed TO get the Great Eastern and
Western. they'd have said you we're i'm
pudent TO try. AS IL is. men call it au-
dacity. Now. If I'd failed to get Here-
perhaps
Mountain listened with a grim smile.
he saw in young Dayton the signs OF
quality he especially admired-he couldn't
help softening toward him. Il stand cor
rected." he said gruffly. Then he laid
his hand on the young mans shoulder
ant pointed toward the large room. DO
you see those clerks?" he demanded.
Il do" said Dayton.
There are thirty-seven OF them-and
that big numskull at the door makes
thirty-eight. I employ those thlrty-eight
men 10 save me frOm-audacity such as
yours Yet here you are-in my private
Office! How do you explain it,"
Dayton laughed-his laugh was very
contagious. I don't know. I'm sure" he
sail Perhaps II they were the sort of
men who could outwit me. they'd be do
in my work and re be doing theirs"
Mountains eye smiled. The longer he
looked at Dayton's refined yet resOlute
10, C. the better Ne liked il. "Sit down"
be said in an irOnic tone OF mock resig-
nation. But be quick. and be careful
not to irritate me with questions that are
-audacious. My digestion Is poor. and
therefore my temper Is not-what it
might be-
That is the hrest recorded story Of
Dayton's colossal cheek" Now for the
last one-the one since which his cheek
has been thought OF and spoken OF, ad-
mired and enyied, as "Napoleonic dar-
ing"
He soon rose TO be notable special
correspondent One winter afternoon at
a musicale in the studio Of his friend,
Brownlee the artist. he met a girl with
whom he straightwsy fell in love. She
was Elsie Grant. the only daughter OF
Mrs Jamss WEXFORD Grant She had
spent most OF her life abroad. and her
mother was even then negotiating for an
italian prince who thought we'll OF Elsie
and also OF her large dot. AS for Elsie.
she had been brought up to the fate OF
marrying a nobleman. educated for It,
convinced that any other marriage would
be a failure. But In her winter In New
York she had mingled with a mixed
crowd"-Mrs Grant was a patron OF arts
and letters. as became grande dame
whom a freak Of fate had condemned 10
one earthly pilgrimage as common
American woman. Elsie had a quick mind
and q latent streak OF Americanism-un-