The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-01-18
CHAPTER Nv.
The Nazarite.

her son. to struggle with the problem
Of existence. She must have strug-
glet effectively. for New Chelsea bears
witness that never was recourse had
to its ready charity. Some credit must
be given TO the son who, when public
scho0ldays We're over. bent himself to
the problem: moon faced lad who
blinked uncomprehendingly at the
teasing and FRANKS of his former
schoolmates. Slow. patient. unobtru-
sive. of the sort that despite sundry
time honored maxims usually finds
recognition reluctant. he yet won it
quickly.
When those Of his generation whose
fathers had been able to provide a
college education returned on the
threshold of manhood to begin life.
they found Warren Blake already, in
the eyes of his neighbors, success.
| assistant cashier of the bank and own
err of certain small mortgages, but not
at all boastful over it. He continued.
even when he became cashier modest
~ unaware that he had become a
model young man. He was a literal
man who took all things seriously, his
duty to his bank, his treasurership of
the Presbyterian church. He was
rarely known to laugh.
After thirty-fve years acquaintance
New Chelsea had found no explanation
of him. 1t was admitted that even
| Judge Dunmeade. who bad liking
for Snporo1rs, f,bpococ faiIo1
his triumph of the commonplace vir-
| tues" And it continued to choose
Warren Blake as treasurer for those
organizations requiring such an officer
executor of its last wills and tesla
ments and trustee of its estates, of
which trusts he always rendered
prompt and exact accounts
And now. all New Chelsea knew. he
and Stephen Hampden were organic
ing a company of fabulous capitaliza-
ton to work the coal fields.
One morning in mid July Warren
was as usual at his desk. The day
had already become hot and sitting
The clerks at the counter grumbled
| profanely at the rule. promulgated by
coatless, and glanced enviously through
the plate glass partition at the cashier
very handsome and cool looking in his
light gray suit. socks and necktie to
match. He was reading, with a slow
care that overlooked no syllable the
papers on the desk When he had read
them he arranged them in two neat lit
oh,
Granted" and Options Refused"
As this task was completed Stephen
Hampden entered the bank, with a
| pleasant nod in reply to the clerks re
spectful greeting. He made his way
into the cashiers office
''Phew" he whistIed, drawing a
chair up to the desk. Its hot day.
isn't it? Have you the optionsP'
Warren pushed the two piles of docu-
ments toward him. At one Hampden
merely glanced; the other. "Options
Refused he opened and read rapidly
Hmm! All Deer township proper
ties. Why won't they sign?'
They want cash. not stock, for their
coal"
Did you point out to them the pros
pectiye value of the stock and the ne
cessity of being all in one company to
prevent price cutting and the opportu-
nifty to improve the community by
opening up a new businessT'
Il did. But were not trying to i'm
prove the community; we're trying TO
make Iloney for ourselves"
I'm afraid. Warren, you were the
wrong man to send after those OPP
tons"
Il was" said Warren calmly. Il
told you so at first. I'm not a clever
talker."
II don't want TO tie up any more cash
in this than | have to- How would il
work to send John Dunmeade after
those options? We could make him at
torney for US and the company and
give him stock. What do you think 2
Warren took several minutes to con-
slider this suggestion. He can do it if
any one can" he said ut last He is
very popular among the farmers Ev-
erybody likes him. l like him. too.
though he is always laughing at me-"
''Eh: Why does he laugh at your
Hampden inquired
Il don't know" answered Warren
evenly. Il shall ask him sometime
Shall send for him."
Yes
Warren opened the door and sent one
of his clerks with the message. Then
he sat down, staring thoughtfully at
the smoke from Hampden's cigar.
Hampden took up pad and pencil and
began TO make some calculations.
He won't do IT," Warren said sud
denly.
why notT' Hampden looked up
from his penciling.
He's honest"
aren't we honest?" Hampden de-
manded sharply
Were not-sentimentaI," Warren
answered calmly He IS We're try
Ing TO take advantag-legitima of
course-of the farmers in a bargain.
That's the thing he likes TO fight"
Not at ALL" Hampden contradicted
coldly 'sThis is a straight business
proposition. and I guess he'l not be
sentimental when we offer him, say,
ten thousand-in stock We can let
him have that much without losing
control"
Il don't think he'll take It," Warren
insisted without warmth And he
isn't a fool. He doesn't need money.