Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27
OLD DOBBIN

a gas car this time. and abandoning steam
followed the new flag. and was advanced
to almost the top of the salarled list, and
was Mr.. ODonovan for fair Poor Mr.. Es-
colt died,-just dropped and fell away as
men SO often do who have fought hard and
lost, and Mrs. Escott, she went away
South, in very straitened circumstances, to
stay with another married daughter in
Charleston. | heard that Mrs. Livingstone
had two little babies, and was living IN splen-
did stvle in New York, with Mr.. Living
stone at the top of the tree, very prominent
and rich. Twice | came near marrying; tor
was very lonely those days and often
wished with all my heart that | had wife
and home of my own. But somehow never
could bring myself to it: there was always
Stella face rising between-and then good
by to any wife or home for me.
| got into politics in small but conspicu-
Gus way. The Irish had to come out,
guess; though in my case it was on the right
side.-reform and all that. | was one OF the
Committee of Fifteen. and helped to run
several rascals out of Office, as we'll as clean
up the town. which, like many small Ameri
can cities, needed it worse than anyone can
believe who hasn't dug into all such graft
and rottenness. | became one Of the trus-
tees Of the St. Ignatius Protectory, was on
the Parole Board, and took a big share IN
the Lincoln Park project, with children
Fairgrounds and band on Sundays.
put the turning point of everything was
- one day when George Hurd hoped on
the same streetcar, with some papers under
his arm, and cried out, Just the man | was
going to see." George had altered consider
ably since the time his socks and get-up had
hurt your eyes. He was now prosperous
mt,
lots, and was vice president of the Chamber
of Commerce.
mike" he said, "you have to beg, Dor
row, or steal forty thousand dollars, and then
we'll buy out Swan & Partridge's, share and
share alike"
Swan & Partridge were the auto lamp
manufacturers, and very highly thought OF
in the trade. even at that time. 1t was one
of those old houses that charged more for
its product than anybody. and made up for
the price in satisfaction. When car was
advertised as equipped with Swan & Par
tridge's side and search lights, the public
knew it was getting about the best IN the
market. Some forty per cent. of the more
expensive cars were put out with them
George told me that old Mr.. Partridge
was in falling health, and that the doctors
had ordered him to draw out quick; while
the Swan interests, as represented by Mrs.
Brownell and Mrs. Hilliard had foolish
idea that the business would decline without
the old fellow at the head He was of the
swollen, elf-comp1acent kind who acted as
though he had made every individual lamp
himself, and if he looked out of the window
guess it was his impression that the whole
factory stopped and held its breath till he
turned round again.
George had all the figures with him; had
gone over the books for the last ten years.
when in the earlier part the firms whole
business had been for carriages, ships,
launches, mines, and SO on. 1t was certainly
big snap for men with money enough to
swing the deal,-eighty thousand dollars
cash, and two hundred thousand dollars TO
lie on mortgage at seven per cent. George
said he had arranged about the mortgage
all right, his father, who was well off, taking
half, Mr.. Partridge fifty thousand dollars,
and the rest in five n-thousand dollar lots
divided among several of his personal friends
and real estate clients 1t was that partner
with forty thousand dollars cash he wanted
and practical man that could be trusted to
take hold and make things hum,-me, in
fact, as he insisted most pressingly.
But where was | to get forty thousand
dollars? 1t was a staggering sum, and |
thought George clean out of his wits when
he said could borrow it anywhere. Up to
that time | guess ten dollars was the biggest
loo, T ,aI ta1 nd | a1x