The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-08-02
Who 5whsa the majority STOCK ana
wouldn't sell"

others. You cut on the roads con-
Meeting points and severed It's COM
munjcations with your own and your
allied lines. After isolating IL You
lowered your own freight rates aud
mileage until all the Oakland Rodney
patronage was gone. The road col
lapsed. and you bought II In. My IA
Their was a pauper. Other men have
been driven 90 the same straits by
you-men whose very names you did
not take the trouble to learn. My ia
Their knew little OF business. To save
others who had bought Oakland Rod
ney stock at his advice. he sold what
little property he had and bought
their worthless stock back at par. He
was ruined and above his head in
debt. My mother was an invalid. The
doctors said trip to the Mediterran-
mean might save her life. We had
not a dollar. So she died. My IA
ther-he was out OF his mind from
grief and from financial worry-my
father shot himself. IL was hushed
up by our friends, and he was re-
ported accidentally killed while hunt
ing. II was only one OF the count
less victories you 'financiers' are 40
proud OF. lie and my mother were
but two OF the numberless victims
each OF these victories entails"
She paused. Caleb made no re-
He sat looking In front OF him
the pulsing heart OF the FIRE. IN
scarce heard her. His mind Wa
cupied 10 bursting by the shock
acute pain OF this rupturing OF biz
last intimate bond with humanity. ~
II was left TO take my own way"
continued Anice. and / came here.
Out OF one hundred applicants you
accepted me. II was not mere coin
cidence. believe IL was something
more. Something higher. | entered
your service that | might some day
pay the debt | owed my father. who
was not strong enough to bear your
victory and my mother. whose life
the money you wrested from US might
have saved. This is melodramatic, or
course. But ! think most things In
real life are. I came here. worked
for you. won your confidence. your
respect. your trust. Perhaps you
think II was a pleasant task l had
set myself am not trying to justi-
~ IL. IL II was unworthy. have paid.
You say I've eaten your bread and
lived on your money | have. And
have received your confidence. But
have | ever eaten mouthful or re-
ceiyed one penny that | did not earn
three times over? You yourself have
said again and again that was worth
TO you ten times what you paid me.
You have begged me to let you raise
my salary, 10 accept presents from
you. Have ever consented? IL there
is money balance between us. the
debit is all on your side. ! owe you
nothing for what condolences you have
layished on me. Have / ever asked
for them or lured you into bestowing
them? Have not all such condolences
come unsought. even repealed, by met
Have ever spoken to you with more
than ordinary civilityf Have ever
so much as voluntarily shaken your
hand? The Judas parallel does not
hold good. Mr.. Conover."
She waited again for a reply. But
none came. Conover merely shifted
his heavy gaze from the fire to her
pale. drawn face.
"In all these years" said Anice, II
have waited my chance. | could not
take your life 20 atone for the two
gentle lives you crushed out Nor
would a life like yours have paid one
hundredth OF the debt. SO l have
waited until your life. happiness, your
whole future. should be bound up In
some one great aspiration. Until you
should stake all on one card. When
such a time should come ! resolved 1
would make you taste the bitter
shame and despair you have made
others groan under. Oh. IL was long.
weary waiting but think the end ls
coming. IL has come"
you talk fine, Miss Lanier." OBJ
served Caleb, all master OF himself
once more, but talkings never quoted
at par except In a poker game and n
wedding ceremony. You've been
reading novels. and you've framed up
dandy line Of story book revenge.
It's as good az any stage villainess
could have thought OF. But, honest,
Il clean surprises me how a woman
with all your brains could have took
such fool plan seriously. It's a
grand stunt 20 grab the centre OF tho
stage and drive the wicked oppressor
ont into the snow. Only II don't hap
pen TO be showing tonight Neither
really nor negatively. No. no. Miss
Lanier. your hands four flush. and
! hold whole bunch OF aces. Go
ahead with your little fireworks. X
that's your diversion. IL won't bother
anyone. Certainly not me. The only
regret I've got In the whole business
is finding you've SO little horse
sense"
IF had SO little" answered Anics
calmly the affair would have to emo
here and now. As IL is"
"Well?" ri /
Its going on"