Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-03-25
CHATTER v-contInued.


CHAPTER V-ContInued.
In the crash on the Street which
had broken the cotton ring and had
brought a comparatively young and
hitherto unknown man into promi-
nence, Bartlett had lost more than he
cared to think about Though his
name had not appeared, he had been
heavily involved. The ring had need
ed but a week, a day, more to bring
it to perfection, then in a night, from
whence hardly a soul knew, having
worked quietly, steadily, persistently,
this unforeseen factor had arisen and
defeat stared the ring in the face.
Another week would bring complete
collapse unless this William Hargrave
Bachelor could be suppressed. Clear
ly he had no price, preferring to fight
to finish, which was an admirable
quality in one so young, but hardly to
be desired in an opponent who unfor-
tunately had every chance to win.
Voluntarily, he would not leave the
fight, but if he could be suppressed?
The following Saturday was the cru
cial time. If he did not return until
the day after?
Bartlett had left the city late the
previous afternoon to spend Sunday
with Billy, away from the heat and
worry of the scene of battle, and here
was William Hargrave Bachelor, ap-
parently doing the same thing. Clear
ly it was dispensation of Providence
There was Billy, and after all William
iHargrave Bachelor was young and
human. He had probably never
known girls like Billy before, or dined
with them as equals. He, certainly
had made no attempt to hide his admi-
ration for this particular one Bart
lett chatted gaily with Henrietta and
watched the two opposite, trying to
decide if it would be possible to kid
nap the young man for a week, take
him away from Wall Street at any
cost. Were Billy's charms equal to
the attempt?
William Hargrave Bachelor was
said to be a cold, hard-hearted youth,
who had risen by sheer grit and de-
termination to the place ne now held,
riding rough-shod over his own and
every one else's desires and pleasures.
A calm, imperturbable young man,
with cruel, keen eyes, the papers de-
scribed him. Watching him across
the table, Bartlett decided that his
square jaw and thin mouth fitted the
foi ~, hut
eyes were a complete contradiction
They were neither keen nor cruel, but
soft and mild and sleepy The whole
face was careless, Indifferent, and if
it were not for the jaw, Bartlett would
have hardly believed it possible that
Bachelor was sitting opposite him.
His own jaw snapped and he swore
to himself that he would keep him
for a week, either through Billy or
otherwise. SO strong is the power of
suggestion. it did not enter his head
to question the youths identity.
They were rising from the table
now. The general, having dined to
his satisfaction, was beaming with
good humor and stories Excusing
himself a moment, Bartlett hurried to
the telegraph station in the office. He
hunted for his code, but could not find
it and had to write the telegram in
1t would be safe enough.
The operator was raw country youth
who wouldn't be able to understand
it anyway, and it would go direct to
his broker, who would be spending the
day at his country place on Long
Island
Have w. H. b." wrote Bartlett.
viii take him for a weeks tour in
the country, with Billy's help. Eat
them up"
Rush it," he ordered sternly, "and
bring me the answer. l will wait for
it on the porch"
The news soon spread that the
stranger dining with the general and
his daughter was none other than the
suddenly famous young stock broker,
whose grim defiance of the Street was
told in headlines in the daily papers.
and whose life from the cradle I'D
was thrillingly recounted in the Sun
day supplement- When he had
changed his seat at the table, there
had been a suppressed litter of amuse-
ment for the eccenuicities of a great
man, and those who made a study of
human nature saw plainly an indica-
ton of that character. which knew,
what it wanted and would get it and
keep it, overriding all obstacles.
AS they stood on the porch after
dinner. waiting for Bartlett to rejoin
them. the four were soon surrounded