Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-11-26
CHAPTER XVII.
Cities unbuIlt.

Citico OnpuItt.
Henley was pleased to be facetioue.
THE great Utopian-in his modest
cottage-living in democratic simple
ity among his village neighbors. Very
pretty! ] suppose you do the chores,
too"
"Sometimes-what we have"
Very pretty! The Sunday papers
would like that. But it's little too
theatrical, don't you think?"
mot conspicuously so. The place
was here, and 1t served my purpose
very well. don't need much room
you know. I'm not a Wall street
hero"
''Humph!" grunted Henley. still 9
skeptic. fr.,
What" Mark asked, did you come
here for?"
Henley grunted again. Cordial,
must say! l came to restore your
sanity" He rose, hopping his red
face with silk handkerchief. take
me out OF this sun and I'll begin.
hear you're pretty far gone"
Mark led him into a cool office-like
rom - pleasant enough--and made
him comfortable with cigar and O
chair by window from which a view
OF the valley was to be had.
mot sybaritic." Henley grudgingly
admitted. but good enough for man
~-who has no women. Now tell me
what you're trying to do here"
And Mark began, simply. without
enthusiasm or sentimentalizing, to set
forth his idea. s~ a~
Henley listened intently, studying
the while. with growing astonish-
ment. the grave. Quiet-voiced man
speaking. For he cav both marvel
and a mystery. Here was man Of
powerful talents for which o rich. hun.
CRY market was waiting. Of proven
mettle for battling, who had tasted the
sweets of conquest and won footing
from which he could 60 indefinitely
farther and higher, giving himself to
an idea-nay, an ideal--most remark
able of all, to an undeniably and thor
oughly altruistic ideal. And giving
himself sincerely. Such hasty expla-
nations as mental lapse and theatrical
ism were put aside. The man was
evidently honest, moved by a deep con
viction and genuine purpose. Henley
could not understand, but he could at
once recognize that.
And Henley could respect that for
what it entailed. He judged men by
instinct and instinct served him truly
now, revealing to him what the
speaker himself had not yet fully felt
Brilliancy and courage, audacity even.
Truitt had always had In generous
measure. Now he had added steadi-
ness and bigness, strength without
hardening, and therefore the power
to achieve greatly as never before.
Everything Henley had known of Tru-
lit he had liked; what he saw now he
liked more than ever.
What fires and pressures, he won
dered. had thus forged the steel In
Mark Truitt? But what an ally he
could be!-and what an antagonist!
And 1t is worth remembering, In
view of the ridicule later hurled at
Truths Utopia and inspired by Henley
himself, that on that Sabbath, listen
ing to Marks exposition. Henley saw
the idea as entirely feasible, logical
and practical in plan and, one factor
left out, assured of success. But then
Henley knew. as the, public did not
know, of the profits Of industry and
the methods and concealment of distri.
button.
The one factor which could not be
left out was that Truths plan was an
indictment of the ideals of Henley and
his fellow luminaries of magnitude
and an attack upon the divine right of
exploiters.
The explanation came to an end.
Mark awaited his auditors comment.
"Of course, you know" Henley said.
with an easiness that was outward
only, you won't put it through"
Il do not know that" Mark an
swered quietly. This valley is well
situated with respect to the market.
Its transportation facilities are good.
Our fuel is here, and | can get ore
here cheaper than Quinby or Mac
Gregor. can make steel cheaper
than anybody in America, and there's
no plant of its size that can equal
mine in capacity. In ten years, with
a fair field" d.
with a fair field. Exactly!"
you mean won't have it?"
sYou won'f hava Il
''Why?"
For one thing-profits."
'Ill make money here" M
1T isn't question of your profits
nor of profits alone. but the size Of
profits. No." Henley shook his head
vigorously. you can't have It I'm
here to tell you that" N
'Well?" N,r ~.
Il have no objection to your safety
appliances. They're practical. They'll
save twice their cost In damages ev-
cry year."
That's obvious"
'Tll agree to the baths. II the men
want to clean up after work-why, ]
regard bathing as a very proper
habit" IN
Mark smiled. THE man will be
grateful"
I'm not Joking. Henley reminded