The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-12-11

realize had no reason to hope that
Henley stirred restlessly, turned t
look out upon the valley, upon the cit,
that had not yet arisen. An uneasy
qualm moved HIS heart. continued witt
q sharpness that was almost akin tc
pain. He found himself resisting an
absurd, an incredible impulse--a ten
derness such as he had used to know
stealthily and unadmittedly, for q
young half invalid with the habit OF
triumphing where robust men fell
multiplied now for this man.
"Truitt, r." Henley stopped, an
embarrassment as unwonted as the
impulse upon him, and turned again
to the window.
Truitt." he began again, very
gruffiy. eyes still fixed on the city the
magic Of the hills revealed to him, sI--
we'll, like youa I've always counted
you my friend, / don't want to have
70 tight you. don't think you want
to fight me. There is--there may be
another alternative" He turned to
face Mark. Take me in with you"
Mark looked his establishment.
Il say" Henley went on. Il might
do II. I've seen something this morn
Ing something you've been seeing.
The city out there. It's big---bigl
And IL the figures you've given me
are correct, it's possible. This place
was Intended for city. And with us
working together. 1t could be ten times
bigger epic--stupendous!
He got to his feet, aSd shooting up
the shade. stood looking thoughtfully
out Of the window.
Wed make IT, Henley seemed al
most to be thinking aloud, "a city
from the beginning. We'd get the gov
eminent to make the river nayigable
to the mouth and ship our coal by boat
to the gulf can think OF dozen
concerns ! could get to move their
plants here and contractors who'd UNI
dertake to house the people. In five
years we'd have fifty thousand here.
and coming as fast as we could put
roofs over them. But we'd build on
steel We'd quadruple your plant at
once--for start. We'd make this the
steel center and this overgrown trust
with its graft and favoritism and slip
shod methods would have us to reckon
with. We'd leave Quinby and that
Scotch bagpipe, grown fat on other
mems brains, In the shade. BY God!"
Henley's voice was ringing. as he
wheeled on Mark again. ut would
be the big thing Of the century--mak-
Ing a city to order. And guess for
that you'd be willing to give up your
little two-by-four paternalism."
THAT would be stipulated?"
Certainly! Well --" Henley
seemed unconscious Of the change OF
mood and tense. "We1l leave fads to
the cranks. Well build this city on
a rock-on sound financial founda.
tion--and use the profits for extern
sions.n
Z think you don't understand what
r.
Understand? or course under
stand. That's why the idea grips.
You're born battler: things were
coming too easy for you. You need
obstacles, to have to extend yourself.
! need that I've got hold in Wall
street. can tighten my hold. But
I'm out of place there. I'm a builder,
not q money-grubber. I've got to see
things growing under my hand. What
I'm at now is just a game. This would
be work. the kind need. Will you
consider it?"
Are you offering it?"
I'm Offering II as a possible alter
native to putting you out OF business
There may be magic In these hills,
but II the thing works out on study
as believe now 1t will. I'll do 1t. What |
do you sayY"
And you say" Mark insisted, 'it's
the only possible alternative to fight |
Ing your"
TO being" Henley corrected grimly, |
put out of business"
1t was Marks turn to 60 to the win |
dow. He stood there silent, for many |
minutes. looking not upon the city |
that might be but upon the little viii |
lage that was.
what do you sayY" Henley demand
cd impatiently.
1T doesn't tempt" Mark faced him
steadily. You were mistaken. /
don't want battle. don't want OBJ
,tacles. But l do want to put that
through" He nodded toward the vii.
age and the mills.
"Humph! You'll find plenty of OBJ
'tacles and battles over there"
yes. But there would be-com-
Il would give you compensations.
Do you mean." Henley demanded, "you
moose to hobble along with little
,ne-horse plant and philanthropy
when you might go with me into some
hing really big7 Compensations!
You'll end in losing all you have"
All the money have" Mark cor
'ected. That is possible. But I'm
lot worrying about tho poor farm.
expect, when that happens. l can find
| good Job somewhere"
Then" Henley fired his last gun,
yruffiy. then you choose those people
'ver there against me--who made
gouf"