The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-11-20

l
l need that. I've got q hold In Wal
street. l can tighten my hold. But
I'm out Of place there. I'm builder
not a money-grubber. I've got to SET
things growing under my hand. What
I'm at now Is just game. This would
be q work. the kind need. Will yor
consider it,"
Are you offering it?'
I'm offering it as 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 It will, I'll do it. What
do you say?"
| And you say" Mark insisted, 'ft''
the only possible alternative to fight
ing your"
ITO being" Henley corrected grimly
put out of business"
| 1t was Marks turn to go to the win
dow. He stood there silent, for many
minutes, looking not upon the city
that might be but upon the little vii
lage that was.
What do you say!" Henley demand
ed impatiently.
| 1T doesn't tempt" Mark faced hin
steadily. you were mistaken.
don't want battle. don't want OBJ
stacles. But do want to put thai
through" He nodded toward the vii
lage and the mills.
| "Humph! You'll find plenty of OBJ
stacles and battles over there"
| Yes. But there would be-com
pensations."
Il would give you compensations
Do you mean," Henley demanded. you
| choose to hobble along with little
| one-horse plant and philanthropy
when you might go with me into some
thing really big? Compensations
You'll end in losing all you have"
"All the money l have" Mark cor
| rected. THAT is possible. But I'm
not worrying about the poor farm.
expect, when that happens, can FIND
a good job somewhere"
Then" Henley fired his last gun
gruff1y, then you choose those people
over there against me-who made
you?"
They helped to make me-to make
you, too.-You," Mark answered qui
| city, don't tempt.
'I'd like you to understand" he con
tinued after a little pause, "sinct
you've mentioned friendship, l DOM
like to think of you as an enemy. But
this plan, this idea, Is worth good
| dool m mn EVAN fbou0h tho oh noo n,
success is small. 1t came to me be
fore the strike. And at first it was
only the shallow sentimentality yor
think it. Then 1t became a refuge.
came here because there was g
thing"-Henley saw the shadow thai
passed over his face-"a thing want
ed to forget, something l needed te
earn. But now it's grown beyond that
1t has value Of it's own. It's my
niche, the thing l must do. You've
helped me to make that clear.
You ought to understand it, for you
had It, It's what saved you from be
ing like the other money grubbers
You came close to being one of them
Why, once when Quinby cracked his
whip you you - cringed like 6
whipped dog before the old blather
skite because you loved your money
You remember that, don't you? An(
then you ran afoul Of him again, ovel
the strike, when the same threat hung
over you. and you didn't cringe. You
beat him down. Why?"
Il couldn't let"
mo, you couldn't. You believed op
posing him would cost you much. The
strike you forced did take hundreds Of
thousands from the value of your
stock. But you didn't think of thai
then. And now-you've claimed my
friendship. How much does it near
to you?"
"A good deal, Truitt," Henley an
swered slowly. Its the only friend
ship l ever wanted. 1t was my reason
for making you what you are
Friendship means obligation -
you've just reminded me of that
Would it add to your obligation if
told you that you got away whole
from Quinby because of me?"
What! What's this? You never
told me"
"It wasn't 1 who did 1t but-a WON
an" Henley saw the shadow again
But she did it for me. l took for you
an advantage wouldn't take for my
self. Does that square what you die
| for me?"
Eyes. don't understand. But II
does. 1t more than squares It,"
"Then-my success here can't hurt
you-will you stand aside and let me
| fight 1t out with the others?"
You're asking me to let you undo
| the best thing I've ever done!"
There was long silence in the little
room. Henley sat stiff1y, staring al
the man who had passed out of reach
of his influence. And the pain was
unmistakable now.
Il see," he said at last, as IL reluc
family. Il guess I'm the only one oil
the money grubbers who could under
stand. 1t seems to be your idea
| against mine. I'm sorry"
1T seems so. I'm sorry, too"
MY city, guess it was just the
/ magic of the hills, after all. / don't
want to do it without you-I'm sorry
There was a heavy pause. Then
Henley drew a long breath that was
almost sigh. glanced at the clock
and rose.
I'll take another cigar" he said
grimly facetious. If you don't mind
giving aid and comfort to the enemy
Then I'll go back to my money grub
bing."