Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-11-20

iOreStalleO MIN.
Live here?" g.
Between whiles."
Hal" The stranger smiled, a brief
wintry sntdle. Doctor. I see. Do you
know Truitt? I"
WELL" Hedges spat ruminattvely,
that's d pretty risky thing to say Of
any man, but I guess"
What do they think Of him here?"
They think he's a great Ran-and
it's his own-" v
Hes great mechanic" SAID the
guest shortly.
IT," drawled the doctor. know lore
about men than mechanics, but"
What do you think ~ h.m?" he
guest interrupted again.
The doctor, hoping to complete ut
least one sentence, quickened his
drawl. He's a man who's either los
ing himself OF finding himself. I'm
lot sure"
"Meaning?"
you wouldn't" chuckled the doc
tor, have time for the explanation"
He drew up before the little cottage.
"He lives here"
Hardly" the visitor retorted. II
take the three o'clock train. Much
obliged" He sprang, more briskly
than his rotundity promised, out Of
the buggy.
The doctor drove away still chuck
ling. The chuckle would not have
died even had he known his passenger
to be ono other than hat Henley
whose star, flashing with comet-like
swiftness and b%rilliancy above the hor-
lion of speculation. had in two years
achieved full planetary dignity and i'm
portance. But the doctor was not a
student OF Wall street astronomy.
"Humph!" The luminary surveyed
the weather-beaten little cottage with
it's unkempt yard and nearby smithy.
so he lives here. Afectation, Of
~course!"
He strobe up the path and saluted
the old man on the stoop.
Mr.. Truitt lives here. I believer"
I'm Simon Truitt. But I reckon
ye want Mark. MI. Henley"
"Ha! You know me. His father.
I ~suppose?"
yes. saw ye once, years ago,
when he was in the hospital"
Il remember" said Henley, who had
forgotten that incident completely. "Is
Truitt about?"
He's at church"
Church! Surely not q habit7"
He goes gener'ly. since he come
back"
Hmm! Something new for Truitt."
Henley frowned. "And my times short.
! suppose l may 10 well w some
Of it by going W. the plant now.
There's no objection, I suppose?"
mo; l." Simon ventured uncer-
tainly. II was jest about to 90 over
myself"
I'll be glad of your company" Hen.
ley graciously replied. Shall We
etart?'
An hour later Henley emerged from
the shadowy finishing mill, blinking
hard in the midday's sunshine and try
ing to revise his estimate Of the situa,
ton.
He followed Simon out on a tiny
cape that jutted into the river,
whence they could see other evidences
OF Truths lucidity-the hospital. the
bank, the store, the cluster Of homes
cleaning white on the hillside.
And Henley ,saw-not as the experts
had seen, happy II they perceived ali
that had been reduced to fact-but
with the eyes Of one whose greatness
was to see what might be, what could
be. And as he looked part, At least.
of Truths dream was unfolded before
him. The valley q teeming. throbbing
citadel Of industry. The city Chamber
ing over the slopes. capturing the
heights, retaining other slopes from
the forest, until in length and breadth,
in numbers and importance, 1t rivaled
that other fastness where he, the mas
ter, had been known only as . lieuten-
ant The creator In him. not yet
killed, but only obscured by the mad
ness of exploitation. thrilled at the
sight.
He sees big" he muttered. "He
sees big. 1 didn't think 1t wal in him."
He stood on the point, scanning
thoughtfully the noble valley. forget.
ting his silent companion. Hes
picked out a great site. And
to Henley came . vision Of his
own.
That city and citadel his. creature OF
his genius and might, doing his bid.
ding, yielding him homage and trib-
ute, carrying forth his fame to the
OF lesser mems regulations, cap
ital Of an empirerhis empire.
by God!" he breathed aloud 'By
God! And ft'a posaible-hov