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

i need that. I've got a hold in wall
street. can tighten my hold. But
I'm out OF place there. I'm builder,
not money-grubber. I've got to see
things growing under my hand. What
I'm at now is just game. This would
be work, the kind need. Will you
consider it?'
Are you offering it,"
I'm offering 1t 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 it What
do you say?"
And you say" Mark insisted, ITS
the only possible alternative to hight
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.
ut doesn't tempt" Mark faced him
steadily. you were mistaken.
don't want battle. don't want OBJ
stacles. But / do want to put that
through" He nodded toward the vii
lage and the mills.
"Humph! You'll find plehty Of OBJ
stacles and battles over there"
Yes. But there would be-com-
pensations."
81 would give you compensations.
Do you mean," Henley demanded, you
choose to hobble along with a little
one-horse plant and philanthropy
when you might go with me into some
thing really big9 Compensations!
You'll end in losing all you have"
IAN the money 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.
grufly, then you choose those people
over there against me-who made
your"
They helped to make me-to make
you. too.-You." Mark answered qu!-
city. don't tempt.
I'D like you to understand" he con-
tinued after little pause, since
you've mentioned friendship, don't
like to think Of you as an enemy. But
this plan. this idea, is worth a good
deal to me. even though the chance Of
success is small. It came to me be-
fore the strike. And at FIRST 1t was
only the shallow sentimentality you
think 1t. Then II became refuge.
came here because there was a
thing"-Henley saw the shadow that
passed over his face-"a thing l want
ed to forget, something I needed to
earn. But now it's grown beyond that.
1t has value of Its own. It's my
niche. the thing I must do. You've
helped me to make that clear.
"You ought to understand 1t, 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 a
whipped dog before the old blather-
skfte because You loved your money,
You remember that, don't you? And
then you ran afoul of him again, over
the strike, when the same threat hung
over you. and you didn't cringe. You
beat him down. Why?"
II couldn't let"
mo, you couldn't. You believed OPP
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 that
then. And now-you've claimed my
friendship How much does 1t mean
to you?"
"A good deal. Truitt," Henley an
swered slowly. tits the only friend
ship ! ever wanted. 1t was my reason
for making you what you are"
Friendship means obligation =
you've just reminded me of that.
Would 1t 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-"
1T wasn't / who did It but-a wom-
an" Henley saw the shadow again.
But she did 1t for me. took for you
an advantage wouldn't take for my
self. Does that square what you did
for met"
Eyes. don't understand. But 1t
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!Y f
There was long silence in the little
room. Henley sat stiff1y, staring at
the man who had passed out of reach
of his influence. And the pain was
unmistakable now.
81 see.' he said at last, as IL reluc.
family. 81 guess I'm the only one of
the money grubbers who could under
stand. 1t seems to be your idea
against mine. I'm sorry" .f.~'
1T seems SO. I'm sorry. too"
MY city, guess 1t was just the
magic of the hills. after all. don't
want to do it without you-I'm sorry"
There was heavy pause. Then
Henley drew long breath that was
almost a sigh, glanced at the clock
and rose.
"1'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." .
When they were standing on the
station platform he asked abruptly.
"Can you tell me about that woman
husjnese p"