Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-13

IL Is fact" he stated as calmly as
ne could, AT the various banks which
sledge controls l had obligations, which
/ thought were only nominally consid-
cred to be call loans. aggregating a hun
dred thousand dollars. These were pro.
tected by my traction stock. Last week
the Dank called them / recently received
eighty-seven thousand fve hundred dol
lars in cash ON a certain deal and 1 had
considerable trouble to raise the addi-
donal twelve thousand five hundred dol
lars. l had TO deposit twenty-five thous-
and dollars worth of my stock to secure
II, and yesterday had to put UP twenty
five thousand more"
But why?" asked Molly, sitting down
and considering the matter seriously for
the first time.
Because, in one day, merely by an
nouncing that he was financially backing
a competing company Sledge lowered the
value OF my stock from a hundred dol.
lars share to thirty-five The same
announcement broke the West End Bank,
has crippled two others and made pau.
pers of hundred or more small stock.
holders
How horribleH she exclaimed. THE
poor peopleH Then the wonder of such
power came to her. with just a word"
she mused. But father, ] don't see
yet how he could do 1t. You say thar
a share yesterday morning. and only
thirty-hve now?'
He nodded his head in confirmation
Each share of stock represents a GER
tain part ownership of the street-railway
company, doesn't it?"
Again he nodded.
Well the road Is still there" she
argued, You still own as much OF It
as you did before Why. father, Sledge
has just scared everybody Your stoch
will be worth what il was, or nearly so,
after this panic is over. Even compe-
tition can't keep you from hauling peo.
pie, and making money at it."
1t can keep us from hauling enough
to make anything like our previous prof
It's and earning capacity Is what gives
stock Its value. That is not the big trou-
BILE just now, however. I have a seventy
thousand-dollar mortgage on this place,
which is all it would bring at forced
sale, although 1t is worth double the
money. 1t expires on the first of the
MONTH and Sledge knows 1t. 1t is held
at one of his banks. and it will not be
extended"
You'll have to pay it," she surmised.
What with?" he demanded. "At the
present prices, at which, by the way,
nobody cares to buy, 1t would take every
share of my stock to pay off that mort
gage. l would be absolutely penniless."
How did You come to owe so much 90
she puzzled. II thought we were veal
thy"
That's the way business is carried on"
he explained.
Then anybody can be broke" she de-
cided, with a trace of awe. why don't
some of you good business men get after
Sledge?"
He looked at her pityingly.
1T can't be done" he confessed.
Molly"
II know what you're going to say" she
Interrupted him. 81 won't do II. I'm going
to marry Bert If it breaks everybody"
That would be a very commendable
spirit If you loved him." he quietly re-
marked. 81 don't think you do. how
ever. Nor do |, by any means, believe
Bert capable of a love worth the sacrifice
of everything. The Maryland Gllders do
not constitute a universe in themselves
nor Is much happiness to be found in a
marriage which is a social triumph. I'm
afraid, Molly. that you're stubborn, and
viii not yet yourself critlcise your own
mind"
''Of course I'm stubborn! she admit
ted, as If that were a virtue. "The date
is set. and 1t will stay set Do all Won
men have to give up because I won't
marry somebody? Is that the way your
brilliant business is conducted? l won't
be part of bargain. You urge me not
to marry Bert because you decide I
don't love him. and you urge me to marry
man who can bring your stock to par
Father, you're scared. Can't you think
OF any way out of your fuctuation but
having me marry Sedge?"
HE loves you," he told her, with con-
viction "Sledge never gives up"
That's why he wins" she asserted
He tries everything Why don't you?
M AL.A
company is Illegal. and that it will be
fought In the courts? Have the news
paper say 1t can't build its lines, then the
price Of your stock will go up again Why
don't you trade some of your stock for
stock in the new company? Why don't
you threaten to stop all your cars, until
the mayor or somebody makes the new
company build Its lines away from your
street? The new company couldn't have
cars running for six months; and there'd
be riot unless the authorities did what
you wanted them to. Why don't you 60
down and shoot Sledge, or hire 1t done?
He would In fact, he'd have done II by
this time. I know! Why don't you 20
10 the men who are getting up this COM
pany, and see what you can find out?
Then you can begin some planning.
wish I were a MANI
Frank Marley sat staring at her. She
was standing, tall, straight and with
flushed cheeks, her eyes shining. He
passed his hand over his brow.
mo wonder Sledge wants to marry
you" he involuntarlly complimented her.
YOU'D make a great team!
She laughed, and relented.
II don't intend to be mean, but you
drive me to IT," she said and kissed him
and patted him on the head. go down
to these people, and see what you can
find out" she counseled.
II think 1 will" he concluded, with
drowning mans desperation. "Molly,
you're a gritty one."