Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-09-24

look out upon the valley. upon the city
that had not yet arisen. An uneasy
Qualm moved his heart, continued with
sharpness that was almost akin to
pain. He found himself resisting an
absurd, an incredible impulse-a ten
derness such as he had used to know.
stealthily and unadmittedly. for
young half invalid with the habit Of
triumphing where robust men fell.
multiplied now for this man.
"Truitt, -" Henley stopped, an
embarrassment as unwonted as the
impulse upon him. and turned again
to the window.
"Truitt." he began again, very
gruf1y, eyes still fixed on the city the
magic of the hills revealed to him, 4
we'll, like you. I've always counted
you my friend. I don't want to have
to fight you. l 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.
"a say" Henley went on, Il might
do 1t. I've seen something this morn
ing-something you've been seeing.
The city out there. It's big-big!
And If 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
Observation-Disclosures"
He got to his feet, and 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
ernment to make the river navigable
to the mouth and ship our coal by boat
to the gulf. ! can think of a dozen
| concerns l could get to move their
plants here and contractors who'd un-
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 a 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. 'It would
be the big thing of the century-mak-
ing city to order. And l 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. Wen leave fads to
the cranks. Well build this city on
a rock-on a sound financial founda.
tion-and use the profits for exten.
sions."
II think you don't understand what
l."
Understand? OF course / under
stand. That's why the idea grips
You're a born battler; things were
coming too easy for you. You need
obstacles. to have to extend yourself
/ need that. I've got hold In Wal
street. can tighten my hold. But
I'm out of place there. I'm a 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 a work. the kind I need. Will you
consider it?"
Are you Offering it!"
| I'm offering it 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 stud!
as l believe now it will, I'll do II. Whai
do you say?''
the only possible alternative to fight
ing your
ITO being Henley corrected grimly
put out of business"
| II 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 sayf" Henley demand
ed impatiently.
1T doesn't tempt" Mark faced him
steadily. You were mistaken.
don't want battle. l 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 plenty 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 big? Compensations!
| You'll end in losins all you have
All the money i have" Mark cor
rected. That is possible. But I'm
not worrying about the poor farm.
expect, when that happens. ! can find
| n good job somewhere"
Then" Henley fired his last gun,
srufny. then you choose those people
L oyer there aRainat ma-Xha made