The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-01-08

realize | had no reason to hope that"
Henley stirred restlessly, turned to
look out upon the valley. upon the city
that had not yet arisen. An uneasy
qualm moved his heart, continued with
a 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 a
young half invalid with the habit Of
triumphing where robust men fell,
multiplied 10Y for this man.
"Truitt, i" Henley stopped, an
embarrassment as unwonted as the
impulse upon him, and turned again
to the window.
"Truitt." he began again, very
gruflly, yes still fixed on the city the
magic of the hills revealed to him, q
well. l like you. I've always counted
you my friend. l don't want TO have
to fight you. 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.
Il say" Henley went on, II 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 a city. And with us
working together. it could be ten times
Observation-Disclosures"
He got to his feet, and shooting up
the shade, stood looking thoughtfully
out Of the window.
Wee make it," Henley seemed al
most to be thinking aloud, "a city
from the beginning. We'd get the gov
eminent to make the river navigable
to the mouth and ship our coal by BOAT
to the gulf. l 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. Wed 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 Cod"
Henley's voice was ringing. as he
wheeled on Mark again. 1T would
be the big thing Of the century-mak-
ing a city to order. And | guess for
that you'd be willing to give up your
little two-by-four paternalism."
That would be s%tipulatedf"
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 extern
sions."
Il think you don't understand what
/"
Understand? OF course l 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 a hold in Wall
street | can tighten my hold. But
I'm out OF place there. I'm a builder,
not a money-grubber. I've got to see
things growing under my hand. What
I'm at now is just a game. This would
be a work, the kind | need. VIII you
consider it?"
Are you offering it,"
I'm offering 1t al a possible alter
native to putting you out Of business.
There may be magic in these hills,
as l believe now 1t will. I'll do it. What
do you say?"
And you say" Mark insisted. it'i
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.
ut doesn't tempt" Mark faced him
steadily. You were mistaken.
don't want battle. l don't want OBJ
s~tacles. But l do want to put tina
through" He nodded toward the vii
lage and the mills.
"Humph! You'll find plenty Of oh
stacles and battles over there"
Eyes. But there would be-com
pensations."
Il would give you compensations
Do you mean," Henley demanded. "yo'
choose to hobble along with a littl'
~one-horse plant and philanthrop,
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 col
rected. That is possible. But In
not worrying about the poor farm.
expect. when that happens. l can I'm
a good job somewhere"