The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-09-07
CHAPTER v.


CHAPTER
Mary Blackstone sat for a very
long time. staring into space. She
didn't want 10 give up Tommy. She
didn't want TO give up all thohe
wonderful possibilities that her
father had talked about 30 solemn.
~ after rxaeting from her n solemn
promise OF secrecy Could IL be
true that the old order OF things.
president catering 90 this vote aud
that. "a congress continually throw.
Ing obstacles In the way OF enter.
prise and efficiency. was 10 change
go. The people would begin te
ciamor for efficiency IN high places
instead Of buffoonery. for trained
men instead Of demasogues. They
would ciamor 10 be not not2am and
ictsam In aea Of politics and in.
competence. but integral parts OF
such "A machine as the standard OIL
or the Steel Trust. with some one
az the head OF II that would see 20
the comfort. cleanliness and eff.
cheney OF every one OF those ia.
tsFral parts. Instead OF taxes TO
pay. the people would ciamor for
dividends Go spend. and they would
get them Tier father said 30.
They hav. ground down the
Trusts he said. only 20 find
that they hay. ground them.
selves down At the same time.
Now the pendulum IL swinging
the other way Gradually the
trusts viii regain what they have
lost What Il the next step Great.
err trusts Yes. but beyond that.
staggering belief. trust OF trusts.
A trus, IN whose hands will be all
tho trusts OF business OF a whole
continent. aud whose stockholders
shall be tho Inhabitants 81 that con-
tln.nt. Poverty and degradation
viii cease 20 exist. Tho head of
that trust may be called n chair
man. a president. dictator. perhaps
hs will be called king. And already
IN. powers who believe In this com
Ing chang. have such man In their
eye. He will not be the first kinE
h. IL very young. but he will be the
second. After him. who7 Why. a
son of hts body. trained from birth
20 fili that great position. And YOU.
my dear, II you wished. might be
that sons mother and wear u dia-
dem"
Suddenly. with an excited laugh.
she caught up a great piece Of cor.
Ecous ancient church embroidery
that lay across the back OF n sofa.
and dropped It skillfuily no that II
hung from her shoulders 10 her fec,
like some royal robe. attn laughing
she darfrd TO ono OF those glass
topped tables in which things
curious and rare arc often kept.
From this she took golH crown
that had been taken from the grave
OF some old Egyptian queen--two
gold snakes. their heads and tails
twisted together And sho put this
upon her head and went and stood
In front OF a long mirror. Then she
began 20 play.aet--to look very
naughty and diEulfied or very sra.
cious and condescending. To extend
her hand and to be kissed by i'm.
aginary courtiers: she was half In
earnest. half laughing.
She heard soft footstep: there
was no time 10 discard the crown
and the robe. Flushing crimson.
and feeling very ridiculous. she
turned and saw one OF the footmen
His wooden face showed no sur.
prise Mt her eccentric costume: he
did not even appear TO see H. He
carried n small silver tray on which
was n white card.
who ia II. Bentadge7"
Mr.. Barclay. madam"
Her impulse was to run to the
great hall stair and call down to
Tommy. But she hesitated. Then
her eve roved once more. and she
caught glimpse OF herself in the
long mirror.
Tell him." she said, that I am
not at home"
Tommy. sure OF his welcome. had
been told that Miss Blackstone was
at home. and had leisurcly followed
the footman upstairs 10 the door
OF the little sitting room.
When he heard her say coolly.
even coldly. Tell him that am
not at home" he felt as II he had
been struck between the eyes. And
then anger seized him. For she
had promised that she would be
al home on that particular after.
noon. and now here she was saying
that she wasn't.
or course there was nothing that
he could do but turn and 20. And.
OF course, he did these things.
When he was In the open air he
drew n long breath
"I'll get out of this damned city,"
he said. and II she happens to
want mo for anything she'll find
that I'm the one that's not at
home"
Like many other rich men. Bar.
clay owned n hunting preserve In
the Adlrondacks, and seldom went
near II.