Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-06
j. BARON HELDERMAN
BANKER.

80 you are that Helderman," COM
mented Craig. He remembered now,
vaguely. something about Helderman
and Wall street.-the recalled some coup
detat some stroke of genius But it
was a memory that cluded him-the de-
tails he could not recolect.
The eye behind the monocle cleaned
with cynical smile.
Yes, ! am that Helderman. Does It
make any difference-yes?'
1T does" replied Craig a bit cyniCally,
too. 1T signifies whether one is Just
Helderman, or Helderman the banker of
U. S. A. That is. it does-to most people"
And then-it came to him. He recalled
the postage stamp. Helderman was tho
man who, a few short years before, had
nut in q bid for a huge block of United
States bonds--his bid had cost him but
a postage stamp. He was awarded his
block of bonds-he had sold his bid at
a large advance-he had made big money
and all out of a 2-cent stamp.
This trick had taught Wall street and
the Government lesson. After this
stroke of Helderman's, they asked Sc
curity of bidders. That didn't affect
Helderman. He had been there first.
that's all. Craig remembered this-he
recalled other things of Helderman. He
was an unknown quantity-Hclderman
At times he was spectacular and then
for months he would drop completely out
of sight.
THAT Heldelman," repeated Craig.
Eyes. to most people it would make
difference"
Helderman regarded this frank-faced
young man measuringly. He was evil
IDENTIFY used to a bit more adulatlon than
Craig afforded him.
But it does not signify to you?" he
querled, "Is that what you infer?''
mot particularly" returned Craig,
checking shrug of his shoulders.
"Of course 1 am not so narrow as 10 ran
in acknowledging what success to the
financial world means; but am not In
clined 10 regard the mere possession OF
money as virtue. To me, you are what
you are. and 1 am what l am independ-
ent of our worldly goods"
He said this half contemptuously, and
vet the moment he had spoken, lie was
ashamed of this impulsiYe expression or
his opinions. However Helderman's
manner had impelled him TO it, His
blatant self-appreciation had seemed 10
him the unjustihed confidence which the
merely rich assume in the unlimited
buying power of their money
And who are you, pray?" Helderman
inquired, either a trihe miffed at the
others speech. or pretending 10 be So
I'm order to draw him out stlll further
Rutherford was not going to fall into
a tran. He knew what the question
meant: What Is your position In the
world OF money? To one of this type the
only measure of excellence was in dollars
and cents-and such genius as might
produce dollars and cents. Craig took ms
own card out and handed It to Helder-
man. II bore nothing save the name of
his club. following his own.
"I-oh, I'm nobody, as you see" he
said sententiously.
Helderlnan looked at the card shrewd-
ly, and realized that his new acquaint-
ance might, in fact be somebody. EN-
perience had taught him that a nobody
never owns up to his own unlmportance.
The young man beside him was smiling.
He knew that 1t would hardly impress
Hslderman to be told that Craig Ruth
erford was a trained athlete and sports
man OF international fame. And as for
the rest II was not within Craig's pur-
pose TO inform this man, that he Ruth
erford had recently purchased the con-
trolling interest i'm a Wall Street trust
company, and proposed TO learn the busl-
ness from the bottom up Craig kept all
this TO himself.
But Helderman scrutinized him care
fully.
you have great power. young friend"
he said abruptly. why do you not Join
me in my enterDrlse?"
Craig stared at him aghast. What
great power have / % he auened.
Helderman regarded him intenty. "a
great quality" he exclaimed; that OF
impressing your sincerity upon people.
That Is your strength, young friend. You
q - alneara-aIuyqva elnRaFa II "a q eraaf
asset-an asset that nine-tenths OF the