The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-10


lions In restraint OF everything! Wow!
Zowie! That was the hot one! The
A.-P. was the main stem, and within
thirteen seconds OF the appearance on
the streets Of the tremendous extra,
every other fragile branchlet OF rail-
road not under the immediate protec-
ton OF the ASP, was reduced to
shrivel, and its stocks began to drop
with the sickening plunge of an I'M
opened parachute!
Gall Sargent kept Nanette on the
rush for extras from the first yell on
the streets, and she read every word,
including the underllnes on the miscel.
laneous portraits of Allison and the
funny pi-lines which invariably oc-
CURED in the middle of the most inter
esting sentences.
1t was true, all true! Here was the
first step in Allison's tremendous prof.
ect an accomplished fact The rest OF
it would be gradually revealed. from
day to day, as suited his needs, and
the empire he had planned would
spread, until its circle touched, and
overlapped, and broke into an intricate
webbing, over all the land and water
Of the earth And she was to be the
empress!
Was she? Through all the night she
had battled that question, and the bat
tie had left traces of darkness around
her luminous eyes.
Late In the afternoon Jim Sargent
came home, drawn, tagged, and with
hollows under his eyes. He had VIC
lent headache, and he looked ten years
older. He walked slowly into the H.
brary where Mrs. Sargent and Mrs.
Davies and Gail were discussing the
future OF Vedder court. and dropped
into a chair.
Grace Sargent rang bell instantly.
When Jim felt that way, he needed q
hot drink first of all.
What Is the matter?" she asked
him, the creases Of worry flashing into
her brow.
Its been a hard day" he explained
forcing himself, with an effort, to an.
swer Years OF persistent experience
had taught him to follow the line of
least resistance. There has been a
panic on change. Railroads are going
to smash all up and down the line. Al.
lison's new A.-P. road. It's the star
piracy Of the century. Allison has
brought into the railroad game the
same rough-shod methods he used In
his traction manipulations."
Has your company been hurt. Jim?'
asked his wife, fully prepared for the
worst, and making up her mind to
bear up bravely under 1t.
mot yet" replied Sargent, and he
passed his hand over his brow. He
was already making a tremendous et
fort to brace himself for tomorrows
| ordeal. 81 escaped today by an acct
dent. BY some mistake the Towando
Valley was mentioned as belonging to
the new APP. combination. OF course
I.didn't correct 1t, but tomorrow they'll
know"
Mr.. Allison was responsible for thai
statement" Gail serenely informed her
uncle. "He promised he'd take care oil
you"
Great guns!" exploded her uncle
What did you know about this
thing?"
"All OF It," smiled Gail. She had
known that Allison would keep his
word, but it gave her strange sense
Of relief that he had done so.
Her Aunt Helen turned to her with
commanding eye; but Gail merely
dimpled,
"Of course couldn't say anything
went on Gail. 1T was all in conf
dence. Isn't II glorious, Uncle JIM"
You wouldn't have thought so Il
you'd been down town today" respond
ed her uncle, trying again to erase
from his brow the damage which haC
been done to his nerves. They wanted
TO mob Allison! He has cut the
ground from under the entire railroad
business Of the United States! Theil
stocks have debated an aggregate o.
billions Of dollars. and the slump II
permanent! He has bankrupted hos
of men, rified the pockets Of a millior
poor investors; he has demoralizeC
the entire transportation commerce o.
the United States; and he gave no one
the show Of rat in trap!"
Isn't that business?" asked Gail
the red spots beginning to come int
her cheeks.
Not quite!" snapped her Uncle Jim
Fiction has made that the universe
idea, but there are decent men In bust
ness. The majority of them are, ever
in railroading. Most roads are organ
lied and conducted for the sole pur
pose OF carrying freight and passen
gers at a profit for the stockholders
and spectacular stock tobbing deal
are the exception rather than thu
rule"
HAS Mr.. Allison been more unfai
than others who have made big con
solidations?" demanded Gail, agaiI
aware Of the severely inQuiring eye o
Aunt Helen.