Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER Va.
the systeu, "A WORK.

=
John BRAID was thu incarnAsicn OF
twentieth century prosperity; scrupu-
lousy. almost imposlnsly clean; Inn.
macnlAtaly groomed. Physically he
woria have passed muster anywhera
Eia was only thirty.sly years oia, got
be had the bulk that suggested not
alone avoIrdupoia. bat substantially
and maturity or mind. Hla keen gray
eyea. the arm. decisive lines Of hts
face. the poise and calm assuredneas
Of movement, bespoke strengths ahao-
lutte control Of SELF and mastery Of
others Inherent shrswinass wss
yelled behind mask Of genial good
fellowship and srankness Of speech
He was the type that any man con.
ductins great enterprises would hare
welcomed az colleague and feared a.
q rival. John Brand spelled success
Ha had sought 1t. eneonapassed II and
corraIled ii The doctrine Of the sur
vival nf the fttest. he hold sacred. II
was his cksua beiii and bis Bible
He apotheosixed himself and hia kind
and actually believed the world was
better or for the breed. Modern
methods Of manipulation and chilean
ery he looked upon. not AZ an ssnpedi.
mont. but "a an acceleratlng apur 60
progress. Failure was the only sin
he knew.
He looked uuiExicaliy now " ths
cheap cigar hia host bad given him
| and Chen around at the Eodeat FUR.
nishinga of the room.
You haven't been very prosperous
since you left schoolfs' be ashed. II
had the idea THAI yca had anoney up
there.
Bob's cheeks burned. It seemed 70
him that Brands address was not only
busineaslike. but unnecessarily blunt
But he answered coolly enough.
No. you see, an old aunt or mine
took care on my education. About tbs
| time graduated she died. rye been
working pretty hard trying To 9ei
along the best could. i've married
and bought this littls homo. but III
hard to keep It up
The milltonaire's answsr 10 thfs
statement was hrutally hententious.
Guess you can't be much III cuai
ness man, ha said. AZ least. buyint
this kind Of house the var yot
havs isn't good bus:ness. | beard |
fellow say one time that every install
ment you pay on your home or furnl
turs Ii like putting q nail In the cofhs
OF your hope. and gusss ha wasn'
far wrong. Not bad, eli r
mo. not for millionaires: mos 10
those who have goE the price. bus is'
GIppant foosery for those who haven
II. I know that am paying mors 10
this place than It's worth and that In
helping some capitalist to put %
screws down tighter. But it's the sys
tenn that's wrong, Brand. not me
want piece Of the earth to which
ara entitled. | want TO feel that Their
lii something under my feet baaiea
the pavement that your stock watere'
cement company built. Your csman
win crumble up and blow AWAY IN
thia half-acre OF ground win be her
for me and Tor my children. Why
any man who III worth anything In ON
social order Of things has this longinI
for the soil. Everyone knows ii: yol
know II. That's why you bought stOcI
Ia the Utopian Land company. We'r
trimmed. or course VS. are. We pip
and you sing. but haw are we 9oinI
10 help it7a'
The millionaire laughed I've hear
that before he answered. Seems .
me your friend Meade has made
convert. But walt '--he held up hi
. hand 10 stop Reynolds reply. 70
|. asked me how you can help n In
going To tell you. You recollect ths
you were d pretty good friend or min
at school. Worked your heart and sou
out trying TO get me on the 'yarsit
!. eight and the eleven.
Yes, and you didn't make them.
There's that wonderful memof
!. again. But, never mind One goo
turn deserves another and I'm hsr
for that purpose. am d businss
man and handle things from TIA
standpoint"
d 80 49, -. xys,.vN%~srnv, 4