The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-05-05

MIR. Cartwright had sent for Brouil.
lard
Pull up a chair and have a cigar"
said the great man when Brouillard
had penetrated 10 the nerve-center OF
the Mirapolitan activities in the Metro
pole suite and the two stenographers
had been curtly dismissed. Have
you heard the talk OF the street? There
is rumor that the railroad grading
has been stopped"
Brouillard. busy with the work OF
setting the third series of forms on
his great wall. had heard nothing.
I've noticed that they haven't been
| blasting for two or three days. But
that may mean nothing more than
delayed shipment OF dynamite" was
his rejoinder.
1T looks bad-devilish bad" The
| promoter was planted heavily in his
pivot chair, and the sandy-gray eyes
dwindled TO pin points. We are up
against II. that's all. Read that" and
the promoter handed telegram
across the desk.
The wire was from Chicago. was
signed "Ackerman." and was still
damp from the receiving operator
copying press. II read
Work on r. S.W.'s Buckskin ex.
tension has been suspended for the
present. Reason assigned. shrinkage
in securities and uncertainty OF busi-
ness outlook i'm Niquoia"
Mr.. Cortwrights frown figured as a
fieshly mask OF irritability. Let II
once get out that the railroad people
don't believe in the future OF Mirapo-
lis and we're done"
Brouillards retort was the express.
sion OF an upfash OF sanity.
"Mirapolis has no future: II has
only an exceedingly precarious pres
ent"
For a moment the sandy-gray eyes
became inscrutable. Then the mask
OF irritation slid aside. revealing the
face which Mr.. j. Wesley Cartwright
ordinarily presented to his world
the face OF imperturbable good nature.
You're right, Brouilard; Mirapolis
is only a good Joke, after all. Some
times | get bamfoozled into the idea
that IL isn't-that it's the real thing.
That's bad for the nerves. But about
this railroad fzzle ! don't relish the
notion OF having our little Joke sprung
on us before we're ready TO laugh, do
you? What do you think?"
1T is not my turn to think, Mr.. Cort.
wright"
"Oh. yes, II is; very pointedly. You're
one OF us. to certain extent: and II
you were not you would still be inter
ested A smash just now would ham
per the reclamation service like the
mischief: the entire works shut down
no cement, no lumber no power;
everything tied up I'm the courts until
the last creditor quits taking appeals
Oh. no, Brouillard; you don't want to
see the end OF the world come before
, it's due"
1t was the consulting engineer o.
the power company rather than ts'
, reclamation service chief who rose
and went to the window 10 look dowr
upon the morning briskness OF Chi
, gringo avenue. And IL was the mar
who saw one hundred thousand dol
lars. the price Of freedom, slipping
away from him who turned after 8
, minute or two OF the absent street gaz
ing and said What do you want ms
TO do. Mr.. Cortwright? / did put my
shoulder to the wheel when Ford wa'
here. | told him IL were in his place
I'd take the long chance and build Tho
extension"
"Did you-and before you had
stake i'm the game? That was n white
mans boost. right! Think you coulC
manage to get Ford on the wire and
encourage him little more?"
1T isn't Ford; II is the New Yorl
bankers. You can read that betweer
the lines in your man Ackermans tele
gram"
The stock gentleman In the pivo
chair thrust out his Jaw and tilted hii
freshly.lighted cigar to the aggressive
angle.
Say. Brouillard. we've got TO throw
fresh piece OF bait into the cage
something that will make the railroad
crowd sit up and take notice. BJ
George, II those gold hunters up or
Jacks mountain would only stumble
across something big enough TO adyer
tise-"
Broulllard started as II the wishfu
magic had been blow. Like hot
wave from a furnace mouth II swept
over him-the sudden realization thai
the means, the one all-powerful, earth
moving lever the promoter was sc
anxiously seeking, lay in his hands.
THE Buckskin people, yes" he said
making talk as the rifeman digs a pit
to hold his own on the firing line. I'll
they should happen 10 uncover gold
reef Just now It would simplify mat
ters immensely for Mirapolis, wouldn''
: IL? The railroad would come on, then
without a shadow OF doubt. All tne
bankers in New York couldn't hold v
I back"
Now came Mr.. Cortwright's turn tc
get up and walk TO one OF the win
, dows
Come here" he called curtly. with