Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-15


stock. Last week the bank called them
| recently received SS7.5OO| in cash on
a certain deal. and l had considerable
trouble to raise the additional $4,000.
had to deposit $4,000 worth Of my
stock to secure it, and yesterday l had
to put up twenty-five thousand more. y
But Why" asked Molly. sitting
down and considering the matter seri-
ously for the first time.
Because in one day merely by an
nouncing that he was financially back
ing competing company Sledge low
cred the value of my stock from hun.
dred dollars 4 share to thirty-fve
That same announcement broke the
West End bank, has crippled two 9th
ers and made paupers of hundred or
more small stockholders"
How horrible!' she exclaimed. 1.-The
poor people" Then the wonder OF
such power came to her with just
a word" she unused. But. father.
don't see yet how he could do ii. You
say that your stock was worth hun
dred dollars share yesterday morning
and only thirty-fve now?"
He nodded his head in confrmat ton.
Each share of stock represents a
certain part ownership Of the street
railway company, doesn't it,"
Again he nodded.
well. the road is still there" she
argued. You still own as much Of 1t
as you did before Why, father, Sledge
has just scared everybody. Your stock
will be worth what it was, or nearly
so, after this panic is over. Even COM
petition can't keep you from hauling
people and making money at it,
ut can keep us from hauling enough
to make anything like our previous
profits, and earning capacity is what
gives stock its value. That is not the
big trouble now. however l have a
| $4,000 mortgage on this place, which
is all it would bring at a forced sale.
! although it is worth double the money
1t expires on the 1st Of the month
and Sledge knows it. 1t is held at one
Of his banks. and it will not be ex.
| tended"
you'll have to pay it." she surmised
| What with?" he demanded. "At
! the present prices. at which, BY the
way. nobody cares to buy. IL would
take every share of my stock to pay
off that mortgage. | would b. abso
lutely penniless."
How did you come to owe sc
much?" she puzzled. Il thought we
we're wealthy"
That's the way business is carried
on" he explained.
"Then anybody can be broke" she
/ decided, with a trace of awe. why
uon't some of you good business men
get after Sledge?"
| He looked at her pityingly.
1T can't be DONE" he confessed
Molly
Il know what you're going to say
! she interrupted him. Il won't do it
! I'm going to marry Bert if it breaks
/ everybody.'
j That would be very commenda
| bic spirit if you loved him." he quietly
remarked. Il don't think you do. how
( ever. Nor do |, by any means. believe
Bert capable of love worth the sac
rifce Of everything. The Maryland
{ elders do not constitute a universe il
themselves. nor is much happiness t
l. found in a marriage which is so
cial triumph. I'm afraid, Molly. tina
you're stubborn and will not let your
self criticize your own mind
"Of course I'm stubborn" she ad
nlitted. as if that were a virtue 'Tht
date is set. and it will stay set. Dc
all you men have to give up becaus,
I won't marry somebody? Is that the
way your brilliant business is conduct
cd? | won't be part of bargain
You urge me not to marry Bert be
cause you decide l don't love him
and you urge me to marry a man wh(
can bring your stock to par Father
you're scared. Can't you think of any
way out Of your 1uctuation but having
me marry Sledge?'
HE loves you" be told her will
conviction. "Sledge never gives up"
That's why he wins" she asserted
He tries everything. Why don't you
Why don't you announce that the new
company is illegal and that it will b,
fought in the courts? Have the news
paper say it can't build its lines; ther
the price OF your stock will 20 III
again. Why don't you trade some O.
your stock for stock in the new com
pany? Why don't you threaten to stoI
all your cars until the mayor or some
body makes the new company build ii
lines away from your street? TIL
new company couldn't have cars run
ming for six months. and there'd b.
Il riot unless the authorities did wha
you wanted them to do. Why don't yo,
go down and shoot Sledge or hire /
done? He would. In fact. he'd hav,
done it by this time. | know. VIII
don't you go to the men who are get
ting up this company and see wha
you can find out? Then you can begil
some planning. | wish were man.
! Frank Marley sat staring at her. Sh
was standing. tall. straight and wit
flushed cheeks. her eyes shining. H
passed his hand over his brow.
mo wonder Sledge wants to MARI
you" he involuntarily compliments
her. You'd make great team
She laughed and relented.
| 81 fon'f inland IN ha maap hut va