The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-04-06
CHAPTER xIv-continued.


II didn't know you could be so con-
Tincing," was Miss Genevieve's com.
ment. 1T was splendid Nobody will
ever believe that you are going 70 go
on building your dam and threatening
60 drown us, after this"
What did ] say?" queried BrouiI-
lard, having, at the moment, only the
haziest possible idea of what he had
said.
"As If you didn't know!" she
laughed You congratulated every
body. And the funny thing about it is
that you didn't say a single word about
the Niquoia dam"
Didn't /? That shows how com
pletely your father has converted me,
how helplessly I am carried along on
the torrent of events"
But you are not" she said accus-
ingly. Deep down IN your inner con-
seriousness you don't believe a little bit
in Mirapolis. You are only playing the
game with the rest Of us, Mr.. Brouil-
lard"
German, Mr.. Cortwright's ablest
trumpeter in the real-estate booming,
was holding the plaza crowd spell
bound wSh prophetic outlining of the
Metropolitan future.
In the middle distance and back
grounding the buildings on the oppo-
site side Of the plaza, rose the false
work of the great dana standing for
est of sawed timbers, whose afternoon
shadows were already pointing like a
many-hngered fate toward the city of
the plain. But, though the face of the
speaker was toward the shadowing for
est, his words ignored It. THE snow
capped Timayonis," the mighty Chi
gringo," and the golden-veined slopes
OF Jacks mountain" all came in for Gu
logistic mention; but the massive wall
of concrete, with its bristling parapet
OF timbers, had no part in the orators
famboyant descriptive.
Brouillard loved Amy Massingale
with passion which, however blind il
might be on the side of the higher
moralities, was still keen-sighted
enough to assure him that every
plunge he made in the Metropolitan
whirlpool was sweeping him farther
away from her
He had transferred the power com
pany's stock, minus a single share TO
cover his official standing on the
power company's board, to Cortwright.
and had opened an account at the Nj
quota National. The ninety-nine thou
sand nine hundred dollars had since
grown by speculative accretions TO the
rounded eighth of a million which all
fnanciers agree in calling the stepping
stone to fortune.
He had regarded this money-vyas
still regarding it-as a loan: his lever
with which to pry out something which
he could really call his own. But more
and more possession and use we're dull.
ing the keen edge Of accountability
and there we're moments OF insight
when the grim irony OF taking the
price OF honor 20 pay an honor debt
forced itself upon him. At such mo-
ments he plunged more recklesslv. in
one Of them taking stock in gold
dredge company which was 10 wash
nuggets by the wholesale out OF the
Quadjenai bend. In another buying yet
other options in tho newest suburb Of
Mirapons.
With the waning Of the day OF cole
brations the temper Of the street
throngs was changing u is only the
people Of the Latinized cities who can
take the carnival spirit lightly. i'm
other blood liberty grows TO- license
and tho thin veneer Of civilized re-.
Btraints quickly disappears From
early dawn the saloons and dives had
been adding fuel Co the flames. and
hghtheartedness and good.uatured
hOrseplay we're giving way 10 sardonic
hnmor and brutality.
in tho short faring through the
crowded street from the plaza to tho
Motropole corner Brouillard saw and
heard things 90 make his blood boil
Twice before he reached Bongras' cafe
entrance the engineer shouldered HE
way 70 the rescue OF some badgered
nucleus Of excursiOnists. and in each
Instance there we're frightened women
90 be hurriodly spirited away to the
nearest place OF seclusion and safety.
70 Was In front Of Bongras' that
BrOuillard came upon Rev Hugh Cast
per. the hothearted young zealot who
bad been flung into MirapoHs on the
crest Of the tidal wave Of minina er.
eitemont Though Hoaford -who had
no b9an enacod, as Mr.. CortVtight