The Ordway new era., 1916-03-24

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 A.-P., was reduced to
shrivel, and it's stocks began to drop
with the sickening plunge Of an un-
opened parachute!
Gail Sargent kept Nanette on the
rush for extras from the first yell on
the streets, and she read every word.
including the underlines on the miscel-
laneous portraits of Allison and the
funny pi-lines which invariably &C.
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
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 a vio-
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 a
hot drink first OF ALL
what is the matter?" she asked
him. the creases of worry flashing into
| her brow.
Its been 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
panic on change. Railroads are going
to smash all up and down the line. AL.
lisons 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 2"
asked his wife. fully prepared for the
worst, and making up her mind to
bear up bravely under it.
Not yet" replied Sargent, and he
passed his hand over his brow. He
was already making a tremendous eff
fort to brace himself for tomorrow's
| ordeal. Il escaped today by an acci
dent. By some mistake the Towando
Valley was mentioned as belonging to
the new A.-P. combination. OF course
didn't correct 1t, but tomorrow they'll
| know"
Mr.. Allison was responsible for thar
statement" Gail serenely informed her
uncle. He promised he'd take care of
you"
| Great guns!" exploded her uncle
What did you know about this
thing?'
"All of It." smiled Gall 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 l couldn't say anything"
went on Gail. 1T was all in conf
! dehce. Isn't it glorious. Uncle Jim!"
"You wouldn't have thought so II
you'd been down town today" respond
| ed her uncle. trying again to erase
! from his brow the damage which had
| 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! Their
/ stocks have debated an aggregate Of
billions of dollars. and the slump In
permanent! He has bankrupted host
| Of men. rifled the pockets of million
poor investors: he has demoralized
! the entire transportation commerce of
the United States; and he gave no one
the show Of a rat in trap!"
| Isn't that business?" asked Gail.
the red spots beginning to come into
her cheeks.
| Not quite!" snapped her Uncle Jim
Fiction has made that the universal
idea, but there are decent men in busi-
ness. The majority of them are, even
in railroading. Most roads are organ
lied and conducted for the cole pur-
pose Of carrying. freight and passen-
I gers at profit for the stockholders
and spectacular stock jobbing deals
are the exception rather than the
rule"
HAS Mr.. Allison been more unfair
than others who have made big con-
solidationsT demanded Gail. again
aware Of the severely inquiring eye OF
Aunt Helen.