Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-10-06
CHAPTER XVII.

Hannibal Wharton arrived in New
York at five O'Clock and went directly
to Merkles bank. At eight o'clock
Jarvis Harmon died. During the
afternoon and evening other financlers,
summoned hurriedly from New Eng
land shores and Adirondack camps,
were busted in preparations for the
struggle they expected on the morrow.
During the closing hours of the market
prices had slumped to an alarming de-
gree; terrific raid on metal stocks had
begun, and conditions were ripe for a
panic.
Harmon had bulked large in the
steel world, and his position In circles
Of high finance had become prominent;
but alive he could never have worked
one-half the havoc caused by his sud-
den death. That persistent rumor of
suicide argued, in the public mind, the
existence of serious money troubles,
and gave Significance to the rumor that
for some time past had disturbed the
Street Hammon's enemies summoned
their forces for a crushing assault.
In this emergency Bobs father found
himself the real head of those vast en-
terprises In which he had been an as
sociate, and until late hour that night
he was forced to remain in consultation
with men who came and went with
CONSERVATION written upon their faces.
The amazing transformation which
followed the birth Of the giant steel
trust had raised many men from we'll
TODD Obscurlty into prominence and
undreamed-of wealth. Since then the
older members of the original clique
had withdrawn one by one from active
affairs, and of the younger men only
Wharton and Harmon had remained.
Equally these two had figured In what
was perhaps the most remarkable chap
ter of American financial history. Both
had been vigorous, self-made, practical
men. But the outcome had affected
them quite differently.
Riches had turned Jarvis Hammon's
mind into new channels; they had
opened strange pathways and projected
him into a life that was In every
way foreign to his early teachings.
His duties kept him in New York,
while Wharton's had held him in his
old home. Harmon had become a
great financier; Wharton had remained
the practical operating expert, and,
owing to the exactiom of his position,
he had become linked more closely
than ever to business detail. At the
same time he had become more and
more unapproachable. Unlimited power
had forced him into the peculiar isola
ton Of chief executive; he had grown
hard, suspicious, arbitrary. Even to
his son he had been for years remote
being.
1t was not until the last conference
had broken up, not until the last forces
had been disposed for the coming bat
tie. that he spoke to Merkle of Bob's
marriage. Merkle told him what he
knew, and the old man listened silent
ly. Then he drove to the Elegancia.
Bob and Lorelei had just returned
FROM the theater, much, be 1t said,
against the bridegroom's wishes. Bob
had been eager to begin the celebration
Of his marriage in fitting manner, and
1t had required the shock Of Hammon's
death added to Lorelei's entreatles to
dssuade him from night of hilarlty,
He was flushed with drink, and in con-
sequence more than little resentful
when she insisted upon spending an
other night In the modest little home.
SAY! I'm not used to this kind of
place." he argued. "I'm not cave
dweller. It's a lovely fiat-for muir
der-but it's no place to live"
Don't be silly" she told him. 1--WE
acted on impulse; we can't change
everything at a moments notice."
"But-people take trips when they
get married"
i 81 can't quit the show without two
weeks notice"
1.-TWO weeks?" He was aghast
.Two minutes. Two seconds. | won't
have you lodging around stage doors"
Bergman won't let me go; II
wouldn't be right to ask him."
But Bob was insistent. II intend to
cure yon Of the work habit, You must
4 -. HIM