The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-02


profits, and earning capacity is what
gives stock it's value. That is not the
big trouble now, however. I 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 list of the month,
and Sledge knows it. 1t is held eat one
of his banks, and it will not be ex-
tended
You'll have to pay it. she surmised
"What with?' he demanded. CAT
che present prices, at which, by the
way nobody cares to buy, it would
take every share of my stock to pay
off that mortgage. 1 would be abso-
luteIy penniless.''
"How did you come to owe so
much?' she puzzled. III thought we
were wealthy
That's the way business is carried
on he explained
"Then anybody can be broke,'' she
decided, with a trace Of awe. "Why
don't some Of you good business men
get after Sledge?'
He looked at her pityingly.
''It can't be DONE" he confessed.
sNdony"-
W
she interrupted him. 81 won't do it.
I'm going to marry Bert if it breaks
everybody!'
THAT would be a very commenda-
Bile spirit if you loved him." he quietly
remarked IT don't think you do, how
ever. Nor do I, by any means, believe
Bert capable of love worth the sac
rifce OF everything. The Maryland
Il o& 10 ~
themselves, nor is much happiness to
be found in a marriage which is a So
ciaI triumph. I'm afraid, Molly, that
you're stubborn and will not let your
self criticize your own mind
OF course I'm stubborn she ad-
nitted, as if that were a virtue ''The
late is set, and it will stay set. Do
Il you men have to give up because
= won't marry somebody? Is that the
aay your brilliant business is conduct
/? I won't be a part of a bargain.
[ou urge me not to marry Bert be-
ause you decide I don't love him,
nd you urge me to marry a man who
an bring your stock to par. Father,
@ou're scared. Can't you think of any
way out Of. your huctuation but having
ne marry Sledge?" ~
"He loves you," he told her with
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 be
fought in the courts? Have the news
paper say it can't build it's lines; then
the price of your stock will go up
again. Why don't you trade some of
your stock for stock in the new COM
pany? Why don't you threaten to stop
all your cars until the mayor or some
body makes the new company build it's
lines away from your street? The
new company couldn't have cars rum
ming for six months, and there'd be
a riot unless the authorities did what
you wanted them to do. Why don't you
go down and shoot Sledge or hire it
done? He would! In fact, he'd have
done it by this time, I know. Why
don't you go to the men who are get
ting up this company and see what
you can find out? Then you can begin
some planning. wish were a manI''
Frank Marley sat staring at her. She
was standing, tall, straight and with
flushed cheeks, her eyes shining He
passed his hand over his brow
No wonder sledge wants to marry
your he involuntarily complimehted
her. You'd make great teamr'
She laughed and relented.
II don't intend to be mean, but you
drive me to it, she said and kissed
him and patted him on the head. $50
down to these people and see what
you can find out she counseled.
IT think 1 will" he concluded, with
a drowning mans desperation. "MoI-
~, you're gritty one"
-
Mr. Rozzam, in the privacy of his
own apartments, refectively broke the
ashes from his cigar into his empty
highbalI glass.
''Is the big chief punctured, or is he
just enjoying himself? '' he speculated
It's my opinion that he's picked up
horseshoe nails with all four tkes,''
declared fat little Timbers, eying the
hated collar which he never put on
until just before he went out. "The
big chief has wriggled his way
through the broken glass for so many
years that he has thought himself i'm
mune. But his pneumatics are fat
this time. They've got him.
81 don't know considered Bozzam.
FgFhey have to bring him to trial yet,
and for man who controls the sacred
judiciary it's long way between an
indictment and hair cut"
They'll hang him. avowed Timbers.
f"The people of this town have been
afraid Of him so long that the first
time they catch him out without his
big stick every man in the county
will be lighting to get on the jury
which pPonounces him guilty"
Mr.. Moodson folded the other thumb
on top.
Possibly you're right" assented
Bozzam, noting the capitalists sign of
extreme agitation. when we first
started in on this game I was afraid
to think with my head under the COW
ers, for fear he'd find it out and dec