Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-12-06

england declares war, gentlemen. She
will stand by her treaty with Belgium.
Here is Jul opportunity; listen to me.
This is going to be the greatest war
in history; every nation in Europe may
be involved before it is ended. Do you
realize the commodity most in de-
mand? the one metal those armies can
not get along without? It is copper.
They must have it, and they must buy
it of us. This morning, as soon as I
received that first dispatch, I wired my
agents to buy, buy. Now, with Eng
land in, the result is certain"
He paused, and studied the faces in
the group.
"Gentlemen, there is. wealth enough
here on this yacht to control the entire
copper output, if we work swiftly. The
profit will be enormous. 1 have the
campaign all mapped out; 1 know
where to buy, and my agents are ready
to execute my orders. I am going to
say to you frankly that L had the
thought in mind when I first organized
this cruise. I believed this crisis was
approaching, and prepared for it. By
wireless we c;ln operate surely and Sc
cretly, with no possible fear Of be-
travail. The only question is, are you
ready to back me up?"
The expression on the faces O. those
gathered about him reflected the va
ried character Of the e They We're
alike startled by the unexpected turn
of affairs, yet financial greed evidently
predominated. Even the one German
in the group had seemingly forgotten
his nationality in view Of the golden
bait dangling so temptingly before his
eyes. Fosdicll, actuatca by his lawyer
instincts, and still cool and calculating,
was first to question the proposition.
"You are perfectly assured of being
able to control the market?" Fosdick
asked.
II already practically CONTROL" re-
turned Darlington confidently. with
a little more capital the game is GER
tain. In twelve hours, gentlemen, we
can have the copper situation entirely
in our hands. Here are my holdings
individually. I need your help to
close the deal"
They bent owe the papers, eager to
grasp the truth, but abundantly salts
fed with q quick glance at the magic
figures. 1t was evidently enough a
master stroke, q business deal easy to
comprehend, and all that remained for
them to do was to take their profits.
"You-you return Immediately to
New York?'' questioned Mccain, his
lips trembling.
Certainly not; u game at present
Is to keep. out of sight; permit no one
to discover who is behind the move
ment. Your personal checks will sat
isfy me. I propose holding the yacht,
say a hundred miles from shore, and
conducting the entire business by Wire
less. That makes it safe and sure"
The group Of inanciers stared at
each other, one waiting for the next
to voice decision. Fosdick, as usual,
took the initiative.
"Im heartily with you, Carrington,"
he said frankly, "you can count on my
check for a hundred thousand dollars
light now"
"And T." land l." echoed from lip to
lip.
Darlington, smiling pleasantly,
turned toward me.
"And how about you, Hollis? Com
Ing in with us? We ought to have one
Chicago representative, you know
I shook my head, doubling my abil-
fty to produce the amount required off
hand.
mot today; give me a few hours to
think 1t over. I should like to talk
with you privately first"
AL right; we shall have enough
without you, but TIL hold the chance
open until you do decide. Let's adj
journ to the cabin, gentlemen, where
you can draw your checks while the
steward opens a few bottles. This is
an occasion to be celebrated"
We were upon our feet, mo- unwilling
to escape from the raw air, when the
voice of the lookout sounded muflea.
but distinct, far forward.
"Sail hot"
"Where away?" echoed the bridge.
"Off the starboard bow, sir-a big
one"
We gathered at the rail staring out
blankly into the smother. Then sud-
denly. the mist seemed to roll asunder
us though cut by a knife, and there
In the rift, as IL the fog were a-frame,
appeared one Of the finest sen pictures
I ever remember seeing. A huge iron
warship, her tunnels belching smoke
at full speed, the white spray racing
along her sides, swept into view. We
had a glimpse Of the black muzzles OF
guns protrudlng from forward ana
after t%urrets, OF groups of sailors on
deck, and In the fighting tops a white.
plad 0fjpap fannad auap tI,a hpth.a natl