The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-03-19
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u6e7 49, By Robert &c. Stead
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~ N2 Kitchener. and etksr poems" :
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CHAPTER x-continued.
is
Their eyes met, and each Of them
knew what 1t meant. It meant an
nounccment to her mother that she
had met Dave downtown. 1t meant
perhaps . superstition on her mothers
part that she had gone downtown for
that purpose. It was far-reaching.
But she said simply. II should enjoy
driving home with you"
On the way they planned that the
following Sunday they would drive
into the foothills together. OF course
they would ask Mrs. Hardy to accom-
pany them. OF course. But 1t might
happen that Mrs. Hardy would be in
disposed. Irene was of the opinion that
what her mother needed now was rest.
As 1t happened Mrs. Hardy was at
the gate. She greeted Dave cordially
enough. Encouraged by her mood,
Irene determined to settle the Sum
day program at once.
"Dave was good enough to bring me
up In his car" she said. "And just
thinkl He invites US to drive into the
foothills with him next Sunday. Will
you conner It will be delightful. Or
are you feeling"
mi. Elden is very kind" said Mrs.
Hardy, with dignity. II have no doubt
Mr.. Coward will accompany us. He
Is to call this evening and / will ask
MIN. Yes, I think It very likely
We will 60"
The summer wore on. and autumn
followed on Its heels. The processes
which had been discerned by Coward
and other astute operators were now
apparent to the mob which forever
follows In the wake Of the successful.
but usually at such a distance US to
be overwhelmed in the receding food.
The forces which had built up fabu-
lous fortunes were now In reverse
gear, and the same mechanism that
had built up was now tearing down.
AS the boom had fed upon itself, car
rying prices to heights justifable only
to the most insane optimism, SO did
the subsequent depression bear down
upon values until they reached depths
j~ustif1able only to the most abandoned
dependency. The rosy bubble, inflat-
ed with the vapors Of irresponsible
speculation, had dissolved into thin
air.
Mrs. Hardy was among the last to
admit that she had bought on an
ebbing tide. She contended that her
house was well worth the price she
had paid; what II speculation had
come to q stop7 So much the better;
her house a still worth It's price.
She would stand firm.
Mrs. Hardy consulted Coward. It
had grown to be her habit to consult
Coward on all matters In which she
found an interest.
"How Is It, Mr.. Coward" Mrs.
Hardy said to him one evening over
her fancy work-for she practiced an
lndefatigable industry In matters Of
no impOrtance-"how Is It that there
u no demand for property You are
. real-estate expert; you should be
able to answer that. Isn't this city
- good today al 1t was q year ago?
Doesn't It occupy the same site3 Are
not the farms still producingf"
That's just It. dear Mrs. Hardy.
Why. indeed2 Simply because the
booster has given way to the calamity
bowler. Its psychological explanation
II simple enough. The world lives by
faith. Without faith there would be
neither seedtime nor harvest. That is
true Of raising cities a. well ~ Of
raising crops. But there are always
those who ridicule faith; always were.
always will be. And as soon as faith
disappears things begin to SINK"
.Ahi" said Mrs. Hardy gently. $50
- owe all this-these empty houses
and shops, unstable property and ev-
erything to those who have lost
falth-Or never had It. 10 men like
Mr.. Eden, for instance. You remem-
Der how he tried to discourage me
from the very nrst-fried to break
down my faith-that was II, lfr. Con.
ward-I zee It Nil very plainly now
and 10 and others like him have
brought things to their present pass.
Well, they have = great responsible
lty."
A. ! result Of this discussion Dave
found himself rather less popular
with Nrs. Hardy than before. Dave
accepted her d~ispleasure with Z light
heartedness that was extremely trying
20 the good woman's temper. Had II
not been for his desire 10 spare Irene
any unhappiness no would have treat.
- Il with open dippancy. He was
engaged n the serious business Of
capturing the heart Of Irene HARDY
task made none the easier By the
eelf.imp0ood condition that b must
conduct ~ offensive but must await
18th amNh nafaannA N h nnn16 AnNm.