The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-01-22
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER Living with his father on
2 small. badly managed ranch David
Eden has reached the age OF eighteen
saent t' 70 the Su9o In wsieh pr AaraS
eminent eastern physician, and his daugh-
ter Irene, are touring the country. brings
leg Is broken and he il necessarily con-
fined TO his bed. Friendship, and some
thing. more. develops between Irene and
David
CHAPTER ff.-frene greatly enjoys the
unconventional freedom OF ranch life, and
her acqu intanccship with David rlpens
into affection. on Dr. Hardy's recovery
s s hdP, epBBS win wS 70 improve
his position In life and they will meet
again
CHAPTER III.-The sudden death OF his
ne,5r e David s esrs 'n scres ~ ,hs
ranch. the elder man having through
years Of dissipation wasted the income.
His debts paid David goes 20 the nearest
town. determined TO keep his promise to
Irene by acquiring an education and max
ing himself worthy Of her. lie secures the
frst work offered driving a team for
coal dealer and meets a man named Con-
ward. about his own age. by whom he II
led into dissipation
CHAPTER v.-Attracting the favorable
attention OF the managing editor OF
newspaper. David becomes a reporter
Edith, acutely sensible OF his good looks
and general worthiness. falls IN love with
him, though with the memory OF Irene In
hts heart. David does not perceive IT,
CHAPTER vf.-Davld advances TO po-
eition OF responsibility on the newspaper
Coward renews acquaintanceshlp with
David for hts own advantage. lie sees
the town r. "ripe" for q boom. through
raper FOR schemes in which he is Inter.
ested md the two rs Coward and
Eden 30 into the real estate business.
CHAPTER Tv.-Naturaliy OF clean mind
David de,eTminos to ses away from his
brings him into contact with Mr.. Melvin
Duncan, v~eo secs the inherent good In the
he meets Edith. his hosts pretty daughter.
and begins the coveted education.
CHAPTER vIL-3oth men become
wealthy during the boom" and when II
covers. through Miss Morrison, society
editor OF the newspaper on which he had
been employed. that Irene Hardy Is liv-
ing In town. with her mother.
When the Hardys had gone Coward
turned 20 Eden. ave had better try
and find out where we stand" he said.
trying TO speak dispasslonately. but
there was a tremor In his voice.
II agree" returned Eden. who had
no desire 10 evade the issue. 'Do you
consider II fair TO select inexperi-
enced women for your victims7"
Coward made a deprecating ges-
ture. There Is nothing to be gained
by quarrellng. Dave" he said. LET
us get at the facts. When we have
agreed ms 10 facts. then we may agree
as 10 procedure"
"Shoot." said Dave. He stood with
his shoulder toward Coward. watch
ing the dusk settling about the foothlll
city.
II think" said Coward. eve can
agree thai the boom is over. We have
done well, on paper. The thing now
Is 10 convert our paper Into cash"
Dave turned about. "You know I
don't claim 10 be any great morallst.
Coward" he said. 'and have no pity
for a gambler who deliberately sits In
and gets stung. Consequently | am
not troubled with any self-pity, nor
any pity for you. and II you can get
rid OF our holdings To other gamblers
! have nothing TO say. But II IL Is TO
be loaded onto women who are In
vesting the little savings OF their lives
women like Bert Morrison and Mrs.
Hardy--then I am going TO have a
good deal To say" Dave went on with
rising heat: "If business has to be
done that way. then say to h with
business 20
II asked you not TO quarrel" Con-
ward returned. with remarkable COM
posture. II suggested that we get at
the facts Now. granting that the
boom Is over. where do we standf We
are rated as millionaires. but we
haven't a thousand dollars In the bank
at this moment. Thls"-he lifted Mrs
Hardy's check-"would have seen us
over next payday. but you say the
firm must have nothing TO do with Il.
And which Is the more immoral-slnce
you have spoken OF morality-to ac-
cept labor from clerks whom you can't
pay or TO sell property to women who
say they want n and are satisfied with
the prlcel We have literally thou
sands OF unsettled contracts. We
must keep our staff together. We have
debts to pay. and we owe II to our
creditors TO make collections so that
we can pay those debts. and we can't
make collections without staff. Why.
on the property we are now holding
the taxes alone win amount TO twenty
thousand dollars a year. And l put
II up to you. II we are going TO stand
on sentiment. who's going TO pay the
taxes7"
II know; know" said Dave. whose
anger over the treatment of the Har-
dys was already subsldlng. "We are
In the grip of the system. Still-in
war they don't usually kill women and
noncombatants. That Is the point I'm
trying 10 make. I've no sentiment
about others who are In the game as
we are. II you limit your operations
TO them"
"The trouble is. you can't. They're
wise. Most of them have already
moved on. A few firms. like ourselves.
win stay and try TO fight II out; try.
at least. TO close up with clean sheet.
II we must close up. But we can't
wind up bushes without selling the
stock on-hand, and TO whom are we to
sell N not TO people who want III That
a -.