The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-02-20


Real estate Is the only subject I
would trust him on" she continued. II
must say, Dave, that for a shrewd
business man you are awfully dense
about Coward.
He remained silent for a few mo-
nents. He decided not to follow her
cad. He knew that if she had any
thing explicit to say about Coward
she would say it when she felt the
time to be opportune. and not until
then.
"How much did you invest?"
"Not much. Just what l had"
"You mean all your savings"
"Why not? It's all right, isn't it,"
He had risen and was standing by
the window.
Its all right, isn't it," she repeat
ed.
I'm afraid 1t isn't!" he said, at
length, i'm q restrained voice. I'm
afraid 1t isn't"
what do you meanw she demand
Ell.
"Bert," he continued, "did it ever
occur to you that this thing must have
An end-that we can't go on forever
lifting ourselves by our w boot
straps? We have built u city here, n
great and beautiful city, almost as a
wizard might build 1t by magic over
night. There was room for 1t here
there was occasion; there was justifi-
cation. But there was neither Occa-
sion nor justification for turning miles
and miles Of prairie land into city lots
lots which in the nature of things
cannot possibly, in your time or mine,
be required for city purposes. These
OTIS should be producing; wheat, oats,
potatoes, cows, butter-that is what
we must build our city on. We have
been considering the effect rather than
the cause. The cause is the country
the neglected country, and until II
overtakes the city. we must stand still
Il we do not go back. Our prosperity
has been built on borrowed money
and we have forgotten that borrowed
money must some time be repaid
"You mean that the boom is about
to burst?" she said.
mot exactly burst. 1t will not be
so sudden as that. 1t will just OOzt
away like q toy balloon pricked viii
q pin."
There was silence. for some minutes
When she spoke at length it was will
a tinge Of bitterness. $50 you arr
unioading?"
1.-THE firm is. / beg you, Bert, t.
believe that II l had known your in
tention / would have tried to dissuad'
you."
"Why me particularly? I am onl.
one of the great lublic. Why don
vou give your conclusions to tn
world? Now that you see the reaction
setting In doesn't honesty sugges
what your course should te?"
There was reproach in her voice
Dave thought. rather than bitterness
He spread u his hands. "What'
she use? The harm is done. To PRE-
dict a collapse would be to precipitat
q panic. 1t as though we were passer
gers on q boat at ga. You and
know the boat Is sinking. but tn
other passengers don't. They ar
making merry with champagne an
motorcars-if you can accept that fe
nre-and revelry and easy money
Why spoil their remaining few hour
by telling them they are headed 70
the bottom?"
After q moment she placed her fir
gers on his arm. "Forgive me, Dave,
she said. II didn't mean 10 whine"
"You didn't whtne." he returned, a
most fierceiy. Its not you. You ar
toe good a sport. But there will b
lets Of whining in the coming months.
Manlike, It did not occur to Dave tina
Ia that moment the girl had bidde
goodby to her savings Of a doze
years and had merely looked up an
said. "Forgive me, Dave. l didn
mean 50 xhine."
He glanced at his watch. Its la'
for q theater." he said. "but we ca
ride. Which do you say-auto I
h.rseback7"
II can't go horseback In thes
clothes and I don't want to change
Dave pressed a button and the or
nipresent Chinese hoy" stood befol
him. MY car" he said. 1.-THE tw
passenger car. l shall not want
driver" Then, continuing to Mi
Morrison: "You will need somethir
more than that coat. Let me see. n
smoking jacket should 1T"
In q few minutes they were threa
ing their way through the street ira
DC In Dawes machine. Presently Il
trafic thinned. and the a hummf
through long residential avenues
comfortable homes. On and on The
sped, until the city streets and tt
city lights foil behind and the a WI
swinging along q fine country roa
through q land marked with stream
ind bridges AMI blocked out with fr