The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-02-25

ready capitulaticn might be mistaken
for weakness--she would have surren-
dered then.
II think that is best" she managed
to say. "We will let our acquaintance
ship ripen."
He rose and helped her with her
light wrap. His fingers touched her
hand and 1t seemed to him the battle
was won. But he had prom
Used not to reopen the subject.
In the street he said, IF you will
wait moment will take you home
in my car"
Their eyes met, and each of them
knew what 1t meant. 1t meant an
nouncement 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. 1t was far-reaching.
But she said simply, IL 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 Sun
day program at once.
"DaSe was good enough to bring me
up In his car" she said. sand just
think He invites us to drive into the
foothills with him next Sunday. Will
you conner 1t will be delightful, Or
are you feeling"
'Mr. Eden 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
him. Yes, think 1t very likely
we will CO."
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 as to
be overwhelmed in the recedng 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 justifiable only
to the most insane optimism, so did
the subsequent depression bear down
upon values until they reached depths
justlfiable 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 a stop? So much the better;
her house was still worth its price.
She would stand firm.
Mrs. Hardy consulted Coward. 1t
had grown to be her habit to consult
Coward on all matters In which she
found an interest.
"How is 1t, Mr.. Coward" Mrs.
Hardy said to him one evening over
her fancy work-for she practiced an
indefatigable industry~in matters Of
no mportance-"how is 1t that there
Is no demand for property? You are
real-estate expert; you should be
able to answer that. Isn't this city
as good today as 1t was year ago?
Doesn't 1t occupy the same site? Are
not the farms still producing?"
That's just IL, dear Mrs. Hardy.
Why, indeed? Simply because the
booster has given way to the calamity
bowler. It's psychological explanation
Is simple enough. The world lives by
faith. Without faith there would be
neither seedtime nor harvest. That is
true of raising cities as well as of
raising crops. But there are always
those who rldicule faith; always were,
always will be. And as soon as faith
disappears things begin to sink"
"Ahw said Mrs. Hardy gently. $50
we owe all this-these empty houses
and shops, unstable property and ev-
erythlng to those who have lost
faith-or never had II. To men like
Mr.. Eden, for instance. You remem-
Der how he tried to discourage me
from the very first-tried to break
down my faith--that was 1t, Mr.. Con.
ward-I see 1t all very plainly now
and he and others like him have
brought things to their present pass.
Well. they have a great responsible
ity."
AS a result Of this discussion Dave
found himself rather less popular