The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-05-26
! BEATING CARs1oN}
BY JACK LAYTON.
2969g9R9R9 9999{
Is. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 1891. western SewsnsnerT TnIon :


10 the spot where fallen tree made
an inviting resting place. Blossom
actual name was Phillipa Carston
which was the nearest to Philip that
q feminine might attain. The "Great'
Phlllp Carston had no son. Phillips
hao been familiar with this cognomeD
of her fathers from childhood. Philip
Carston the great" capitalist; Carston
the great" financier, the newspapers
quoted him. The girl accepted her
2uxur1es and her favored life as mat.
ter OF course, while the mother-love,
which she had never known, was sub.
,Stituted by her father. Blossom" as
the aoved to call her, was the one OBJ.
yyect of the successful mans over.
Whelming affection, but his competi.
tors in business would have named
money as his one passion. Blossom
knew better; she realized that the
S1east anxiety concerning her own
small person would bring him imme.
"diately to her side, disregarding the
most pressing affair of business. She
had come with him to this wild ranch
Hand, where he intended to end the
disappointing bargaining for adjacent
valuable lands in which his manager
had been defeated. Blossom frowned,
as she sat, recalling the story which
had been repeated to her only that
morning. It brought to the girl a new
understanding Of her invincible father
She had supposed that business deal
angs must be fair always, and just, and
that Philip Carstons wealth had been
justly earned. Yet, the story that the
serving woman at the ranch house
told her forced other unwelcome
thoughts.
"He can buy anyone out of any
thing" the old woman declared.
''Might is power"
The woman's sympathies were with
Linda it seemed, and Linda was the
hard working, unseltish wife of the
young man who had bought and was
holding by painful labor the property
that her own father coveted There
were babies in Lindas home and she
scraved for them happier future than
either she or her brave husband had
found. 'They'd have been happy" the
serving woman grumbled, eff Philip
Carston had not forced them to the
WALL But after each refusal upon
Jim Hopes part to sacrifice his land,
he found his hired labor bought over
at a better price until it had become
impossible to keep help at all.
"Father,' she asked later sis it true
that you always get what you 90
after?"
ALWAYS" the man replied, and
laughed. mo one can beat Carston
except Carston.'
AS Blossom sat upon her fallen log,
"a young man came eagerly to join her.
He was big bronzed-faced man. clad
not as a ranchman but as one from
her own city.
; Ut is strange" he unused presently,
''that you and l should come to this far
away place to meet Stranger that
have journeyed in the effort to help
my old college chum Jim Hope, while
it is your father who is making that
effort unavailing. OF what use any
loans that could offer in barring
Philip Carstons purpose? As use
less added the young man bitterly,
as this great love for you which en-
tered my heart only to be frustrated"
Phillipa Carston stood and looked in
ITO the eyes of the man to whom her
own heart answered.
II have thought the thing out" she
said, there is neither need or Justice
in my fathers demand, nor is it right
that one selfish man should make a
god Of wealth, or place it a barrier to
love-"
When Philip Carston returned to
his ranch house that night, his daugh-
ter was not there. The discovery of
her absence was alarming in that she
had been able to leave an astounding
message behind. The paper was thrust
between the leaves OF book that her
father read each evening.
A'Father, DEAR" it said, do not be
anxious, but am to be carried away
from you, and held for ransom. The
price of my release will be the price
Jim Hope asks for his land, and you
will receive clear title to the same in
receipt of payment exacted It will do
no good to cross-questiOn or punish
this Jim Thorpe. He knows absolute
ly nothing concerning the plot, which
is being carried out by determined
.sympathizers. I am assured of good
care pending your fulfllment Of the
conditions imposed, but please, father
>comply with that condition soon."
Searchers travelled the mountains,
every corner of the Hope land was
',lnler constant surveillance; but Phil
"tafist in his power grew daily more
'powerless. For the first time in his |
life Philip Carston suffered under
fight. His would undoubtedly be the
triumph in the end, but the father
would not await that triumph.
The capitalist sent his check for the
amount demanded to the agent Of
Hopes land, who, like himself, was in |
utter ignorance Of the conspirators. |
And when Jim Hope was in possession
Of his rightful money, came from Phil
1ipa in New York city, a telegram.
Safe in our city home," announced
the telegram, kidnapped myself, a
friend of Jim Hopes acting as travel
ing escort. AS / have married that |
friend, please hurry home father to
meet him. We were the determined