Yorkville enquirer. [volume], January 29, 1909, Image 1

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^ [RICHARD
Copyright, 1904, By Herbert S.-Stone &
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CHAPTER VIII.
Due morning not long after the incidents
just related Brewster lay in
bed staring at the ccinng, deep in
thought. There was a worried pucker
on ills forehead, half hidden by the
rumpled hair, and his eyes were wide
and sleepless. He had dined at the
Drews the evening before and had had
an awakening. As he thought of the
matter ne could recall 110 special occurrence
that he could really use as
evidence. Colonel and Mrs. Drew had
bet 11 as kind as ever, and Barbara
could not have been more charming.
Hut something naa gone wrong, aiiu
he had endured a wretched evening.
"Tnat little English Johnnie was to
blame," he argued. "Of course Barbara
had a right to put any one she
liked next to her, but why she should
have chosen that silly ass is more
^ than I know. By Jove! If I had been
on the other side I'll warrant his grace
would have been lost in the dust."
His brain was whirling, and for the
first time he was beginning to feel the
unpleasant pangs of jealousy. The
Duke of Beauchamp he especially disliked,
although the poor man had hardly
spoken during the dinner. But
Monty could not be reconciled. He
knew, of course, that Barbara had
suitors by the dozen, but it had never
occurred to him that they were even
seriously considered. Notwithstanding
the fact that his encounter with The
Censor had brought her into unde
sirable notice, she forgave him everything
after a moment's consideration.
The first few wrenches of resentment
u?' J KrvM A mnrinn n
were overcauanceu uj nu
appreciation of chivalry, however inspired.
The Censor had gone for
years unpunished, his coarse wit being
aimed at every one who had come
into social prominence. So pungent
and vindictive was his pen that other
men feared him, and there were many
who lived in glass houses in terror of
a fusilade. Brewster's prompt and
sufficient action had checked the pernicious
attacks, and he became a hero
among men and women. After that
L night there was no point to The Cen
sor's pen. Monty's first qualms of
apprehension were swept away when
Colonel Drew himself hailed him the
morning after the encounter and in
no unmeasured terms congratulated
him upon his achievement, assuring
^ him that Barbara and Mrs. Drew approved.
although they might lecture
him as a matter of form.
But on this morning as he lay in his
bed Monty was thinking deeply and
painfully. He was confronted by a
most embarrassing condition, and he
was discussing it soberly with himself.
"I've never told her," he said to himself,
"but if she doesn't know my feeling
she is not as clever as I think. Besides,
I haven't time to make love to
her now. If it were any other girl I
suppose I'd have to. but Babs?why,
she must understand. And yet?hang
that duke."
In order to woo her properly he
would be compelled to neglect financial
duties that needed every particle
of brain energy at his command. He
found himself opposed at the outset
by a startling embarrassment, made
absolutely clear by the computations
of the night before. The last four
days of indifference to finance on one
side and pampering the heart on the
other had proved very costly. To use
p his own expression, he had been "set
back" almost $8,000. An average like
that would be ruinous.
"Why, think of it." he continued.
"For each day sacrificed to Barbara
I must deduct something like $2,500.
* M'AnM nn f Iri'A
long v-aui|ini(,n .. vu>u ...x.
trlevably In the hole: I'd get so far
behind that a holocaust couldn't put
me even. She can't expect that of me.
yet girls are such idiots about devotion.
and of course she doesn't know
what a heavy task I am facing. And
there are the others?what will they
do while I am out of the running? 1
cannot go to her and say: 'Please, may
I have a year's vacation? I'll come
back next September.' On the other
hand, I shall surely neglect my business
if she expects me to compete.
What pleasure shall I get out of the
seven millions if I lost her? I can't
afford to take chances. That duke
won't have seven millions next September.
it's true, but he'll have a prodigious
argument against me about
the 21st or 22d."
Then a brilliant thought occurred
to him which caused him to ring for
a messenger boy with such a show of
impatience that Rawles stood aghast.
The telegram which Monty wrote was
as follows:
Swearengen Jones, Butte. Mont.:
May I marry and turn all property
over to wife, provided she will have
me? Montgomery Brewster.
?*** ' '? ? t- * Kla 9" K Ct
"YWiy 15>11 I U1UC iC(U>vuauic . nv
asked himself after the boy had gone.
"Making property over to one's wife
is neither a loan nor is it charity. Old
Jones might call it needless extravagance.
since he's a bachelor, but it's
generally done because it's good business."
Monty was hopeful.
Following his habit in trouble, he
sought Margaret Gray, to whom he
could always appeal for advice and
consolation. She was to come to his
next dinner party, and it was easy to
lead up to the subject in hand by mentioning
the other guests.
"And Barbara Drew," he concluded
after naming all the others. They
were alone in the library, and she was
drinking in the details of the dinner
as he related them.
"Wasn't she at your first dinner?"
she asked quickly.
He successfully affected mild embar
rassment.
"Yes."
"She must be very attractive."
There was no venom in Peltry's heart.
"She is attractive. In fact, she's one
of the best. Peggy," he said, paving
the way.
"It's too bad she seems to ear.* for
that little duke."
"He's a bounder." he argued.
A?A *A* A*A * A*^ A?A *A? A*A
R M'CUTCHEON ?
GREAVES) J
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"Well, don't take It to heart. You
don't have to marry him." And Peggy
laughed.
' But I do take it to heart, Peggy,"
said Monty seriously. "I'm pretty hard
hit. and I want your help. A sister's
advice is always the best in a matter
of this sort."
She looked into his eyes dully for an
instant, not realizing the full importance
of his confession.
"You Monty?" she said incredulously.
"I've got it bad, Peggy," he replied,
staring hard at the floor. She could
not understand the cold gray tone that
suddenly enveloped the room. The
strange sense of loneliness that came
over her was inexplicable. The little
something that rose in her throat
would not be dislodged, nor could she
throw off the weight that seemed press
ing down upon her. He saw the odd
look in her eyes and the drawn, uncertain
smile on her lips, but he attributed
them to wonder and incredulity.
Somehow after all these years he was
transformed before her very eyes. She
was looking: upon a new personality.
He was no longer Montgomery the
brother, but she could not explain how
and when the change crept over her.
What did it all mean? "I am very
glad if it will make you happy, Monty,"
she said slowly, the gray in her
lips giving way to red once more.
"Does she know?"
"I haven't told her in so many
words, Peggy, but?but I'm going to
this evening." he announced lamely.
"This evening?"
"I can't wait," Monty said as he rose
to go. "I'm glad you're pleased, Peggy.
I need your good wishes. And,
Peggy." he continued, with a touch of
boyish wistfulness, "do you think
there's a chance for a fellow? I've had
the very deuce of a time over that
Englishman."
It was not quite easy for her to say:
"Monty, you are the best in the world.
Go in and win."
From the window she watched him
swing off down the street, wondering
if he would turn to wave his hand to
her, his custom for years. But the
broad back was straight and uncompromising.
His long strides carried
him swiftly out of sight, but It was
many mintues before she turned her
eyes, which were smarting, a little
from the point where he was lost in
omwrl Thp room looked ashen to
her as she brought her mind back to
!t, and somehow things had grown different.
When Montgomery reached home he
found this telegram from Mr. Jones:
Montgomery Brewster, New York City:
Stick to your knitting, you fool.
S. Jones.
CHAPTER IX.
It is best not to repeat the expressions
Brewster used regarding one S.
Jones after reading this telegram.
But he felt considerably relieved after
he had uttered them. He fell to reading
accounts of the big prize fight
which was to take place in San Francisco
that evening. He reveled in the
descriptions of "upper cuts" and "left
hooks" and learned incidentally that
the affair was to be quite one sided.
A local amateur was to box a champion.
Quick to see an opportunity and
cajoling himself into the belief that
Swearengen Jones could not object to
such a display of sportsmanship,
Brewster made Harrison book several
good wagers on the result. He intimated
that he had reason to believe
that the favorite would lose. Harrison
soon placed $3,000 on his man. The
MOIOV ffilt CA Clll'D of tho i'A _
j ?> uuiift niiaiivivt iv.i v. ^>v uu?v vf4 v?.v . v
suit that he entered the bets on the
profit side of his ledger the moment he
received Harrison's report.
This done, he telephoned to Miss
Drew. She was not insensible to the
significance of his inquiry if she would
be in that afternoon. She had observed
in him of late a condition of uneasiness,
supplemented by moroseness
and occasional periods of irascibility.
Every girl whose occupation in life is
me siuuy 01 meji iwuKiuwn un-sc
symptoms and knows how to treat
them. Barbara had dealt with many
men afflicted in this manner, and the
flutter of anticipation that came with
his urgent plea to see her was tempered
by experience. It had something of
joy in it. for she cared enough for
Montgomery Brewster to have made
her anxiously uncertain of his state of
mind. She cared, indeed, much more
than she intended to confess at the
outset.
It was nearly half past 5 when he
came, and for once the philosophical
Miss Drew felt a little irritation. So
certain was she of his object in coming
that his tardiness was a trifle ruffling.
He apologized for being late
and succeeded in banishing the pique
that possessed her. It was naturally
impossible for him to share all his
secrets with her, and that is why he
did not tell her that Grant & Ripley
had called him up to report the receipt
of a telegram from Swearengen Jones,
in which the gentleman laconically
said he could feed the whole state of
Montana for less than $6,000. Beyond
that there was no comment. Brewster
in dire trepidation hastened to the office
of his attorneys. They smiled
when he burst in upon them.
"Good heavens!" he exclaimed.
"Does the miserly old hayseed expect
me to spend a million for newspapers,
cigarettes and Boston terriers? I
thought he would be reasonable!"
"He evidently has seen the newspaper
accounts of your dinner, and this
is merely his comment." said Mr. Ripley.
"It's either a warning or else he's
ambiguous in his compliments,"
growled Brewster disgustedly,
"I don't believe he disapproved, Mr.
Brewster. In the west the out gentleman
is widely known as a wit."
"A wit. eh? Then he'll appreciate an
in?wer from me. Have you a telegraph
blank. Mr. Grant?"
Two minutes later the following
telegram to Swearengen Jones was
awaiting the arrival of a messenger
hoy and Brewster was blandly assuring
Messrs. Grant & Ripley that he did
not care a rap for the consequences:
New York, Oct. 23. 1?.
Swearengen Jones, Butte, Mont.:
No doubt you could do it for less
than six thousand. Montana Is regarded
as the best grazing country in
the world, but we don't eat that sort
of stuff in New York. That's why it
costs more to live here.
Montgomery Brewster.
Just before leaving his apartments
for Miss Drew's home he received this
response from faraway Montana:
Butte. Mont. Oct. 23, 1?.
Wo nro s oao feet above tho level of
the sea. I suppose that's why it costs
?.s less to live high.
S. Jones.
"I was beginning to despair, Monty,"
said Miss Drew reproachfully when
he had come down from the height of
his exasperation and remembered that
there were things of more importance.
The light in his eyes brought the
faintest tinge of red to her cheeks, and
where a moment before there had been
annoyance there was now a feeling of
serenity. For a moment the silence
was fraught with purpose. Monty
glanced around the room, uncertain
how to begin. It was not so easy as he
had imagined.
. "You are very good to see me," he
said at last. "It was absolutely necessary
for me to talk to you this evening.
I could not have endured the suspense
any longer. Barbara, I've spent three
or four sleepless nights on your account
Will it spoil your evening if I
tell you in plain words tvhat you already
know? It won't bother you, will
it?" he floundered.
"What do you mean, Monty?" she
begged, purposely dense and with
wonderful control of her eyes.
"I love you, Babs," he cried. "I
thought you knew about it all along
or I should have told you before.
That's why I haven't slept. The fear
that you may not care for me has driven
me nearly to distraction. It could
not go on any longer. I must know
today."
There was a gleam in his eyes that
made her pose of indifference difficult.
The fervor of his half whispered words
took possession of her. She had expected
sentiment of such a different
character that his frank confession
disarmed her completely. Beneath his
ardent, abrupt plea there was assurance,
the confidence of one who is not
to be denied. It was not what he had
said, but the way he had said it. A
wave of exultation swept over her, tingling
through every nerve. Under the
spell her resolution to dally lightly
with his emotion suffered a check that
almost brought ignominious surrender.
Both of her hands were clasped in his
when he exultingly resumed the charge
against her heart, but she was rapidly
regaining control of her emotions, and
he did not know that he was losing
ground with each step he took forward.
Barbara Drew loved Brewster,
out sne was going iu iiiukc mm j>ct>
dearly for the brief lapse her composure
had experienced. When next
she spoke she was again the Miss
Drew who had been trained in the
ways of the world, and not the young
girl in love.
"I care for you a great deal, Monty,"
she said, "but I'm wondering whether
I care enough to?to marry you."
"We haven't known each other very
long, Babs," he said tenderly, "but I
think we know each other well enough
to be beyond wondering."
"It is like you to manage the whole
thing," she said chidingly. "Can't you
give me time to convince myself that I
love you as you would like and as I
must love if I expect to be happy with
the man I marry?"
"I forgot myself," he said humbly.
"You forgot me," she protested gently,
touched by this sign of contrition.
"I do care for you, Monty, but don't
you see it's no little thing you ask of
me? I must be sure?very sure?before?I?before"?
"Don't be so distressed," lie pleaded.
"You will love me, I know, because
,\ou love me now. This means much
to me, but it means more to you. You
arc the woman, and you are the one
whose happiness should be considered.
I can live only in the hope tnat when
I come to you again with this same
story and this same question you'll
J not be afraid to trust yourself to me."
"You deserve to be happy for that,
Monty," she said earnestly, and it
was with difficulty that she kept her
eyes from wavering as they looked into
his.
"You will let me try to make you
love me?" he asked eagerly.
"I may not be worth the struggle."
"I'll take that chance." he replied.
She was conscious of disappointment
after he was gone. He had not pleaded
as ardently as she had expected
and desired, and, try'as she would, she
could not banish the touch of irritation
that had come to haunt her for
the night.
Brewster walked to the club, elated
that he had at least made a beginning.
His position was now clear. Besides
losing a fortune lie must win Barbara
in open competition.
At the theater that evening he met
Harrison, who was in a state of jubilation.
"Tip? what tip?" from Brewster.
"On the prize tight."
Brewster's face fell, and something
cold crept over him.
"How did?what was the result?"
he asked, sure of the answer.
"Haven't you heard? Your man
knocked him out in the fifth round?
surprised everybody."
CHAPTER X.
The next two months were busy ones
for Brewster. Miss Drew saw him
quite as often as before the important
interview, but he was always a puzzle
to her.
"His attitude is changed somehow,"
she thought to herself. And then she
remembered that "a man who wins a
girl after an ardent suit is often like
one who runs after a street car and
then sits down to read his paper."
In truth, after the first few days
Monty seemed to have forgotten his
competitors and was resting in the
consciousness of his assured position
Kach day lie sent her tlowers and considered
that he had more than done
his duty. He used no small part of
his income on the flowers, but In this
case his mission was almost forgotten
in his love for Barbara.
Monty's attitude was not due to any
waning of his affection, but to the
very unrornantic business in which he
was engaged. It seemed to him that,
plan as he might, he could not devise
fresh ways and means to earn $16,000
a day. He was still comfortably ahead
in the nice, hut a famine in opportunities
was not far remote. Ten big
dinner parties and a string of elaborate
after the play suppers maintained
a fair but insufficient average, and he
could see that the time was ripe for
radical measures. He could not go on
forever with his dinners. People were
already beginning to refer to the fact
that he was warming his toes on the J
social register, and he had no desire to
become the laughingstock of the town.
The few slighting, sarcastic remarks
about his business ability, chiefly by
women and therefore reflected from
the men, hurt him. Miss Drew's apparently
harmless taunt and Mrs.
Dan's open criticism told plainly
enough how the wind was blowing,
but it was Peggy's gentle questions
that cut the deepest. There was such
honest concern in her voice that he
could see how his profligacy was trou
bling her and Mrs. Gray. In their
eyes more than In the others he felt
ashamed and humiliated. Finally,
goaded by the remark of a bank director
which he overheard, "Edwin P.
Brewster is turning: handsprings in nis
grave over the way he is going it,"
Monty resolved to redeem himself In
the eyes of his critics. He would show
them that his brain was not wholly
given over to frivolity.
With this project In mind he decided
to cause a little excitement in Wall
street. For some days he stealthily
watched the stock market and plied his
friends with questions about values.
Constant reading and observation
finally convinced him that Lumber and
Fuel Common was the one stock in
which he could safely plunge. Casting
aside all apprehension, so far as
Swearengen Jones was concerned, he
prepared for what was to be his one
and only venture on the Stock Exchange
before the 23d of the following
September. With all the cunning and
craftiness of a general he laid his plans
I for the attack. Gardner's face was the
picture of despair when Brewster asked
him to buy heavily in Lumber and
Fuel.
"Good heavens, Monty!" cried the
broker. "You're Joking: Lumber Is
away up now. It can't possibly go a
fraction of a point higher. Take my
advice and don't touch it. It opened
today at 1113 and closed at 109. Why.
man, you're crazy to think about it for
an instant!"
"I know my business, Gardner,"
said Brewster quietly, and his conscience
smote him when he saw the
flush of mortification creep into the
face of his friend. The rebuke had
cut Gardner to the quick.
"But, Monty, I know what I'm talking
about. At least let me tell you
something about this stock," pleaded
Elon loyally despite the wound.
"Gardy, I've gone into this thing
carefully, and if every man felt sure
about anything I do about this," said
Monty decidedly, but affectionately.
"Take my word for it, Lumber can't
go any higher. Think of the situation.
The lumbermen in the north and west
are overstocked, and there is a strike
ready to go into effect. When that
comes, the stock will go for a song.
The slump is liable to begin any day."
"My mind is made up," said the other
firmly, and Gardner was in despair.
"Will you or will you not execute an
order for me at the opening tomorrow?
I'll start with 10,000 shares. What
will it cost me to margin it for ten
points?"
"At least a hundred thousand, exclusive
of commission, which would be
twelve and a half a hundred shares."
Despite the most strenuous opposition
from Gardner. Brewster adhered to his
design, and the broker executed the
order the next morning. He knew that
Brewster had but one chance to win.
and that was to buy the stock in a
lump Instead of distributing it among
several brokers and throughout the
session. This was a point that Monty
had overlooked.
There had been little to excite the
Stock Exchange for some weeks; nothing
was active, and the slightest Hurry
was hailed as an event. Everyone
knew that the calm would be disturbed
at some near day, but nobody looked
for a sensation in Lumber and Fuel.
It was a foregone conclusion that a
slump was coming, and there was
scarcely any trading in the stock.
When Elon Gardner, acting for Montgomery
Brewster, took 10,000 shares at
108^ there was a mighty gasp on the
?vnhnnro than n VnhhllliT of eves, then
commotion. Astonishment was followed
by nervousness, and then came the
struggle.
Brewster, confident that the stock
could go no higher and that sooner or
later it must drop, calmly ordered his
horse for a ride in the snow covered
park. Even though he knew the venture
was to be a failure in the ordinary
sense, he found joy in the knowledge
that he was doing something. He might
be a fool; he was at least no longer
inactive. The feel of the air was good
to him. He was exhilarated by the
glitter of the snow, the answering excitement
of his horse, the gayety and
sparkle of life about him.
Somewhere far back in his inner self
there seemed to be the sound of cheering
and the clapping of hands. Shortly
before noon he reached his club,
where he was to lunch with Colonel
Drew. In the reading room he observed
that men were looking at him
In a manner less*casual than was customary.
Some of them went so far
as to smile encouragingly, and others
waved their hands in the most cordial
fashion. Three or four very young
members looked upon him with admiration
and envy, and even the por'
ters seemed more obsequious. There
was something strangely oppressive in
all this show of deference.
Colonel Drew's dignity relaxed amazingly
when he caught sight of the
' young man. He came forward to meet
him, and his greeting almost carried
Monty off his feet.
! "How did you do it, my boy?" cried
> the colonel. "She's off a point or two
now. I believe, but half an hour ago
she was booming. Gad, 1 never heard
of anything more spectaular!"
Monty's heart was In his mouth as
he rushed over to the ticker. It did
i not take- him long to grasp the immeni
~lty of the disaster. Gardner had
bought In at 1083, <t?d that very action
' seemed to put new life Into the stock.
' Just as It was on the point of breaking
for lack of support along came this
sensational order for 10,000 shares,
and there could be but one result. At one
time in the morning Lumber and e
Fuel, traded in by excited holders,
touched 113J and seemed In a fair way -|
to hold firm around that figure.
Other men came up and listened
eagerly. Brewster realized that his j
dash In Lumber and Fuel had been a j
master stroke of cleverness when consldered
from the point of view of
these men, but a catastrophe from his
own. t
"I hope you sold it when it was at j
the top," said the colonel anxiously. t
"I instructed Gardner to sell only t
when I gave the word," said Monty t
to make itself felt. The certainty or a ~
great strike was one of the things that
had made Brewster sure that the price
could not hold. With this danger removed
there was nothing to jeopardize
the earning power of the stock.
The next quotation was a point higher.
"You sly dog!" said the colonel, digging
Monty in the side. "I had confidence
in you all the time."
In ten minutes' time Lumber and
Fuel was again up to 113 and soaring.
Brewster, panic stricken, rushed to the
telephone and cnlled up Gardner.
The broker, hoarse with excitement,
wa<5 delighted when he recognized
Brewster's voice.
"You're a wonder, Monty! I'll see
you after the close. How did you do
it?" shouted Gardner.
"What's the price now?" asked
Brewster.
"One thirteen and three-fourths and
going up all the time! Hooray!"
"Do you think she'll go down again?"
demanded Brewster.
"Not if I can help it."
"Very well, then, go ana sen oui:
roared Brewster.
"But she's going up like"?
"Sell, hang you! Don't you hear?"
Gardner, dazed and weak, began
selling and finally liquidated the full
line at prices ranging from 114 to 112J.
But Montgomery Brewster had cleared
$58,550, and all because it was he and
not the market that got excited.
To be Continued.
Ready For an Emergency.
A show of force Is often the best
kind of diplomacy. A writer in Le
Temps tells a story of the French admiral,
Dupetit-Thouars, who had been
intrusted with the mission of exacting
reparation from an African Bey, who
had insulted a French consul.
As Dupetit-Thouars's demands were
supported by the forcible argument of
loaded cannon, the Bey acknowledged
that he had been too hasty, and proffered
profuse apologies. He even invited
the admiral to his table, and had
a sumptuous repast prepared for his
guest.
The consul warned the admiral to be
on his guard.
"The Bey is inclined to be malicious,"
said he, "and when he strokes his beard
and smiles, you may be sure that he is
?.l? .nlcnhlof "
l'Ulli:ui;iiiig ninuc uuovuivi.
"We shall see," was Dupetit-Thouars's
reply.
He reached the Be>'s palace in good
time. Profuse compliments and salutations
were exchanged. All at once
the admiral's foot met some soft,
hairy substance lying on the carpet
under the table. He bent down and
saw a huge lion showing' his formidable
teeth. The Hey smiled, and stroked his
beard.
Dupetit-Thouars did not wince, but
called his dragoman.
"My pistols," was all he said.
The servant saluted, retired, and
brought back a pair of pistols on a silver
tray. The admiral took them and
placed them on the table before him.
Hut the Hey, still smiling, continued to
stroke his patriarchal beard.
"Tell the commander," he said to the
dragoman, "that if those pistols are for
the purpose of blowing out my lion's
brains, they are quite insufficient and
perfectly useless."
Then, like a skilled fencer countering
his opponent's thrust, after the Boy's
ironical advice had been translated,
Dupetit-Thouars replied:
"Tell his highness that my pistols are
not there to kill his lion, but to blow
his own brains out at the first movement
of this objectionable carpet."
Gravely, but a little pale, the man
interpreted.
The smile died away 011 the Bey's
lips, and he no longer stroked his
beard
"My lion." said lie, "is too well trained
even to scratch one of my guests,
but since he Is not wanted he shall be
sent away."
At a word from the Bey, the lion {
slowly and heavily left the room, like
an obedient dog-.?Youth's Companion, j
The hungry man doesn't get much t
nourishment from swallowing his I
pride. 1
lamely. Several of tne men looKea ai
him in surprise and disgust.
"Well, if I were you I'd tell him to
sell," remarked the colonel coldly.
"The effect of your plunge has worn
off, Brewster, and the other side will
drive the prices down. They won't be
caught napping again either," said one
of the bystanders earnestly. t
"Do you think so?" And there was
a note of relief in Monty's voice.
From all sides came the advice to e
sell at once, but Brewster was not to t
be pushed. He calmly lighted a clga- c
rette and with an assured air of wis- '
dom toid them to wait a little while -j
and see.
"She's already falling off," said some c
one at tie :icker.
When Brewster's bewildered eyes t
racea o\er me hkuics me sium
quoted at 112. His sigh of relief was
heard, but misunderstood. He might
be saved after all. The stock had
started to go down, and there seemed
no reason why it should stop. As he
intended to purchase no more, it was
fair to assume that the backbone was
at the breaking point. The crash was
bound to come. He could hardly restrain
a cry of joy. Even while he
stood at the ticker the little instrument
began to tell of a further decline.
As the price went down his hopes went
up.
By bystanders were beginning to be
disgusted. "It was only a iluke after
all," they said to each other. Colonel
Drew was appealed to, to urge Monty
to save himself, and he was on the
point of remonstrance when the message
came that the threatened strike
was off and that the men were willing
to arbitrate. Almost before one could
draw breath this startling news began
- - - S
3tti.scrtlancou.si Reading.
JENATOR STEWART'S ROAD IDEAS
rext of the Bill Introduced By Him on
January 21.
Following Is the proposed new road
aw Introduced by Senator Stewart on
ranuary 21. The bill Is given as
..?> io tr tt
inmeu. nuui uiaiiuu to, wuuv ?fc *
?asses it will be with a number of
imendments. It is understood also,
hat a bill very different in some of
ts provisions, is to be introduced in
he house, and it is probable that the
wo propositions may come into anagonism
with each other:
A Bill to Amend the Law In Reference
to WorKing and Maintaining
the Public Roaus ot Yora county,
to Proviue tor the Appointment ot
'iuwnsiup buperviaui s, ueune
Their Duties and Powers, Fix Their
haiaries, Proviae for the Payment
ot tne same, and Provide Penalties
tor Violations 'thereof,
be it enacted by the general assem>ly
of south Carolina:
section 1. That the county board
if commissioners, as constituted by
aw, shail remain as they now are, ex fin
p the same oulcial oond, receive
he same salaries now provided tor,
lischarge the same duties, and have
he same powers, except as hereinarer
provided for, for the coumy of
fork.
s>ec. 2. Upon the recommendation
f a majority of the legislative delegation
in the general assembly, the
tovernor shail appoint a man In each
ownshlp, to be known as the townhip
supervisor, who shall serve for
wo years, or until his successor is
tppoinied and qualified. He shall give
(ond, either personal or in some apiroved
security company, payable io
he county treasurer tor the township
n the sum of five hundred dollars
or the faithful discharge of his oticial
duties.
t>ec. a. it shall be the duty of
he township supervisor to ascertain
the names of all persons livng
in his township liable for road
luty and file with the county superrisor
an alphabetical list of the same,
ine county supervisor shall compare
vork on the road, after being duly
ummoned thereto; and any person
efusing to pay or work after being
luly summoned thereto, shall be
leemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
ipon conviction shall be fined not ex;eeding
fifty dollars, nor less than
wenty, or be sentenced to the chainrang
for thirty days.
Section 5. Each township supervisor
shall have jurisdiction and conrol
over the township road fund,
lereinafter provided, for his townihip,
and shall expend the same for
he improvement and maintenance of
he public roads in his township, and
'or the construction of such bridges
is shall not cost over twenty dollars:
Provided, He shall let to the lowest
esponsible bidder, after notice, the
milding or repair of such bridges as
nay cost over twenty dollars. He
ihall personally inspect all work done
n his township by contract or othervise,
and shall vouch for and attest
?very claim against his township road
und, and where the amount exceeds
me hundred dollars he shall submit
t to the county supervisor for his apjrovtjd.
No township supervisor shall
ocpend annually more than the
imount of funds belonging to his
ownship, and no township supervis>r
shall present any claim, directly or
ndirectly, for any materials or hands
>r teams rurnisnea oy nimseii. ne
ihall see that the law In reference to
ceeping streams free for rafts is com)lied
with In his township.
Sec. 6. Each township supervisor
nay purchase for the township from
he funds hereinafter provided for,
iuch machines, road plows, scrapes
ind tools as may be necessary, or hire
earns, for the purpose of working
md maintaining the roads in a good
condition: Provided, He shall make
10 purchase of over one hundred dolars
without the approval of the couny
supervisor. He shall be responsive
for the township, machine implenents
and tools, and shall render an
temized statement April 1, 1910, and
>ach year thereafter to the county
upervisor for file in his office, showng
the amount expended and the
ralue of implements, etc., on hand.
Sec. 7. The township road fund
ihall consist: (a) the funds arising
rom the two mill tax levy now prodded
by law and hereinafter menloned;
(b) the commutation tax for
taid township: (c) and any funds
trising from a local or special tax, or
>therwise for roads in the township
or road purposes.
Sec. 8. Each township supervisor
ihall receive for his services the sum
>f $:i per day, not exceeding seventyive
days, for services actually render d
in each year; the claim orsuchserdces
shall be itemized by him and apii'iivo/l
hv rim riiimfv ?nnprvlssnr and
>ald monthly out of the township fund
>y the county treasurer.
Sec. 9. The county treasurer shall
n or before the 1st of April, 1909, and
mnually thereafter, place to the credt
of each township, In a ledger kept
or that purpose, the amount of funds
ah'ed by the two mill tax levy now
:ollected and held by him as a county
'und for roads and bridges. Each
ownship fund is to be kept separate
ind paid out as heretofore provided
'or.
Sec. 10. The county treasurer shall
nake monthly settlements with the
ownship supervisor from the fund
lelongitig to his township for roads
ind the bridges in the township costng
not over twenty dollars. All bridges
losting over twenty dollars shall be
laid out of the county funds for
iridges.
11. There shall be a commutation
ax of three dollars upon all male cit
zens in each township in me county, |
xcept in the incorporated citle" and
owns, and persons who are deaf, dumb,
>lind or permanently disabled, between
he ages of 21 and 55 years of age,
he list wun me uuiuiuuiauuii
1st, to be made by the county audlor,
and shall report back to the
uwnship supervisor for comparison
lot later than the 1st of July
ach year after the year 1909.
the township supervisor shall colect
the commutation tax hereinifter
provided for, for the year 1909,
rom all persons liable for said du^y
n his township and give his receipt
or the same, which shall be valid in
he county for that year, and he shall
eport the amount collected with a
1st thereof to the county supervisor
or file or record in his office, and
hall pay over the whole amount so
:ollected to the county treasurer, to
>e credited to his township fund for
oads; and all persons who have not
>aid their commutation tax by August
., 1909, and each year thereafter he
hall summon out at such time or
* 1 ?not Knno 1 ni Q 1
lines us ne may uc-cm muoi i^uwiv...
or the public, and work them upon
he ruads for five days each year; Prodded,
He may let contracts for secions
to be wonted and assign such perons
to work under the direction of the
:ontractor and fix the compensation:
'rovided further, He may appoint not
>ver four overseers in his township
o superintend and have worked those
ections which he has not worked
liaaself or let to contractor to be
vdrked and assign such person to the
loltTol of the overseer to work upon
haj section to which he has assigned
hem; such overseer may employ
lands to work those roads, to which
h4 township supervisor may assign
hfm at a rate agreed on, but not exceeding
one dollar per day. The
iverseer shall give his receipt to all
hose persons who may work out their
lommutation tax, when so requested,
ind it shall be valid in the county for
hat year. He may pay the overseer
it a rate not exceeding two dollars
ier day.
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the
ownship supervisor, upon his own
cnowledge or information from a conractor
or overseer, to swear out warants,
before a magistrate against such
lesson or persons who shall fail to pay
heir commutation tax or refuse to
which commutation tax snan De cuilected
as Is provided for in sections
3 and 4 in this act, and shall be expended
upon the road to which the
party is liable for road duty.
Sec. 12. The county board of commissioners
shall use the chaingang in
grading and repairing two main highways,
through the county, running as
near east and west and north and
x' in irlflW
SOUin as IS prut'iicauic, imiiiin > ?
in selecting the roads to be worked the
greatest good to the greatest
number of people. The main
highways are to be graded and repaired
under the plans and specification
being made by the engineer now
employed: Provided, When macadam
or sand gravel is specified to be used,
if furnished by the township supervisor,
or otherwise, the county supervisor
shall have the same properly
placed on the highways: Provided,
further, The county board of commissioners
shall distribute the benefits of
the chaingang among the various
townships as impartially as possible.
Sec. 13. The county supervisor,
while grading and repairing the main
hiirhwavs or other highways, shall co
operate with the township supervisor
in each township through which the
highway may pass; and when the main
highways or other highways are completed
the township supervisor through
whose township the same may pass
shall keep these in repair. He may
?et annual contracts for this purpose
if in his judgment best, to the lowest
responsible bidder, requiring bond
therefor in such sum as he may deem
best.
Sec. 14. The county board of commissioners
may employ an engineer,
by contract, for such time as in their
judgment may be necessary, fix his
compensation and prescribe his duties
and powers.
Sec. 15. The county board of commissioners
shall have erected on the
main highways, or the highways in
the county where bridges are to be
rebuilt, over streams of thirty-five
feet or over in width, stone or concrete
block piers or abutments, above
highwater mark, and span the same
with an iron or steel or reinforced
concrete bridge, erecting not over two
annually unless made absolutely or
providentially necessary. They may
let contracts, after public notice, for
ihe erection of the piers or abutments,
:>r use the chaingang for said purpose,
if in their judgment it can be cheaper
done; and all contracts for
iron or steel spans shall be let
:o the lowest responsible bidder,
as per plans and specifications furnished
by the engineer. They shall let all
contracts for other bridges or public
work, after notice, to the lowest res
ponsible bidder, when the amount is
likely to exceed fifty dollars; and the
county supervisor and engineer, when
employed, shall personally inspect all
work done under contract, and unless
the contract Is fully complied with the
claim shall not be valid; and all claims
shall be approved by the county supervisor,
certified to by the engineer,
when employed, and approved by a
majority of the board cf county commissioners,
before being paid by the
county treasurer. The county supervisor
shall thoroughly inspect the work
of each township supervisor once a
year and report the progress of the
work by sections, noting the deficiencies,
if any, and incorporate the same
in his annual report, and file a copy
of the same in his office.
Sec. 16. The county supervisor Is
hereby required to publish an annual
report the first week in January of
each year covering the operations of
the chaingang for the preceding year,
showing the total expense, number cf
miles and kinds of roads constructed
or repaired, cost per mile, the time
employed, and the value of all stock,
machines, and the equipments of the
chaingang. He shall have made by
the engineer, now employed, township
mans of each township, showing, by
sections, numbered, the location of
roads, bridges, etc., for the use of the
township supervisor.
Sec. 17. The county supervisor shall
Keep nis omce open at icaoi wnC
in each week at the court house. He
shall keep on file all of his reports,
and the reports of the township supervisors,
in a systematic order, for
the inspection of the grand jury and
the public. He may employ a clerk,
at a sn'arv not exceed'ng one hundred
and fiftv dollars per annum, to assist
him in his office work. He shall call
a meeting of the township supervisors
the 1st Monday rf April. 1909, and 2d
Monday of January each year thereafter,
to be held in his office, for conference,
interchange of views for working
the roads and making suggestions
for the improvement of the sv?tem.
Sec. IS. Anv person or officer vlo'nting
the prov'slons of this act shall
be deemed guiltv of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction be fined or Imprisoned,
or sentenced to labor on the
chaingang, in the discretion of circuit
court.
Fee. 19. All acts or parts of acts
inconsistent with this act be, and the
same are her?bv, renealpd.
Fee. 20. This act shall take effect
upon its approval bv the governor.
John Bt-rns.?To look down from
one of the galleries on John Burns
sitting oil the treasury bench Is to see
apparently an old man. The hair Is
almost snow white; the forehead pale,
spreading and deeply lined; his movements
as he adjusts his eyeglasses
and reads over his official papers are
leisurely and might even seem fatigued.
Eut wait a moment. Wait
till he lifts his face and you catch a
glimpse of his great, brown, clear,
burning eyes. Or wait till he rises to
address the house, electrical alertness
speaking from every gesture, from
the very poise of his body, power and
passion in his voice, his whole bearing
eager, defiant, welcoming the combat.
Or see him again on the terrace
outside?a thick, square man, in a
blue reefer suit, his head thrown
massively back, tramping up and
down with free and swinging stride.
You would not then think him old.
Still less would you think so if you
walked with him through the streets
or parks, among his own people, giving
and exchanging salutations, patting
a youngster on the head, helping
to fish out a ball that has fallen into
the Serpentine, showing a boy how to
handle a cricket bat, skipping over
the ropes with the girls, congratulating
the mothers, jesting with the policemen,
the very picture of zest,
' ,it- 1 'TKa wnrlrman
Ileum I HI1U JUIIlljr. ? nc nvmiiiEii
know him and love him. They recognize
in him the biggest man that their
class in England has yet produced.
And John Burns knows them and
loves them in return and uses both
his knowledge and his affection to rebuke,
chastise them and make them
elevate themselves. Himself a nonsmoker
and a total abstainer, he never
shirks from rubbing in his conviction
that there is little the government
can do for the workingman compared
with what the workingman can
do for himself. Xo man has spoken
out more strongly against drink and
betting. Xo man has Insisted more
trenchantly that social and industrial
".''" m mnct hptrin with the Individ
ual.?Harper's Weekly.
tir Between 800 and 900 British
towns and villages have namesakes In
the United States.
XrT The largest Christmas turkey so
far reported in the newspapers is one
that graced the dinner table of Herbert
S. Hadley, governor-elect of Missouri.
According to several accounts
the bird weighed sixty pounds. The
St. Louis Globe-Democrat says the
great gobler was the biggest ever
raised in Missouri.
o i mivi ro run vnnna i ?
The Scheme Now So Popular Began
In War Timet.
There is an interesting history attached
to the Christmas stamps sold
by the Red Cross society for the benefit
of the fund with which the society
is carrying on its campaign against
the white plague.
Although the recent use of these
charity stamps has been copied from
Europe, the idea originated in America
and is essentially a property of the
Red Cross society, for in Boston at the
fair of the sanitary commission held
during the civil war these stamps
were first sold, the proceeds going toward
the work of the commission
among wounded soldiers. The Red
Cross society itself was an outcome of
the sanitary commission, which sold
the first stamps.
It was not until thirty years later
that the idea was used in Europe. In
1892 Portugal produced the first private
stamps for the Red Cross. Some
of these stamps, called service stamps,
were permitted to be used for actual
postage.
Many other countries followed Portugal
in the use of charity stamps for
obtaining funds with which to fight
disease or famine and to advance the
welfare of society in other ways.
Switzerland. Australia, Great Britain,
Uruguay, France, Spain, Denmark,
Norway, Sweden, Russia, Argentine,
Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Baden,
Bavaria, Zeeland, the Netherlands,
Poland and Roumania have
welcomed the charity stamp.
In some countries the stamps were
issued as postage, which would actually
carry mail, while at other times
they were purely charity stamps, such
as the Red Cross was selling tnis
Christmas. In Germany and Austria
there have been Issued a special kind
of private stamps, the Wohlfahrtsmarken,
the sale of which is intended
to support associations working for
the good of society.
So tremendously has the interest in
these stamps grown that at present
there are several hundred different
types of charity stamps in the different
countries. There are, or have been,
twenty different types of stamps in
In Tfalv flffv In
second stamp issued Dy me oweuian
Tuberculosis association bore the picture
of King: Oscar II. The stamp was
sold two years later with gold over
print to celebrate the golden wedding
of the king and queen. In 1906 the St.
George and the Dragon stamp was issued
by the association, on which was
pictured St. George representing
Science slaying the dragoon of Disease.
In America the Delaware branch of
the National Red Cross society was the
first to adopt the idea of the stamps.
The Delaware branch issued Christmas
stamps last year with such success
that the national organization
adopted the plan for. this year. The
stamp now being sold at many department
stores, stationery stores, etc.,
and on the news stands was designed
by Howard Pyle and is most attractive.
The stamps are one cent each.
They will not carry a letter, but any
letter will carry them. "Buy a stamp."
says the society, "and help to stamp
out the white plague."
Hen On a Wooden Leg.
41 /v#
A great attraction 111 mc jtnu w
John A. Breen of Belleville, N. J., says
the New York Press, Is a hen with a
wooden leg. Breen is the surgeon who
rrafted a clothespin on the crippled
fowl. The only trouble is that when the
hen scratches for food she goes around
and around In a circle, with the wooden
leg serving as a pivot. Finally,
the hen gets dizzy, falls down and cannot
get up again until Breen or a
member of his family goes to the rescue.
Many of the young chickens in
the Breen yard hop on the back of the
peg-legged hen as she goes around and
around, and enjoy all the thrills of a
merry-go-round ride at Coney Island
or Brighton.
Breen observed a week ago that one
of his hens had a broken leg. He
caught her. got a "clothespin," split it
in half and splintered the broken leg
of the fowl with the skill of a surgeon.
Then he turned her loose. That day
the hen had a bad time of it. Next day
she became cross and quarrelsome,
fought everything that came along,
and when the peg leg hit the other
chickens on the side of the head and
knocked them out they did not know
what to make of It. On the third day
Breen saw the wooden-legged hen up
on the fence balancing herself on the
clothespin with the skill of a tightrope
walker and trying to crow.
Xff" Reform either makes the world
better or more uncomfortable.
nuuiiiauia, unuj i?? ...
Germany and more than 300 in Austria
and its dependencies.
One of the most attractive stamps
issued was that sold in Great Britain
for the Prince of Wales Hospital
Fund. A gold, blue and red stamp
was issued for the benefit of the Consumptives'
Home, in New South Wales.
In Denmark a Christmas stamp, bearing
the pictures of the king and queen,
was printed in blue and black. The
Norwegian stamp had a six-pointed star
on a plain ground and was printed in
blue and wnite. xne nussian stamp
was violet and yellow. The Icelandic
stamp, In gray and blue, showed an
eagle ojj a dark ground. A French
stamp for the benefit of a seamen's
hospital was In red, white and blue,
showing the figure of a seaman and
a flag bearing the Red Cross. The
Polish stamp, In yellow and violet,
showed a dark silhouette of a city on
a yellow background.
The Swedish National Anti-Tuberculosis
association was the first to
use the stamps for fighting the white
plague. Although the stamps, which
were printed by the association, were
not considered as postage, permission
was obtained from the government to
sell the stamps through the postofflces.
The stamps were affixed to the addressed
side of letters, parcels and
post cards and were stamped according
to the exigency of the work at the
potsoffice.
Norway and Denmark granted similar
postofflce privileges for the sale of
the stamps. The association paid for
all expenses connected with the
stamps, and also gave 10 per cent commission
on their sale of the postofflce
clerks. The sale was greatest during
Christmas and New Year's, but continued
throughout the year. There
were 6,675,000 stamps sold in 1904. The