The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 25, 1906, Page 2

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In to-day’s issue of The Sun- day «Call appears the third stallment of Albert E. Lyoi iatest and most thrilling i novel—“Mister Bill"—a wiory dealing with the exciting ex- periences of Western mining life and the more import 2 phases of a strike, portrayi the methods of a cligue of around whick Mr. Lyons has s interesting tale. The has carefully selected author his charscters from everydar life “Mister strongly appeal to the reader has BUP and produced in one that will of the times. “Mister I be econcluded in six tssucs of The Sunday Call. Copyright by Albert E. CHAPTER XVIIL Liyons. A Friend in Need and Deed. RUE to his promise, Waldron kept his voung friend in sight, end In various ways encouraged an inti- macy which coul not resuit other than to the advamtage of the younger man. In this closer scqualni- ance the young man came to understand and appreciate more and more the charac- ter of the man with whom he had so strangely become a&s- scciated. Almost immediately he became enscious of & new element of strength in his life. He seemed to have suddenly red a Tew .process of reasoning , &t times waged biiter confiict with v of his preconcelved and deeply rooted idems. “What particular burden is weighing upon your mind tonight?” ingquired ‘Wai- dron, quickly discerning that something was amiss with the young man, when he appeared at his hotel one evening quite hamed to'tell vou. You think me a boodoo—T be- “I am a firstclass antidote for hoo- @oos,” laughed Waldron. “Fire away while I add a few deft touches to my evening tofiet.” “It seems that my father was inter- ested in a wildcat railroad somewhere out West,” said Jack, finally. “‘For some rea- son which I go not quite understand, it became necessary to give Mr. Burrows— of the old brokerage firm of Burrows & Company—a mortgage on our home for a temporary loan of tem thousand doi- lars until my father could realize on his stock of twenty-five hundred shares, which it seems Mr. Burrows also retained as he was managing the whole affair. My mother knows little or nothing concern- ing business, and her recollection of the transaction is not very clear. Mr. Bur- rows 10w very considerately explains that he has not mentioned the matter since my father's death, as he had no wish to cause my mother needless annoyance— that would have been my father's wish, which he was bound to respect, More- over, he never drepmed but the en- terprise would ultimately be brought to a successful issue, when he .would have enjoyed the profound pleasure and sat- isfaction of handing the wife of his old and esteemed friend a very substential balance, after deducting the amount of the loan. But alas, for human hopes and plans! Mightier forces have decreed the futility of their efforts, and much against their will, they have been compelied to ebandon their last hope, and to admit the enterprise a faflure. Those are not precisely his words, but substantially the same. He sends my mother the twenty- five hundred shares as & sort of mute evi- dence of his veracity and laudable inten- tions, I presume, and plainly indicates his preference for the ten thousand dojlurs to the worthless stock.” *“Which shows him to be a man of fine discretion,” Waldron quietly observed, as he drew the ends of a refractory tle into place. “Had the stock developed even small value,” he continued, “Mr. Bur- rows would have held security several times the amount of the mortgage, in ad- dition to the mortgage. Not 2 bad prop- esition for Mr. Burrows, seemingly; yet the fact that It did not develop sug- gests that his caution was not altogether ill advised. Seems rather a late day, however, to inform your mother of the state of affairs. Suggests the possibility, to say the least, that she was bound to lose whichever way the wheel of fortune turned—too fine a point, however, to em- barrass Mr. Burrows, if I know the man —and I think I do,” he added, with sug- gestive emphasis - To show that he is not altogether de- vold of fine feelings, he tells my mother THE CISCO SUNDAY CALL. - Mecca to which you. refer is the Ara- pahoe mining district of New Mexicoy and it may surprise you to know that this raflroad of vours of such vague beginning and uncertain ending is the outlet of this same distric “Yoy don't say so!" -exclaimed the .¥outh, in breathless ‘amazement. “And what is more’ Waldron con- tinued, “in my humble opinion, your friend Mr . Burrows is the commander- in-chjef of a select band of stock-jobbers whose operations in Consolidated Proper- ties dnd other stocks have become so no- torious.” “I know—everyhody knows. They have certainly played their game to the limit.” My business here is to take a hand in this particular game so far as it relates to Consolidateq Properties, as I chanck to he interested in these same properties.” “You!"” cried Jack, in deeper amaze- ment. *“And are you making the fight elone?" “I am playing practically a lone hand. For the present, ] am not in evidence. My brokers are quietly picking -up. all the loose stock in sight, not working the mines, which would have caused a con- trary movement. After gathering in a goodly quantity of the stock, I-stopped the upward téndency, thinking it advisa- ble to give them the impression that they still controlled the market. It is their purpose to keep the stock down and the public out until they secure control of the Properties; mine, to put the stock up and bring the public in. In the final reckon- ing T hope to catch them heavily short of the stock—the trap is baited with the same innocent appearing lambs they have S0 often sheared.” “If it i ready Mr. Burrows that you have to fight, I don't envy you. You will simply be wn and quartered if you fall into his power,” Jack declared, with great emphasis. “As for Mr. Burrows,” continued Wal- dron, ignoring the fearsome concern of his young friend, ‘‘he sacrificed his rail- road and its original owners to his stock jobbing operations, for with ail his cun- ning he could never make it a success while the mines were abused—it beécame hopelessly bankrupt. He secured his com- missions and thousands of shares of stock ~ that a certain gentleman Is willing to take the mortgage off his hands at a dis- count, but he prefers to arrange the mat- ter himself, especially, I presume, if ho can gecure the full amount. But there is a well defined suggestion that if fmm diate settlement is not arranged, such & possibiiity must be reckoned with.” “And your mother?”’ “She thinks she must give up the place immediately; she cannot contemplate the thought of owing any one a penny right- fully belonging to him. The place will hardly bring that amount at forced sale, although before long it will bs worth & great deal more, as the long anticipated improvements in the town are under way. No doubt the man who is willing to re- lieve Mr. Burrows of the mortgage sees his way clear to a good Investment. Geel I wonder if Mr. Chadeller is the man and if that was what he meant that night when he washed his hands of me? You know, he deals In notes and mortgages, and ‘handles considerable business for Burrows & Company not exactly in their line. He has been picking up considerable property down there recently. Yes, that's the combination, as I'm alivel"” ““Where is this railroad—the cause of all the trouble?” Inquired Waldron, paying little beed to the excited speculations fo the young man. “Oh, New Mexico, I bellevel Seems to have been sort of a private* enterprisé— branch from the main line running up into the mining camps in the mountains. I did not take particular notice, but the certificates are so gorgeously gotten up that they made something of an impres- sion ¢n my mind. One scene shows a train of cars running through a beautiful valley, grazing herds as far as the eye can reach. Another depicts a scene up in the mountains where all hands appear to be digging up golden nuggets, and seem- Ingly possessed of a wild desire to call the whole crowd up to this golden Mecca | where gold and joy are free as air,” ex- . plained the young man, whose opinion of ‘Western enterprise was not flattering. ““What i3 the name of this rallroad, or ‘were you lpst to all save admiration for its stock certificates?” inquired Waldron, mildly amused at this malignant out- :unt against the country of his adop- jon. “The N. M. C.—New Mexico Consoli- dated, I believe. If you attempted to lo- cate it you~ would probably find that it began In the minds of its promoters and " ended in & squirrgl trafl up a tree over yonder—or, thereabouts,” replied the young man with fll-concealed disgust. “You are not aitogether right, nor wh ly wrong in your general supposition,” sald Waldron, after a while, “This Golden = 'THE PEGULAR SATUEPAY LUNCHING CEOWY <<= <= DERT E, LYONS out’ of-the window, “I almost wish I did —1I might then have some respect for my opponents.” “What do you mean?’ demanded Jack, not a little puzzled that such formidable opponents should be held in so light es- teem. “I mean,” said Waldron, turping away from the window, and continuing his walk, “that I am heartily ashamed of this squabble In which I am engaged—I cannot aignify it sufficlently te call it a fight. I am compelled to meet my adver- saries on their own ground and adopt thelr methods. I, too, must become the gambler—the crook. I must play with marked cards because I know my eppo- nents are doing the same.- I must play these cards from under the table and wold a few up my sleeve in case of emergency. I must forget that I am a man and subdue every natural impulse I possess. Success—if success it be—is dearly won at such a price. My opponents learn né good lesson but avenge themselves on those weaker than themselves. This is net the work for men; men may descend to it, but men can never emerge from urions barred. I don’t- s«new that I am altogether happy in my expressions. [ have no desire to be 1rrc\'er:l)&—_—meraly graphically illustrative.” sald Waldron, with grim humor and saredsm. “1'don’t think you irreverent’ Jack edrnestly protested. “1 snould say the irreverence was tne conspicuous chaf- geteristic of those who usurp the rights and privileges of others simply because they possess the power. ¥ ~A few words more apropos »° the subject we have been discussing, Wal- dron continued. “I Bave intrusted you witih valuable information. i& will be better for you to kuew little comcern- ing me or my afairs. 1 am merely a friend—from the West, If you lkK~— which is all that is necessary for the Present, in ease you meet other mquisi- tors than Mr. Chadeller. Tell your mother not to worry about this matter, as you have reason to belie it can be arranged without any great sac- rifice. Tell her also to take good care of those pictures; they are iateresting you know, and some one may develop a greater appreciation of their value than you seem to possess.” Léft alone, Waldron continued pac- ing to and fro as was his habit when in deep thougiht. Was it fate—a kind fate—tbat had brought him into this little family circle at the gritical time when a guiding hand was S0 sadly need?d; a steady hand at the helm until the storm was safely weuhfied? :2?: youn, eople, and the _elder—scarc i«'xser‘lg (za ways of the world—but the merest atoms at the merey of the great immutable force bearing them on Its resistless course to happiness and hopes fulfilled, or. dashing them down to the lowest depths of pain and despair as they abided or trans(rnn:l its laws. ‘One false step, and the youth had been swept away, but a strong arm had drawn him back. Yet another misfortune, and the cold relentless hand of avarice was reaching out for the little sheltering roof, awajting only a favorable opportunity to wreneh It from their grasp—a small delectable morsel contributing its mite to the in- satiable appetita of greed—the re- morseless power of might untempuro&A -~ S WA JN FULL ANV ANIMATEV ATTENVANE AT.THE WALVOEF : least aggressively, however, as I do not bonus for promoting it, and has never wish to create the suspicion that the stock stood to lose a dollar of his own money, s baing cornered. I have been using my if the truth were known, and the ten best efforts to point out as unobtrusively thousand dollars he would extract from as possible the particular course I would your mother is a little easy money In lieu have the opposjng. forces pursue, and thus of what he had hoped the stock might far they have shown a fairly eventually net him." 3 ble inclination to comply with my desires. *T hope you will win—many times I hope For instance: Several times during the It erled Jack, tmpulsively. “But it will past two or three weeks I have starteq be a fight with the odds against you. small upward movements in the stock, You are practically single-handed against quletly taking on. all that was offered a crowd of old hands at the game, who at certaln figures—I am not prepared to know every trick that can be turned—a show my hand and go out gunning for crowd that will deal you a hand or two the large blocks., A few days ago I put under the table if necessary. You do not the mills on half time, and started a brisk fear them?" he paused to inquire, sudden- upward turn. They immediately diseover- ly discovering that Waldron, who was ed through sources of their own that the = pacing slowly back and forth, was not mills were running short, and very prop- remarks serlous attention. erly jumped at the conclusion that lack e of ore must be the cause, and sold quite long that Jack had concluded his query briskly. well satisfied that the flurry was had not been heeded. ‘*‘No,” he repeated, ving his “"Nd." sald Waldron, after a silence so- the very atmosphere is stifiing to manly Instincts."” .’ “I don’t think I have ever gone into i} S0 deeply—or in that particular direction,” sald Jack, uncertainly. “Some of these modern Saylocks are so lost to all sense of decency on this one subject of money anmn‘ that I actually believes/they would er thelr very souls’ salvatfon, were !\ a tangible commodity on which they could realize a few paltry dollars for temporal gratification, and chance the possibilities of ate: erdi- tion. Did they possess the power tl would Insist upon running the celestial kingdom on the mundane principle with the almighty dollar ever the paramount issue_ and medium of exchange between the two worlds—the sole passport to choice and exclusive circles. In short, the celestial regions would forthwith be placed on a corporate plan—a rake-off for not justified by actual conditions at the pausing In his walk and looking absently- the benefit of the insiders, and labor byarilav. i ut a friend in need deed had suddenly appeared, eonl;:‘ upon the scene so quietly that his arrival had not been heeded. Little difference had his coming been heralded by blare of trum- pets or beat of drums, except, pe: chance, that bhe might have be. laughed to scorm, for what could he hope to aecot single handed against the forces he would be called upon to meet. Time would teli. So, then, gentlemen, present your case —that which you are pleased 1o term your righteous cause. There is a cham- pien at court today where yesterday only a widow and orphans opposed their way. Frail barrier—strong men. 'Twas scarce fair play. 'Tis now mors equal, and you must fight to win. 'Tis no stripling nor aged woman that bars Yyour way, b8t might and right—an . able-bodied man who awaits your gom- r

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