Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / April 22, 1906, edition 1 / Page 14
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1 4A 4 CHABLOtTE DAIIXOBSERVER,". APEtt 22, 1906..: ' , 5 j. A" .3- .. jo PART H Xym leta,Wf;M SSrtkiUiw. " j On Thursday the president, a keen . yychologlst, to reaWure the richest man In the world, had Jocularly called it Con eteraation Day-Mr. William Mellen and ' Mr.' Rlcbard Dawson entered the bank. . They vhd ridden from Mr. Mellen house la Mr. Mellen brougham. They , had discussed Mr. Grtnnell at great and Klnful length many times in that wee. tb carriage, on the way downtown. , they? talked of nothing else. The .; .president waa certain that the mystery . H no longer waa a mystery. Tne burden f his argument had become that a con (II . nn a tkMrv. onhfronted them. I ne ' time for Idle speculation had pawed. It behooved them to act. The lingering in- Ai nf Mr Mallen did not come from . - KL. inability to cnange nis uienmc ,... In the twinkling of an eye. but from un wHlingnem to accept at second-hand tiia tnevltableness of something unspeakably disagreeable. All great business general are opportunists. But at times the great- 'TTie auestlon Or wnemer ne mnnca ma rold or not, or how he gets it, now hus' merely an acaaemic iiiicrci, ........... The thing is. that he has the gold. ' Iaw- aan said it in a playfully exaggeruted aisorlcal ' air. yet pir yet reaoy w iiy earnest in a iwinmin. 'I don't see it." said Mellen seriously. We must find the explanation. What he can do, we can do." "We have tried." , ' "We may succeed." Tour coschman snys to himself: If Mr. Mellen has made nve hundred mil lions of dollars In thirty years, what he .ean do, I can do.' Do you see him iloln H"t I tell you the man has the gold, lie 1s0't trying to sell lis any secret. All he asks is to be let alone. That Is tI,o Jartnln thing. "It must be a mine. Where elm- conkl mo much gold come from?'' M -lien's thoughts were on the source of the gold. "My dear William, we can account for very ounce of gold produced In the world. There is no mine capable of pro ducing such a quantity secretly.'" "He may have hoarded It; accumulat ed it for months " "If a mine produced a thousand ounces month we'd know It; and lirlnnell has deposited in our hank and others, as far sut I have been able to trace, at the rate i Of a million ounces a month. He Is too roung to have hoarded It for years. Tie as no accomplices. That Is certain He vislU nobody, but stays home. Ills fall)-' er did not leave It to him. He has not Unearthed any secret treasure, and. more er, there never was or could he a hid den treasure of such magnitude, wny Ilia gold must weigh something like seventy-five tons! Nobody could have given It to him, for nobody had It to give , etoept our bank or the Commercial, and we certainly didn't. The Assay Office say Grtnnell's Is not nulte like any of i the Other bullion that goes to the Assay sfnce. Its only Impurity Is a little plat inum, and It Isn't always present. We know, within a negligible quantity, wh, -re almost every ounce of gold In the world Is. and who holds It. There is not a bank or a bullion dealer anywhere whose eupply la not known, approximately, to ti. It's my business to know. There's no mystery about that. The mystery Is Grln nell's gold supply. He cannot store vast ouantltias In tils liouse. Our men have been ia every room In It,. CtiMeHar-dts gulaed as a driver from the dealers from Whom Orinnelr buys his, - chemical srt- phee, say there Is no place for vaults. The only alterations made In the house Since Grin noil bought it, that he. can see, were to transform the basement Into a metallurgical laboratory. We ran say almost certainly that the gold Is melted in his electric furnace. Rut all that we -know positively is this: NOTHING GOES IN, AND GOLD POMBH OI'T: Grlnnell Is making it. I tell you." . ' The president turned to his morning nail. Mellen stopped him. "But that is impossible. You know It to." v "It Is a sole title Impossibility; hut It Is also an actual fact. Maybe It Istft gold at all. But the Assay Office and chemists who have analysed samples I secured from the Assay Office say it Is. Where can he get It? Not from a mine outside Of Jew fork, for we could easily trace It. ne matter how long ago It came. Not from a mine In" Thirty-eighth street, or we'd know it. Not from sea-water. I even had the street lorn up in front of GHnnell's house under the pretence of fixing the gss main. He can't get il from the air. The whole thing is impossible. That's why I'm afraid." "If he makes It he must make It etit of something." said Mellen controversally. "Wllklns a Gross, the chemical peo- le, say that last year Grlnnell bought irge quantities of iridium, osmium, ruth enium and other metals of the platinum group. They understood that he had been experimenting with an electrical furnace. Costello saw a gas engine and a dynamo In the lalairntorv, and a lot of electrical apparatus. That' his special ly. It seems. And the Columbia people ay he Is quite an authority on radium. I tell you the man makes It; at least, to. II Intents and purposes he dix-s I'er hsps it's radium rays applied to some base metal m some way which he has dis covered accidentally. Walt tin ymi him," and Mr. Dawson ta-aan composed ly to rip the edges of the i nvetopes with a long, sharp paper cutter. Th richest man hi tin. world walked Up and down the ..ft). rw !,l lips moved. Dawson, who happ. ii. d''To look rp from his work at that very moment asked him: "What did you say. Wil liam 7" .The government would he iustlllwl in atopplng him.' "If the world knew the secret or mnk Ihf gold What would be aained? He has US In his rsjwi-r. No sensn to blind yuur eyes to It ' The face of thn richest man In the world flushed. Hf said, with an Impr.x iva, because calm, d let mlnallui,. "II,. mUSL De Xtot'tK',1 lin rii.. ill, ,1 ryl i all I lie I quletly-too quietly. ' At ant cost - "Jf We cam stop him by fair woids. right. No use to try anything Hsr has provided against evervthing' ' man In tin- world sl'arert at I)l friend; hr head w.-is hr-nt fnrwaid lis If fo listen better. At Dawson's hi't words he resumed his pacing The pit tem of the big Oilenlaf n,K consisted of ornate squares surrounded hy u piofu ton of arabesques. Men, his Kaxe fixed on the rug, stepH-d on nlirrnate : square as he walkcl up and down Ihe room. The president began to riad l is tnaiL Krom time to time he ,,,,ke, i,,, And aaw the richest man In ti w.rhi '(riding up and down the room, i.im fully topping on alternate sijuuki In th rug An of lit boy en tried Mr. Orlnnell Is here. hir." he nunoti,,,,, , The richest man in the w,,r!d halted wrupuy nu waneo, nis eyes on lh "how him In at once. Ah. good morn.. Big. Mr. Grlnnell." The president rose , and Walked toward the young mun with ' wutstretched hand. "Good morning, Mr. Dawson" Grtnnall cheerfully. He became aware of Mr. Mellen. who was staring at tarn un ' bllnklngly. and hesitated. "Mr. orlnnell, lt me Introduce, friend, Mr. Wllllnm Mellen." my "Mow do you do, Mr. Mellen? ellen?" ssld : hiinds and, al ant '. xmnneii. Mr Mellen shook Orlnnell rased attentively a man in ine world, a a iiihi he added deprecatlnglv. as If 1, ;r. 7 ' hlaacmtlny: "I have read so much alK.ut ' Jir? a-- r:;: :t jTVt lt, Mriivn ALsHMlr ftJak eves you, lately." Mellen said this almost Im- a man. Wl,0 ,si- i, "L"JTCfh " .'b"!''"' i ion-etoimUU, and he had won mo.. battiee and mere millions by patience 't t "i - , "w r patience xnas ay aggression. Hut now he was- eager to plunge into a cross examination I of tne young man i jumil mil "err n m. Yet. lie i u at esse, remaps He fered to i-ndtha Dawsoo was not mistaken in bis wihj nnsna, "res, put le tne bank president, with n ingreUatlng emlle- at the young man. "I bave taken the Jiberty of speaking to Wr. Menm about you." A slight frown appeared en Grtnneir face. The presi Oent hastened ti add; "He is the only eoul.oay earth to whom I have spoken. o eeev Mr. Orlnnell, I wag very anxious to bring yoq two together. Tears la en extraordinary cee;. and Mr. Mellen Is i ot onlir . director of this bank, but I ' xiiri ir him, busiiieag nan and n f "of, one of tlie - , ' ..ever mind All thaf Dawum " !,' r "d Mellen, with ft curious mixture ofl "mi enwnnae ana. en unwonted e- nesa, ea if deprecating7 flattery, and .Its him time resenting the vrtml- -ts spoiogetio, auitMde, "Mr. 8rii . , Im gurf yoi Butt veaiUe Uai yog ID. 1 s.t ' 1 have created a condition which may be come of national ' imnortan.ee. since tt contains a dire menace to this country" business." He assumed, toward the end of hut speech, or his voice-and' manner ma. iw Mr, .UfinMU MM be were u accoro on tnat point, --. ' Grlnnell looked distinctly aui-Drlsed. When he spoke both his hearers felt ab solutely assured that he wished to gain time, to Plan a defence. .- . "I certainly do nop , realise . anything of the kind, Mr. Mellen." . - " Then. -sir. It is high time you did," re turned Mellen. His face . waa composed, but in the composure there was men ace. Mr. Dawson made haste to offset the effect which he feared Mr, Mellen's WAMl. -.l-kt U ...... - tf words might hare on Mr.' Georae K. Orirt liell. He said, with flaterlng deference: "As I explained to you, Mr. Grlnnell, the money market is a delicate piece of mechanism. Unusual shocks produce un usual disturbances: and alrdlsturbances are highly detrimental to bijsiness," H -.v..i. j uu. iu,(,iii,ti;; n money market ws a pampered child; .no. j ..-... -. ,. I know that. But what unusual ; ohock have I given to the delicate "meeh- a,ii,i,i uukbbu enuns 10 conceal nis annoyance waa ap parent to uie two capitalists'. You have not yet, air; but what as nurance nave l, nave all business men, that you will not?" The richest man In the world asked this with a frown, as If Mr. Urlnnell had not met him half Way una nngnt as wen now tnrow on tne iuM8k and reveal himself frankly, as the ri ml mi 1 disturber of the worlds peace. in ie neii it witn accordingly. "Assurance that I will not? Why dlinulrl l disturb the money marketT The money market does not. disturb me, (irlrinel said It not at all , Jocularly, but very caimiy. an ir ne meant it literally, "lint you will disturb It If you keep on." b:i11 Mellcr drumming with hla ringer tipn on the top of the president s desk, lie pen-eived tnis ana ceased with an abruptness that betokened reniorae over the nbsenre or self-control. .HO waa an Introspective man. "There is nothing unusual going on. It there? No stringency anywhere; in fact, I gather from the newspapers that money rates are. very low," Orlnnel went "Your deposits are. In some measure. responsible for It, said Dawson, with a placating smile. ' I am glad of It." said the young man simply, "ft Ik t good thing that people should he able lo borrow money cheaply, isn t it? "Not too cheaply.". Mr. Dawson shook his head and smiled, na at a favorite son who Is In error, but Is young. "Oh. i know what you mean. It Isn profitable for the banks with money to lend; It makes the supply greater than the demand, and you get lower Interest rates on your loans; and then It Is apt to be a sign that huuslness Is slack, and people have no need to borrow. But Just now, unless all the newspapers He, business Is unite aotive In all lines and " Grlnnell's speech savored slightly of the pedagogical, like a school boy enun- ciuiiok oovioun iruins. oui using nia teacher s profeslonal solemnity. "That Is not the point," interrupted the richest man in the world. "What Is the plont, then?'! fcsked Grlnnell. with an air or forgiving Mel len s Impoliteness. "Do you propose to flood the World with gold?" Mr. Mellen's voice rang out rattier unpleasantly. "That.'' said the young man, slowly, "la n very remarkable question, M.r. Mel len." "Mr. Grlnnell" Mr. Dawson spoke with a half Jocular voice "I have told Mr. Mellen of your extraordinary deposits, and In- naturally wishes to know If you are ever going to stop." "Yes, Mr. Dawson, J am going to stop at once. I shall transfer my account to another bank. Will you bo good enough to - "No, no, no! You misunderstood me." "Mr. Dnwsuui, I have told you several times that If the fact that I wag one of your depositors disturbed you, you could rid yourself of your suffering by telling tne to seek some other bank. The reason why I selected this one was because it waa the richest and, I supposed, the most ably managed In the country. Nothing hut the fear of arousing a curiosity 1 eouia not grainy made me deposit my gold gradually. If a man deposited fifty or a hundred millions at once, and every body knew It. he could not live In peace In this country. The sensational news- nape knov ipers would hound him to death. You w what my views are. and that I hope to do some good to my fellow-men In this world. But I see that I was mis taken In my assumption that I could de jKieit some' of my funds with you. To prevent further "Mr Grlnnell, I beg that you will not close your account with us. Your money Is yours to do with us you see fit; but don't withdraw It because of a mlsundcr tondltiK We are very glad Indeed to have your account. Hut really, my dear Mr. Grlnnell, you must see how natural It la that we should wish to know, not so much the source of your gold, but the quantity controlled by you, "And the source too," said the rich est man In the world. In a tone that showed theie should be no argument about a purely family matter. "Where doe It com,- from?" "Mr. Dawson," said Grlnnell. distinctly Ignoring Mellen. "Mr. Mellen Is one of our Inrgest depositor. Is he not?'' "Yes. he " "Do you Insist upon his telling you where he gets the money thai h depos its here?" "Mr. Grlnnell" "Is my gold any different from Ms sui'i .- is an ssay iirnee check not as ; S'"l as an International I Mstriliutlng , Syndicate check? I don't mean ethically, . hut financially " Mr Mellen Hushed. Mr. Dawson said Willi the dignity of xiipprenK' , un-ei : "ft Is not that: lint if gold Is to l,e,,,m a cheap as pig Iron" "Why should It?" interrunted Grlnnell ;l'ily. "floes Mr. Mellen Intend to glvu all l'is money to t he poor" 'jThls is--" began Mellen, In n rebuking I Mr ililnnell," snld the president, still I with i inch dignity, "we have no desire : '" I" v Into your private affairs. Hut jKM'il wi.ilth means great responsibilities, j.ind what is permissible to a pauper Is I ii,, t i hi il,le in you. Yon must admit that there Is no limit to tln harm that . , in be dune from a too rapid Increase In the K,,, supply of the world " i re.i'i.e that, ou agreed with 1 1 : n i an Im re.ise of one hundred millions r. In addition to th of the mill, H HOW In liwriltin ...it exrssive. Hlriec I au w you I have nre fnllv rl -.idled the matter"-Grlnnell's ' tie i, ,ei snoweu prul, urn, I con- inii i nave come to the con, -lathe world eonM not nnlv -i,.n,i "11 that two hundred and llfiy millions more than -i-i selling, inn i an the better f, for 1 "" is oniy n tniiion more In fesrs Knur years Is a lung time. four ' He ,etV IVI-1K f ), w,rn how v. ry long that would be. thinking imt mellen stiirted ir mouth us If to speak, hut Or Itmell went on quickly: "Tell m Mr Dawso Ts It W"lVJX. P ''u-lne.'s opened his ,,.n .., -e- t. ., ' k.. , o."':.,Iri'V rew .". while In bank red t. i . Punlon rlir out di.tn hW,, .... :J"' . . " ,,r. with- one hundred million. "T.J,.,",n? hundred Vh'ilKy land, and scat- V7u. ." ".a.n? ""V millions t.nlteS States? " 1 Ik. i. nitea Htates? "in n.n i,r,.u. .l,.., .. n i.r.u,: ... ..r" Mr- Daw- nn im.n .i.i-l . ' " an intent nesa whlrh 1th he could not tlngHng with anxiety help that sur h n nr.." "Ti'V . you Yt'K, I 3' It won .1 rrw..n -i.J Ti' -l tlon; it Would lead TUB GOLD, ously, "that tmw.UH In eff1;"." more than the world Is now geitinf,U bj too tnuch. Without deflnSrknowTedge Of the enure end limit of the new t?.?! probably the worst in the history of hiw manltr, since there would bVihVkalellat ppreheiislon over the fweftill?-?fs Md taao-Opd help u, gU5Tbiwl5i dent was so Imm-eeeed by big own -words haa' his fane srrew livid. Mr. v4n baustlbla auppiy o gold?" aeid .Orlnnell . wne--amia asviDinz', suwii h,i.' -r. 'emgrtly, '"I, of all people.' dp w'wn gold to Be demonetised. "?' gold be worth if that happened?"' ";'Preolslytht' why we whjh confide in tia.'' aaid Dawap-wiW . fry friendly, mHe; , ; ' But I artUl belleva." said OrlnneU dog gedly, "that two hundred and. fltty mu Lons a year would not do harm. I nave made up my mind on' that point, ana A wilt not change It. Mr. Dawson, you have asked me several questions. Now. let me ask you one: Do you. or do you not,' wish me to make any additional de posits in this bankf . 4"certainjy i wisn you h " you . "Very well." The young mart took from his pocket-book a package of slips. He read one "after another-thd bank presi dent could see that they were Assay Office checks and finally selected one. He aaid, "Here Is a chee for eleven mil lions1 two hundred thousand," and re turned the others there were at least eight to hla pocket-book. "I shall depos it tW." , Mellen walked over to the desk and took the aiip from Mr. Dawaon's hand with n. calm authorltatlveness. as though the bank president were his clerk, which, indeed, was what Wall Street thought, though erroneously. Then he turned to Orlnnell. "What assurance win you give tnai you will do nothing to ruin us? If the world knew your secret It would mean ruin for all, absolute ruin!"' The sound of that 5ord. uttered by himself, seemed to shake ellen's composure. He glared at the young man. "Mr. Meiien," aaid unnnen. very quietly, "you are an -older man than 1. I shall try not to forget It." "I roust know! At once! Do you hear me?" said Mr. Meiien loudly. It was not exactly anger which burned In his eyes, but a sort of overgrown petulance at be ing baffled. There was an obstacle; It might be Insurmountable. The uncertain ty was in itaelf a check. - An invincible Suglllst had been . knocked down for the rst time In his career as champion. "William!" said Mr. Pawson, approach ing hie friend; "you are excited.1' Then to the young man. apologetically: "He has been under a severe strain for some time past." , The richest man In the world grew composed as -4f by magic. For the first time that day he became his normal self. He had crushed all opposition to his Syndicate twenty years before by the exercise of stupendous will-power. For a decade he had not been called upon to weigh his words or his actions. Through disuse the qualities that had made him the richest man In the world had atro phied. But now he was again the Wil liam Mellen hla competitors had feared. "Mr. Orlnnell." he aaid. with a polite ness that waa not excessive. "I apologize. I beg that you will forgive the nerves of a man wno, aa you say, is mucn older than you, and ha many more troubles.' "Have you thought of any Investmen yet, Mr. Grlnnell?" Interposed Mr. Daw son. It waa to change the conversa tion. At the aame time Ihe answer would be Interesting, possibly valuable. Mr. Mel len sat down ana listened attentively. "No. I have decided to wait until my denosita at the various banks are larg "How much do you propose to deposit lin ust "Oh." said Grlnnell. with a smile full of an Inrratlatory humor, "If you are still frightened I'll deposit a million week. I sumxise I ought to start a bank of my own.' Mr. Dawson and Mellen ex changed quick glances, unprecelved by tne young man. since the young man continued to'amile, almost boyishly. "Yes; you mast not dream that you can produce two nunared ana ntty mil lions a year." aaid Mr. Mellen. Ignoring the last bomb, about the bank. "That would not do at an." "I think tt would. Even at that rate It would take 'a man some time to catch up with your fortune, Mr. Mellen." "It Isn't a question of my fortune. Mr, Orlnnell." Mr. Mellen said In a kindly voice, "but of the fortunes of all the world; yours as well." "I have no objection to seeing my for tune many times larger than It is, I as sure you. "Neither have we, provided you take your time about It. said Mr. Dawson earnestly. "l Know i am young, hut there are many things I wish to do before I die. Life is uncertain. "Yes, it Is. And If you died?" asked Mellen Ha Isnnpil forward slla-htlv am h. spoke, ma eyes on the young man s. My sister would do wnat she could "And If she dies?" "AFTKH t'B" said the vouna man. "THE DELUGE!" A deluge of gold; a deluge of ruin, de vastation, and misery! financial anarchy; commercial chaos thought the richest man in the world. He leaned back In hla chair and breathed a bit quickly. "Mr. Grlnnell." said Mr. DaWson, "your roriune aireaay muxes you independent. But I think Mr. Mellen will join me in saying umi ir you care to consider a working alliance with us, commercial or financial, we should be glad to have your cii-operaiion. Mr. Mellen was again lennlnir forward almost as If ready to shake hands with his dear friend and comrade, Orlnnell, to wnom ne wouia ne as a rather whose love mane mm over-Indulgent. "Mr, Dawson, you will realise how lit tle of a business man I am when I tell you that I desire to stand alone. If it were a question of doubling a fortune of ten or fifteen millions I suppose I'd be oniy mo ginu. nut i must work out my salvation unaided. You will grant that the possession of such money as I hn-e de posited in this Dank may conceivably kill the desire for more, unless It Is to be used In carrying out plsns nearer to the heart than mere physical comforts. There are many things I'd like to do which, wllh my present capital. I nm not yet able to do. Ho I'll choose those that I can and let the others wait. For example, do you deny that. If a man had two or three hundred millions of dollars and started a bank with that capital he could si Ive many problems of vital importance to the community?" "1 see great possibilities for evil ap palling possibilities for harm." sakl Mr. Mellen, with impressive solemnity. "Infinite posMhllities for good also, Mr. Mellen." said the young man, a trifle sttrnly. "A bank designed, not so much to pay big dividends to its stockholders, but to protect the public and to help bus iness men and the entire community in time or distress. An Income of a quar ter of a million n year Is sufficient to gratify the most Injurious taste of any nan. It's much more than enough for me. The rent might be devoted to the jrood of humanity." "Is that one of your plans?" asked MK Dawson very iitiietlv. "Not at present. ' 1 realise thnt more Is leiiulred than merely honest motives. I mav have the will to do good as the president of such n bank, hut t lack the iihllltv nnd experience to conduct It. I am i "Html to see Mr Dawson." with a phusnnt smile, "at the head of the rich est hunk in America." "Thank you. Mr. Orlnnell." returned Mr. Dawson, with Ihe cordiality of Im mense relief. "What are your plans, then." "Mv first plan Is to make more-ah to make arrangements to deposit more monev." "You were going to say 'mike more' something - when you stopped,'- snld Mellen, with a sort nf nonchalant curi osity. At least, that ts what he meant it to look like. "I was going t aav." answered the young mnn, very quickly, "make more deposits." "I thought," snld Mellen with a smile, that his eyes were serious, "that you were going to' say 'make more gold '" He was speaking k the quiet, self-possessed way that had so impressed Rh Congressional Committee ,whlrh had In vestigated his Hvndicate's business and Its violation of the law, because It so re sembled the self-possession of an utterly honest man to whom there had never rome a thought Of the possibility of a doubt of the righteousness of hla every action. It made logical the Impression thnt Ihe richest man In the world believf ed himself the Instrument of Providence; Tne young men laugneo. "That would be dreadful.. We'd be In a terrible fix If we had to re-create the tstienee of chem istry. It would mean a scientific pan In, a slump In the molecular theory market." He laughed again a if pleased at the atv plication of Wall Street phraseology to chemical science. - "Don't you make It?" persisted Mellen' his voice had an Insinuating quality, a inmiiq nv were inviting spiritual eonn dances,, 11 waa not a persuasive mart, but he often, looked so much at though he had persusded himself, that It had the effect 1 of ' persuasion n atubborn and misguided competitor. . .. . Orlnaeil looked at the richest man in the world seriously. ''It is perfectly as tonishing." be said, musingly, "how many the sunttay newspaper about acientlflo discoveries. t , You haven't answered mV aueatlon. Mellen's nerslxtenc , wne . not offensive. He might have been a Sunday school teacher trying to make a hy boy rtell how good he was, . "Mr. Msllen, the chemical laboratory which you built for the lkelde Univer sity I th finest In the country. Profea- sor Ogden ie one of our foremost scien tists. Ask htm If -ip la possible for, any 1 1. men 4a ma Ira akwOj4 " ... - - ?.r ; ' UVina uieiH is, av aviwi . . u'i',4 rather lt win ir vnn make it' The voice waa aUH of the Sunday school and Orlnnell the faborite but shy schol ar. '-1X:-.-i..-:- - If you insist upon asking such ques tions I Insist, upon refusing to answer them, ir l ma make it. would x ion your You'd ten everynoay." ," ' "Indeed noti'f feaclaimed Mellen eager ly. He could not help It. He we al- Well. Mr. Dawson." turning to tne president, "1 11 deposit these eleven Bill- lions. , , . ,"?, You have mora gold with you?" asked Mr. Dawson, , The young man Jelt In his vest pocket, ostentatiously, one" after another. Then he shook hla head and aaid: "No. Mr. Dawson emlled to hide hi anger. "1 meant Assay, Office checks." he $ nit, lnjd . . . . Vm going' confessed Grlnnell, "to make some deposits with the Eastern, Agricultural , and Marshall National Banks. But the Metropolitan." he added wltl, a nlAMJUAn amllA. "is mv first lOVO. Oood morning, gentlemen." lie turned to go. "Mr. Grlnnell, one moment, please. I should like to ask a favor. I think yon are depositing too much. Ten million a week means five hundred million a vn r " ' "So It doea. But I thought" He checked himself; and then went on: "What t the favor you were about to ask ?" "Could you abstain from depositing any more gold In any bank for, say a month or two?" The young man' eyes were thoughtful for a moment. "Well. I have aome gold I must deposit, as I have no facilities at present for storage, save in bank vaults. You fee, I had not figured unon well, one does not always think carefully enough In advance of what he 1 going to do. and he finds himself confronted by condition be had not reckoned on. How was T to tell I couldn't deposit even flftv million With out disturbing you? I fear I must de posit n little more. In fact. I can't top. even If I wish to. But I'll think over what you have said. "Have you much more on hand? "Oulte a chunk of It!" "How much?" asked Dawson. The richest man waa leaning forward again, his eyes fixed on the young man because the young man was not looking at blm.' "I don't know. I haven't welghedf.it' answered Orlnnell. .t "You are commencing to disturb tH money market. People have rjegun to wonder where the gold Is coming from. The newsnapers will take It up. YOU Will find the financial reviews already speag Ing about it. It Is lucky a lot of Klondike gold has been coming to New York lats lv. But unless you let up. there will be glaring headlines, and men "Th newsnn nsri must not take It UD. said Mellen, almost tenderly. "That must be seen to, Richard. It must be stopped at anv nnsl " Ths nresident nodded. The young man was thinking. H turned a rjemlexed face to Dawson, "How long must I stop depositing my a-o d ?" "It isn't so much a question of stopping as of reducing the amounts deposited. "I can reduce them. I must deposit several millions a week or stop altogeth er. My arrangements are peculiar De cause " he paused: then went on quick ly, with a smile as If pleased at being able to cease to flounder because l rtnn't like half-wav measures. But I think I can stop for a month." He thought for a ' moment. SomeHow Mr Mellen felt a if the young man were speaking of a factory. "Yes." finished Grlnnell, "I can stop for a month, Mr. Dawson, out of regard for what you say." "Thank you. I appreciate It more than I can say." "Then say nothing. T il make another deposit In a day or two, and then I'll ?lve you a nice long rest. How does hat please you, Mr. Pawson?" very mucn. uniy ne sure to no tne same br nl the other nanus. Dawson tried to show gratitude, but the anxiety was uppermost. I will." Mr. Orlnnell extended his hand. The president grasped It: his own was very cold and very dry. Mr. Mellen was gag ing intently at tne arabesques m tne rug at his feet. He did not answer when Grln nell said "Good morning." As the door closed. Dawson rose and approached Mellen. "Wllllamr- ne said. Mellen did not look up. Dawson laid his hand on his friend's shoulder and re peated: "Wllllnm!" -Mellen turned an expressionless face to the president. He makes It! said Dawson. He makes It!" repeated the richest man In the world, hypnotically. Do you feel certain of it? " nawson s voice betrayed hla eagerness to find com fort In Mellen's aasent. Mellen s mind awoke. "What that? Certain of what?" But he still looked blankly puzzled. It made the president uncomfortable. He repeated: "That he Is making gold. "It can't be." said the richest man in the world. "It can't be. Of course not. And yet" He paused. He clenched his hands; his lips were pressed tightly to gether. Into his eyes there came a straining look. Gradually the tense about his mouth relaxed. He murmured doubt fully: "But he might as well make It. Perhaps he does. He has the gold. He will have more. 'I am sure of that." agreed Dawson. not over-cordlally. but still as If that were his firm conviction. We must find out more about him. Are we going to take his word for all he says? Kven If he made It he must make It out of something. Where docs the gold come from? How does It come?" It comes from his furnace. Costello all but saw It. Ho" "Why didn't he see It?" Interjected Mellen. glaring nt Dawson. "Why don't you put a hundred men at work? Is that all you can learn about this man?" Dawson had never before seen his financial backer display vehemence, ever so slightly, for the power of fablulous wealth had given an almost pious se verity to Mellen. The years of golden In vulnerability seemed to have rolled away from the richest man In the world, and left him an Impatient youth, crossed in some cherished plan, exasperated, after long Hhd soothing immunity from attack, at being forced Into defanslveness. The president snld to him, not severely at all. but nevertheless with more than a sug gestion of self-defence: We have done all that men could do. Orlnnell has been at his work only eight oi ten weeks, and he already has fifty millions In cash. If It were not for that you might call him a charlatan, a trick ster of some sort. You believed what he said when he spoke of his plans; you did not thtnk he was lying. You know men os well as I do. What impression did he produce on you? The gold comes out of his house. His servants won't talk. I told Costello to offer them any prloe for information. But he was con vinced It could nut be done without Grin neu s learning or. it, ana we aim I want blm to know; or, how do we know what complications might follow? Costello doesn't think they know anything, any how. The house Is guarded day and night. Costello himself went Into the cellar with a load of coal. There Is no doubt that Grlnnell takes no gold into the house, and that the gold comes out of th electrical furnace. He has fifty millions now, and he won't rest until he has a Billion. That is hi minimum. And. In the meantime. If somebody learn his secret" We must nnd out," shouted the rich est man In the world, shaking his flat Wildly In the air. "A billion la gold. That la bis minimum. And. tn the mean time. If somebody learns his secret" we must una out." shouted the richest man In the world, shaking bis flat wild ly In the air. "A billion la gold. What will become " He checked Tilmself as he caught Dawson's half frightened look, tie drew In a deep breath, and began to walk to and fro. At length tie stopped by Dawson and said, mora -composedly; "Richard, I think as jrou do, yet it doesn't seem right; but I can't tali what i wrong, ii ne proouoee goia at wlL and we knew how he did it, we'd still hava to sell our bonds, tt la better to prepard for the worst ,nowr Begin at once. Sell thoee that are la my box. here. You have thlst. Toll Thorn peoj) to brine you th lli of those In the safe ty vault at the office." -. it.''" saw urn w son. wun jess relief m his voice than might have, been expected. We'll have to - be ery( carefuLTae and garter ' said Mellen with decis ion. "It we are right, of what use are Wf bpndT Jf we are making mistake , im oesitatea. Doubt again snowed m.hls face, Dawson hastened to speak: ' . we could, be perfectly sure B' not going tO-r" - - W . ' Meiien' doubts dad convictions came and went like . Irregular pulse-beats hs had beew .riistnrheH .mt Aenthx. and bis mind did not work with Us oor precision., a became calm again, and he spoke with quiet decision: 'This young man -means well. That la what !!!'. bJ"f- Oangerous. He will flood ihs World' With srold, anil thlafc ha ia dnlna f ood. Yes. Bell ihe onds. s , v : "Very well," DaWon aghed. It cam fer u aim to believe the worst, hs naa seen mora nt nrinnaii , nt ha knew the bonds would have to ha anM at arriav Ana n.is... .ti-t.vt r.r " j''It's the, only thing we can do. ; the richest man an Id ilnui nniinirl ha ; vawsuo a tnougoi.',rut, ne aa Oeo. "you must, ken n trvinv to And out where he gets the sold,- Send Cos- "w im meJina you must Buy StOCKS." Bonds are navable. nrinolnal ana inter- ft. in fold coin of the present standard Of Weight, and nnenasa Tr nrlnnoll'a nn. ftlOMjned gold as cheap as pig-iron, each 11,000 bond would 4 be worth fifty ounces of iron, and no mora. If ome Mftal took jhe place of gold, the to f be new coin, whatever that might be, and -they would par dividends on their witruiBtHHig wiiuid gj Br SB noirtsp Tf its nn in tOCk In the, same. Rut th Inltnat nn bond they must pay In gold. Bondhold ers would be ruined. - and i stockholders WOUld tinttlt hv ilu nlK.r. .. All thla Dawson and Mellen bad realised on their , tint Intervlaar , IK aa obvious. ' The president of the Metropolf- . nsuunu suix merely naa wisnea tne richest man la the. world to be as certain of the existence of the Orinnell gold-fa c tory "V h. alnwelt had become, before selling bonds and baying stock. 'Which stocksr asked Dawaoa. v The richest man In the world did net an W;.liP aa - Jooklns; ? at Dawson, rad' lU Jly. At length, he said, musing y: "If he dtesf And jf his sister diesl After us, the deluge" ha aaid. ; The dan- Ser He In that man's secret becoming nown. Ye. ; Wa have no time to lose. wiwibj ms laouioue - rortune, tne richest man lnth world had gambled stupendously.- His, stakes hadbeea bun dreda of fortune; thousands of lives. But after the first hundrad mllllnna ha always bad gambled calmly be bad grown ju inina ne was uomg nis duty, and tnat Providence, whose confidential servant be w". 'J oeau caros marked for his ben efit. What bad. unnerved, blm waa the sudden realisation that his financial life hung by a thread. The armor In which thirty years of success bad encased him bad been broken. -It had falian fmm aim He had acted as be might have acted at the time; when -he was not the richest man In the world. . He went to the president's desk and wot wl " list-all stocks of steam and street railroads, gas companies, and industrial concerns. His "writing was ZIr.Jw?.1' "0 th latter were small, but the figure were very plain. ' - us oniy a question of time, Dawson, as be finished, "when Sld process wfll be known to th e rose, and seeing the presidt - . hwhiuii wx imiw,- ne ioia n orinnoii's the world." nraaldent'a aar4- ous look, he said, wb an air of con scious jocularity or ne did not let often, and when h did bo .had to an nounce it beforehand, with bis face, that there migbt be no misunderstanding); "Cheer up, .Richard. Tba worst is stUl to come!" (TO BK CONTimjED.) Hig Honeymoon Feeling;. Atlanta Constitution. , "Jedge," said! the old colored cltl sen, "how much fer a license ter git married?" "Want It for yourself?" "Yes, sun. You see, I gittln' mighty old now. ', "That's evident. wlh to marry?" Then, why do you Ww"i tc la truth, somebody gimme a long coat, a linen collar en a walkln' cane, en I knows a oman what says she kin make a' Hvln fer me, en I feels des lak' a honeymoon 1" Music may be the food of love, but after marrlaae there ia . demand for liver and bacon. A. man la always anxious to explain where he grot his bad m h ..'. ST" n" t0 1ieU Where he ot W od the The . May - v . - . 4 ., Compared With "Monte Crist o" Whll 1 It waa fi rumlnt , In Blaclcwoo'd's--the oldest mat In in; EngiahdVona' otth oldest subscriber wrote "to tba; editor: t'tfrr sine X waited ' feverishly sixty year ago . tor 1fonteCrlsto' havo X beeri so excited by a story. "And Mrs. Thurston hae glvfa. tn what Dumas d!4 hot-a perpetually tnereaslnr wonder ,to how the adventure, la to end.";iV, v' ' Zambesi Drrlnx fp., f Blantyre Correspondence Ixmdon Express .' For soma months past considerable inconvenience ' has beem caused to planter and traders throughout Brit lsh Central Africa by the precarious condition of the Zkmbesl waterway. Which la gradually drying up at many parts,, -v . , , ., ,,i.;m . . Soma: ten - year' ago It was iossl hla for the flotilla of steamera which ply between Chtnde, at the mouth of tne river, ana Katungaa, on tne unite tributary, to maintain communica tion ; for upward of eight months of tba year. ' sven - though heavy rains have fallen throughout- the Bhire highlands, and Lake Nyasa, has risen several Inches, many steamers and bargee are ait present lying t high and dry .on sandbanka' m, the tiret at various points, t -t t :-,i , The dftance 'from Chthda to Blan tyre the capital of the Protectorate Ig but-178 miles, but many hund rede of tons of good for the Interior have taken as long as three month to reach he latter centre for distri bution. r ' k , j r ri . But few : people would ' know ronr troubles if you knew enough to keep them under cover. , , BaMaaaaawaaaaHtawaaaaawaliMHMlMfeSMHaaJl If you arc interested in Rc)feg you should investigatf; the VULCANITE The most practical Ready Roofing on the market , For prices and further information call on ' ALLEN HARDWARE CO., cmRioneic Small Gost ! ' ; HO W convenient to have an extension from the general telephone right at your hand always ready, always dependable. Think a minute how you save in time and energy; how you multiply your own ef ficiency and how much more personally ypij can touch your affairs all the time. You need an extension stand. Gall Contract Department, Xo. 190 Southern Bell Telephone & Teie&raph Qompany A Fine Story By MRS. KATHARINE QBQIL THURSTON. Author of " Tiie Gamble r," Will Appear Serially In 'day ' Banning With the Issue Of mh V-T. Two men, not related, but look ing absolutely .tfiker-one mar ried, the other a bachelor secretly change places. The novel develops along lines new to fiction, and Is a forceful, compelling sto ry; not a story of style and words. story of doing, a history of life fa action. The rxioral prob lem involv- ed is a strange i6i f vm a .a " . a - if i: v avi. ' - v ? a -i- m 4 a I ft - t . y r 4t m -a i ' The Pointer, Forest and StreanfT There la much .fallacy -in' attempt- ' i. Ing to prove the origin Of pointing as In a like attempt to prove the origin of ' eating. A m matter of fact, the ' pointing act commonly- exhibited by ; " tne pointer ana setter is an Incident' , of the capture, or attempted capture of . ' food hy dogs, and alga by wolve. and ' ' foxea Coyote have teen seen to draw and point on prairie doga and grouie' In precisely the same manner that the wfiJ' pointer and setter draw on game bird, r-. There wa . the , same rigidity and ' stealth the pause to Judge of distanced and opportunity, and the final jigldr pause when all th energies are cons. - eentrated for th final spring to cap-V. ture. , All the phenomena,, displayed,' by the' dog family indicate thatth -d rawing and pointing in the pursuit ' " of prey were ever natural traits.' lt may be reasonably believed that, man could not breed the pointing- Instinct, out of the dof f ha attempted to do , o- - v' !.cA i. i - "' "' 1 "' '"i"' A v ii There will be money enough -In ; the world for i everybody when; it 1 no use . to anybody. ' ' ;,in Cm a nine anrlna- Aav It seama like bejr. . a Ing sentenced to hard labor even to aye ' to yawn, , merits of Lite Overrahnln . The New- Tork Evening llall ays; Thla" la th story of fc strong: man and a strong woman and their high-handed grasping for happiness in the - face of the ' moral law. , The woman, magnificent ' In 1 her love, rise above consideration f convention, above, fear, above ' conscience. ' Clrcum , Unces giro hec the t right to ' follow th dictates o'f aa over whelming feaastoa. - ' )tt wflt Uk rank with tbi feV ' raallv a-Anil hunk. ' t i- . - aaaaj-gaa-a -mtammtX-mmmmMB- " " r , m , . . . BBBBBBasBSBS"HW"iwesaeaea, eotuea from the tommy-rot they md In Tbi u M tin le think . i , or eighths ' 4. ' f 7t ' f , .ft :-n"':y?': I
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 22, 1906, edition 1
14
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