The Deluge | Page 3

in

constant communication; his God never did anything except for his
benefit, he never did anything except on the direct counsel or command
of his God. Just now his God is commanding him to destroy me, his
confidential agent in shaping many a vast industrial enterprise and in
inducing the public to buy by the million its bonds and stocks.
I invited the angry frown of the Roebuck God by saying: "And I bought
in the Manasquale mines on my own account."
"On your own account!" said Roebuck. Then he hastily effaced his
involuntary air of the engineer startled by sight of an unexpected red
light.
"Yes," replied I, as calm as if I were not realizing the tremendous
significance of what I had announced. "I look to you to let me
participate on equal terms."
That is, I had decided that the time had come for me to take my place
among the kings of finance. I had decided to promote myself from
agent to principal, from prime minister to king--I must, myself,
promote myself, for in this world all promotion that is solid comes
from within. And in furtherance of my object I had bought this group of
mines, control of which was vital to the Roebuck-Langdon-Melville
combine for a monopoly of the coal of the country.
"Did not Mr. Langdon commission you to buy them for him and his
friends?" inquired Roebuck, in that slow, placid tone which yet, for the
attentive ear, had a note in it like the scream of a jaguar that comes
home and finds its cub gone.
"But I couldn't get them for him," I explained. "The owners wouldn't
sell until I engaged that the National Coal and Railway Company was
not to have them."
"Oh, I see," said Roebuck, sinking back relieved. "We must get Browne
to draw up some sort of perpetual, irrevocable power of attorney to us
for you to sign."
"But I won't sign it," said I.
Roebuck took up a sheet of paper and began to fold it upon itself with
great care to get the edges straight. He had grasped my meaning; he
was deliberating.
"For four years now," I went on, "you people have been promising to
take me in as a principal in some one of your deals--to give me
recognition by making me president, or chairman of an executive or

finance committee. I am an impatient man, Mr. Roebuck. Life is short,
and I have much to do. So I have bought the Manasquale mines--and I
shall hold them."
Roebuck continued to fold the paper upon itself until he had reduced it
to a short, thick strip. This he slowly twisted between his cruel fingers
until it was in two pieces. He dropped them, one at a time, into the
waste-basket, then smiled benevolently at me. "You are right," he said.
"You shall have what you want. You have seemed such a mere boy to
me that, in spite of your giving again and again proof of what you are, I
have been putting you off. Then, too--" He halted, and his look was that
of one surveying delicate ground.
"The bucket-shop?" suggested I.
"Exactly," said he gratefully. "Your brokerage business has been
invaluable to us. But--well, I needn't tell you how people--the men of
standing--look on that sort of thing."
"I never have paid any attention to pompous pretenses," said I, "and I
never shall. My brokerage business must go on, and my daily letters to
investors. By advertising I rose; by advertising I am a power that even
you recognize; by advertising alone can I keep that power."
"You forget that in the new circumstances, you won't need that sort of
power. Adapt yourself to your new surroundings. Overalls for the
trench; a business suit for the office."
"I shall keep to my overalls for the present," said I. "They're more
comfortable, and"--here I smiled significantly at him--"if I shed them, I
might have to go naked. The first principle of business is never to give
up what you have until your grip is tight on something better."
"No doubt you're right," agreed the white-haired old scoundrel, giving
no sign that I had fathomed his motive for trying to "hint" me out of my
stronghold. "I will talk the matter over with Langdon and Melville.
Rest assured, my boy, that you will be satisfied." He got up, put his arm
affectionately round my shoulders. "We all like you. I have a feeling
toward you as if you were my own son. I am getting old, and I like to
see young men about me, growing up to assume the responsibilities of
the Lord's work whenever He shall call me to my reward."
It will seem incredible that a man of my shrewdness and