"Caroline's a good girl."
"Yes, she is. However, she isn't in this story, except as a side-issue.
At this time my ambitions were for a newspaper career, and I thought I
was succeeding. And her father's marked interest and the things he said
to me promised more than an ordinary success. He was a well known man on
the street, and influential. So my head began to swell, and I dreamed--a
lot of foolishness. And then--"
He paused, put down his empty pipe, and sighed.
"Well, then," he continued, "came the upset. I judged from what you
said at our previous conversation, Captain, that you were well enough
acquainted with Wall Street to know that queer operations take place
there. Did you read about the South Shore Trolley business?"
Captain Elisha considered. "Why, yes," he said, slowly, "seem's if I
did. One of those consolidations with 'holdin' companies' and franchises
and extensions and water by the hogshead. Wa'n't that it? I remember
now; the Boston papers had considerable about it, and I presume likely
the New York ones had more. One of those all-accordin'-to-law swindles
that sprout same as toadstools in a dark place, but die out if the
light's turned on too sudden. This one didn't come to nothin' but a bad
smell, if I remember right.
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