appeared a shortage in the cotton-crop, and prices began to soar. The cause was obviously the unexpected success of the new Farmers‚Äô League among the cotton-growers. Mr. ¬ÝEasterly found it comparatively easy to overthrow the corner, but the flurry made some of the manufacturers timid, and the trust agreement was postponed until a year later. This experience and the persistence of Mr. ¬ÝTaylor induced Mr. ¬ÝEasterly to take a step toward the larger project: he let in some eager outside capital to the safer manufacturing scheme, and withdrew a corresponding amount of Mrs. ¬ÝGrey‚Äôs money. This he put into John Taylor‚Äôs hands to invest in the South in bank stock and industries with the idea of playing a part in the financial situation there.
“It’s a risk, Taylor, of course, and we’ll let the old lady take the risk. At the worst it’s safer than the damned foolishness she has in mind.”
So it happened that John Taylor went South to look after large investments and, as Mr. ¬ÝEasterly expressed it, ‚Äúto bring back facts, not dreams.‚Äù
His investment matters went quickly and well, and now he turned to his wider and bigger scheme. He wrote the Cresswells tentatively, expecting no reply, or an evasive one; planning to circle around them, drawing his nets closer, and trying them again later. To his surprise they responded quickly.
“Humph! Hard pressed,” he decided, and hurried to them.