登陆注册
4610600000101

第101章

When the ferry system began to run, and the time between Oakland and San Francisco was demonstrated to be cut in half, the tide of Daylight's terrific expenditure started to turn. Not that it really did turn, for he promptly went into further investments. Thousands of lots in his residence tracts were sold, and thousands of homes were being built. Factory sites also were selling, and business properties in the heart of Oakland. All this tended to a steady appreciation in value of Daylight's huge holdings.

But, as of old, he had his hunch and was riding it. Already he had begun borrowing from the banks. The magnificent profits he made on the land he sold were turned into more land, into more development; and instead of paying off old loans, he contracted new ones. As he had pyramided in Dawson City, he now pyramided in Oakland; but he did it with the knowledge that it was a stable enterprise rather than a risky placer-mining boom.

In a small way, other men were following his lead, buying and selling land and profiting by the improvement work he was doing. But this was to be expected, and the small fortunes they were making at his expense did not irritate him. There was an exception, however. One Simon Dolliver, with money to go in with, and with cunning and courage to back it up, bade fair to become a several times millionaire at Daylight's expense. Dolliver, too, pyramided, playing quickly and accurately, and keeping his money turning over and over. More than once Daylight found him in the way, as he himself had got in the way of the Guggenhammers when they first set their eyes on Ophir Creek.

Work on Daylight's dock system went on apace, yet was one of those enterprises that consumed money dreadfully and that could not be accomplished as quickly as a ferry system. The engineering difficulties were great, the dredging and filling a cyclopean task. The mere item of piling was anything but small. A good average pile, by the time it was delivered on the ground, cost a twenty-dollar gold piece, and these piles were used in unending thousands. All accessible groves of mature eucalyptus were used, and as well, great rafts of pine piles were towed down the coast from Peugeot Sound.

Not content with manufacturing the electricity for his street railways in the old-fashioned way, in power-houses, Daylight organized the Sierra and Salvador Power Company. This immediately assumed large proportions.

Crossing the San Joaquin Valley on the way from the mountains, and plunging through the Contra Costa hills, there were many towns, and even a robust city, that could be supplied with power, also with light; and it became a street- and house-lighting project as well. As soon as the purchase of power sites in the Sierras was rushed through, the survey parties were out and building operations begun.

And so it went. There were a thousand maws into which he poured unceasing streams of money. But it was all so sound and legitimate, that Daylight, born gambler that he was, and with his clear, wide vision, could not play softly and safely. It was a big opportunity, and to him there was only one way to play it, and that was the big way. Nor did his one confidential adviser, Larry Hegan, aid him to caution. On the contrary, it was Daylight who was compelled to veto the wilder visions of that able hasheesh dreamer.

Not only did Daylight borrow heavily from the banks and trust companies, but on several of his corporations he was compelled to issue stock. He did this grudgingly however, and retained most of his big enterprises of his own. Among the companies in which he reluctantly allowed the investing public to join were the Golden Gate Dock Company, and Recreation Parks Company, the United Water Company, the Uncial Shipbuilding Company, and the Sierra and Salvador Power Company. Nevertheless, between himself and Hegan, he retained the controlling share in each of these enterprises.

His affair with Dede Mason only seemed to languish. While delaying to grapple with the strange problem it presented, his desire for her continued to grow. In his gambling simile, his conclusion was that Luck had dealt him the most remarkable card in the deck, and that for years he had overlooked it. Love was the card, and it beat them all. Love was the king card of trumps, the fifth ace, the joker in a game of tenderfoot poker. It was the card of cards, and play it he would, to the limit, when the opening came. He could not see that opening yet. The present game would have to play to some sort of a conclusion first.

Yet he could not shake from his brain and vision the warm recollection of those bronze slippers, that clinging gown, and all the feminine softness and pliancy of Dede in her pretty Berkeley rooms. Once again, on a rainy Sunday, he telephoned that he was coming. And, as has happened ever since man first looked upon woman and called her good, again he played the blind force of male compulsion against the woman's secret weakness to yield.

Not that it was Daylight's way abjectly to beg and entreat. On the contrary, he was masterful in whatever he did, but he had a trick of whimsical wheedling that Dede found harder to resist than the pleas of a suppliant lover. It was not a happy scene in its outcome, for Dede, in the throes of her own desire, desperate with weakness and at the same time with her better judgment hating her weakness cried out:--"You urge me to try a chance, to marry you now and trust to luck for it to come out right. And life is a gamble say. Very well, let us gamble.

Take a coin and toss it in the air. If it comes heads, I'll marry you.

If it doesn't, you are forever to leave me alone and never mention marriage again."A fire of mingled love and the passion of gambling came into Daylight's eyes. Involuntarily his hand started for his pocket for the coin. Then it stopped, and the light in his eyes was troubled.

同类推荐
  • AN ESSAY ON THE PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION

    AN ESSAY ON THE PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 观无量寿佛经义疏

    观无量寿佛经义疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说善夜经

    佛说善夜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寄续尊师

    寄续尊师

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 词洁辑评

    词洁辑评

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 人过50健康必读书

    人过50健康必读书

    近30年来,人的平均寿命不断延长,但是不能仅看平均寿命的数字!因为它并不能反映人的“健康状态”。同样50岁的人,健康生活的人和卧病在床的人都被计算在内。两者年龄相同,但是人生的充实度并不一样。不论活得多久,如果不健康,这种长寿人生并无意义。相信不会有人想要过着卧病在床或为病痛所苦的长寿生活。只有健康,长寿才有意义。
  • 七号霸宠

    七号霸宠

    堕入一场游戏的圈套,她赔尽了所有。残忍的现实,令她失去了自己的孩子,还有傲人的身材。五年后,当一切浮出水边,她再次踏上这边伤心之土,一边寻找着自己双生的姐姐,一边挖掘着当年事实的真相,然而,一切却是如此伤人。
  • 养生导引秘籍

    养生导引秘籍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毒爱纯男(单身公害)

    毒爱纯男(单身公害)

    她是律师界有名的毒舌女,众所周知,她只要钱不要命,只要你给的起钱,再难打的官司她也敢接,即使你是要状告国家元首,她也只会说”你要给多少钱,钱少了我可不接”。他是一个画家,很有名很有名的那种,但是他自己却不知道,因为他的心思都在作画上,世人称他为“无声天使”,因为他天生就带着遗憾。一个是靠嘴皮子混饭吃的毒辣女律师,一个是天生就不会说话的单纯男画家,他们俩在一起是怎样擦出名为爱情的火花呢?是精明的女主算计了单纯的爱人,还是天使一般的男主俘获了多变的女主呢?…………天地间好像只剩下彼此我好似为了你而存在你好似为了我而等到如今这一刻我们互相拥抱着感受着彼此的体温和呼吸你的眼里只有我而我的眼里也只有你我们彼此用眼神许下诺言无论天涯海角无论沧海桑田无论世事怎样变换我们都只是属于彼此永远永远单身公害系列之双子座,毒舌女VS单纯男!…………………………《女尊天下之虐草女王爷》典型女尊,古代,架空,一女N男。《冰女宠夫》(单身公害)都市言情,女尊世界的男人穿越到了现代,女强,单身公害系列之天蝎座。《霸爱》(单身公害)都市言情,女强,单身公害系列之狮子座,已完成。《邪恶女皇之男宠》典型女尊,一女N男,穿越,已完成。《龙女傲情》架空现代,一女N男,非典型女尊,喜剧结尾,已完成。耽美极致系列文《魅夜帝国》(穿越,宫廷,父子,主奴,NP)(已完成)《帝王受》(现代,年上帝王受,一见钟情)
  • 特色花生

    特色花生

    本书面向广大农村基层农技人员和广大农民,介绍了特色花生的新品种、新技术、新加工方法及产业化开发途径等内容,浅显易懂,实用性强。相信该书的发行,对全面提升基层农技人员和广大农民科学种植水平,推动高效农业规模化,增加农民收入,将起到积极作用。
  • Gorgias

    Gorgias

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 手刃天下如涅槃:王妃绝色临九天

    手刃天下如涅槃:王妃绝色临九天

    【已完结!】她,本该带着秘密死在现代,却意外穿越。一身杀手功夫,足睥睨天下。他,本该一世清欢无忧和乐,却未离命运。背负一身谜团,信手负天下。他,绝色天下,冷酷之下,却是对她的无限柔情,前尘许他又负他。她和他聪明无双,他和她共许江山,看霸道王妃,绝色皇帝,天真名士,谁得天下,谁许真心。
  • 漂泊的灵魂(黑塞作品06)

    漂泊的灵魂(黑塞作品06)

    《漂泊的灵魂》由《早春》、《怀念克努尔普》和《结局》三篇连续性的小说组成,是黑塞著名的“流浪汉体”小说。主人翁克努尔普是个和蔼的流浪汉,流落于城镇之间,寄居于友人的住处,吃着友人们给的食物。克努尔普一直不愿受制于任何行业、地方或是人,甚至还离弃了与自己一同徒步旅行的同伴,而与他一同徒步旅行的同伴很可能就是赫尔曼·黑塞本人。克努尔普的流亡是幸福的、专注于自我的。然而,《漂泊的灵魂》背后隐藏的是一个艺术家的良知,在这个艺术家眼里,自己的解放是毫无价值的,甚至是没有道德可言的。
  • 千金王妃买一送一:六王妃

    千金王妃买一送一:六王妃

    第一眼,他看上了那个可爱的小娃娃;第二眼,他觉得这个当娘的真好玩;第三眼,他决定把这对母女收归自己麾下。第一眼,她觉得这个男人不简单;第二眼,她断定他会是一个合格的父亲;第三眼,她答应下嫁,带着女儿坐上花轿。一个是太师府中最为低贱的庶出小姐,众所周知的破鞋,还带着一个小拖油瓶,一个是凤凰王朝最为高贵的嫡出皇子,少女的理想郎君,年及弱冠却无妃无子,两个身份天差地别的人,一段不为世人看好的婚姻,却——照样过得风生水起,有滋有味:她的男人,他的反应:青梅竹马找上门?简单一个字:滚!孩子她亲爹出现?长腿一踢:你怎么不去死!镇国大将军要带她远走高飞,远离这是非之地?怒气冲天:你当我这六王爷是死人啊?他的女人,她的对策:家有小妾三只?淡然一笑:关我什么事?下属送来美人十个?无辜大眼一眨:你塞给我干什么?邻国公主一口咬定要下嫁?收拾东西:那你娶她呀!我这就让出正妃之位?最后,王爷抓狂了:你这个女人,为什么喜怒哀乐不形于色呢?最后,王妃郁闷了:你这个男人,为什么非要逼我出离愤怒呢?场景一:——爱妃,本王今天又在朝堂上摆了那个老不死的一道,真是大快人心啊!哈哈哈!——…——你为什么不说话?——恭喜王爷,贺喜王爷。王爷威武,王爷天下无敌,王爷千岁千岁千千岁。——…场景二:——爱妃,本王今天兽性大发,杀了你的狗大宴宾客。——哦。——你没别的话说?——没。——为什么?那可是陪了你和清儿五年的狗啊!——第一,那本就是一只畜生,还是一只年已迟暮正在等死的畜生,王爷杀了它是助它早日解脱;第二,它是臣妾的,臣妾的一切都是王爷的,王爷想拿自己的东西怎么办,臣妾无权置喙;第三,您是高高在上的王爷,只要能让您高兴,牺牲一条小小的狗命算什么?第四…——来人,把王妃的狗还给她!场景三:——爱妃,皇兄看上了咱们的女儿,想把她聘给太子做太子妃。——不行。——为什么?——三代以内旁系血亲禁止结婚。——你说什么本王听不懂。不过,本王已经答应了皇兄了,圣旨即刻就到。——…——爱妃?——王、八、蛋!——嘎?爱妃,你、你说话了?——你这个王八蛋!老虎不发威,你当我是病猫是不是?快快把我女儿的婚姻自主权还来来来来来来!
  • 从地球到月球·环游月球

    从地球到月球·环游月球

    《从地球到月球·环游月球》收录凡尔纳的两部佳作,《从地球到月球》和《环游月球》。这两部小说共同讲述了一部完整的太空历险记,第一部《从地球到月球》讲的是试验的由来和人们到月球之旅的准备工作,以及成功发射的全过程。第二部《环游月球》讲的是“炮弹车厢”发射之后在太空的种种历险。小说的情节奇幻惊险,充满了作者的科学设想,而这些设想在以后几乎又一一得到验证和实现。