Produced by Roger Frank, Darleen Dove and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net THE DOMINANT DOLLAR _By the Same Author_ BEN BLAIR. THE STORY OF A PLAINSMAN. With frontispiece in full color by Maynard Dixon. _Seventh edition, 60th thousand._ [***] Besides the wide success of "Ben Blair" in this country the book appeared in a large edition in London and also in Australia. PUBLISHED BY A. C. MCCLURG & CO., CHICAGO [Illustration: "Most of all because I love you" (_Page 242_)] The Dominant Dollar _By_ WILL LILLIBRIDGE AUTHOR OF "Ben Blair," "The Dissolving Circle," "The Quest Eternal," "Where the Trail Divides," Etc. WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS BY LESTER RALPH A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS :: NEW YORK COPYRIGHT A. C. MCCLURG & CO. 1909 Published September 11, 1909 Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England _All rights reserved_ CONTENTS BOOK I CHAPTER PAGE I. A Prophecy 9 II. Understanding 35 III. Pleasure 56 IV. Uncertainty 70 V. Certainty 87 VI. A Warning 110 VII. Rebellion 126 VIII. Catastrophe 146 BOOK II I. Anticipation 165 II. Acquaintance 185 III. Friendship 203 IV. Comprehension 217 V. Fulfilment 241 VI. Crisis 268 VII. Travesty 285 VIII. Celebration 302 IX. Admonition 320 X. Decision 330 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "Most of all because I love you" (_Page 242_) _Frontispiece_ "I'm tired of reading about life and hearing about life. I want to live it" (_Page 66_) 64 "Steve!" The girl was on her feet. "I never dreamed, never--You poor boy!" (_Page 153_) 156 "You mean to suggest that Elice," he began, "that Elice--You dare to suggest that to me?" (_Page 107_) 278 The Dominant Dollar BOOK I CHAPTER I A PROPHECY "You're cold-blooded as a fish, Roberts, colder. You're--There is no adequate simile." The man addressed said nothing.