Supplementing his former letter, Robert Gordon wrote:
Dear Mr. Kennelworth:
I am anxious to make some money in my cotton deals and get into wheat
for the big advance that I figure is coming this Spring and Summer.
Then I want to be in position to buy some Right Aeroplane and sell
Major Motors and other stocks short, because I believe that in the
next few years I can make a fortune buying Right Aeroplane stock and
selling short Major Motors.
Just as the railroad locomotive attained great speed from 1834 to
1839, and the big steamers cut down the time between New York and
Europe, so will airplanes 100 years later cut the time around the
world and to all points of the world. Just as the automobile has
supplanted the railway passenger trains in carrying passengers across
the country, so will the airplane take the place of railroads and
automobiles in transportation through the air, because it will be much
faster and safer. I believe that the airplane described by Ezekiel is
going to be the model of a great plane in the future and I would like
to make money enough to be the man to build the first plane according
to the plans laid down in the Bible.
Mr. Kennelworth, I want to help you and show my appreciation for all
your kindness to me. I would like to help you make back the money
that you lost in the big slump in stocks in the Fall of 1919, and
believe that if you will buy some July or October cotton right now,
and hold it, you will make a lot of money. To show your faith in me,
buy at least 100 bales. Then along about the 5th of April, we will
have a lot of big profits made and can buy some wheat and corn as I
figure that wheat and corn are going to start up the early part of
April and advance twenty-five to thirty cents per bushel. Haven't you
faith enough in me and faith enough in the Bible to risk a few hundred
dollars and make back all the money you have lost? Of course you don't
need it, Mr. Kennelworth, but it would make me very happy to see you
make some money, anyway.
Sincerely,
Robert.
After reading over Robert's letters and explanation of the cycles, Mr.
Kennelworth answered:
February 1, 1927.
My dear Robert:
Your amazing letter and forecast of the future cycles, received. I
am surprised to find one so young possessed of so much knowledge. It
shows that you are a deep student and have been searching for the
hidden mysteries. You will receive your reward.
I have faith in the Bible and in you, Robert. In 1919, I followed tips
and lost a lot of money. Now I must have enough faith in you to risk a
little money on your predictions, based on the Bible, so I telegraphed
my brokers in New York today and bought 500 bales of July cotton at
13.70. If it goes up, I am going to hold it and the money I make on
it, I am going to give to you and Marie when you are married as a
wedding present, or if you need the money to promote your invention, I
will let you have it to use for that purpose.
Please keep me posted on your studies and on your new discoveries.
Always feel free to come and talk your matters over with me. I am
always interested in anything that you have to write or talk to me
about. Have faith in you and believe you are right about the great war
to come.
It is plain that the nations in Europe are rapidly getting ready for
war, and, of course, it will be with airplanes. While I hate to think
the United States will again be called into war, at the same time I
realize that all of the foreign countries are jealous of us, because
we have such enormous gold supply and have grown so prosperous. The
United States is now the banker of the world, and while it was no
fault of ours that the great World War occurred, which resulted to our
benefit by transfer of gold from other nations to us, at the same time
they are jealous and have a real hatred for America.
So you are probably right in preparing to build a great airplane to be
used in defending your country. Such noble intentions, my boy, fill
my heart with pride. I am going to drive out to the farm to see your
mother next Sunday if I can get time. Want to have a talk with her and
tell her of your brilliant achievement. It makes every mother's heart
glad to know that her boy is trying to accomplish something. I feel
sure that you are going to accomplish your aims, Robert, and I am with
you always.
Sincerely yours,
J.H. Kennelworth.
After hearing from Mr. Kennelworth, Robert was very happy, and of
course, had to share his happiness with Marie.
February 5, 1927.
Sweet Marie:
I am very happy on this Saturday night, and nothing could make me
happier than to be with you. I feel that I have won a great victory. I
have put my theories up to Mr. Kennelworth, explained all that I could
about my discoveries of the cycles in the Bible, and urged him to buy
some cotton and make back the money that he lost in 1919. He said that
he had faith in me and the Bible so he bought 500 bales of July cotton
at 13.70 as I suggested.
While the market hasn't gone up much since I bought mine, at the same
time it is holding steady and I am sure that it is going up. I believe
Mr. Kennelworth is going to make a lot of money on his cotton and I
want to see him make it because he is an honest, whole-hearted man
and has done everything he could to help me. The $500 bonus he gave
me in January enabled me to have margin enough to buy the cotton, and
if I make a great success I will feel that I owe him a great debt of
gratitude, because he has really helped me get a start.
Don't think I fail to appreciate all you are doing, my little
sweetheart, and the faith that you have in me. I am looking forward to
the day when I will make Wall Street hum with you standing by my side.
Nothing would be left for me to work for if it wasn't the hope of
having you, and the happiness that you can bring. Money will not mean
anything except to accomplish my purpose, help my country and buy the
things that will make you happy.
Love is indeed the greatest thing in the world and you are the
greatest woman in the world. With your love, there is nothing that I
cannot do. You are my last thought when I go to sleep at night and the
first when I wake in the morning. Everything I do, I always think is
for you. Your sweet little letters are always so encouraging and your
supreme faith in me urges me on to greater things.
With all the love that my heart can send, I am as ever
Your loving
Robert.
Monday, February 7, 1927.
My own dear Robert:
Your letter received this A.M. It is the happiest Monday
morning that I have ever had. Am glad to know that Mr. Kennelworth is
backing up your judgment. If I had some money I certainly would send
it to you to buy some cotton for me. Maybe I will have some in a few
months, because I am saving something every week from my allowance
which Papa sends me.
Every night when I kneel to pray, I ask God to give you strength and
confidence, Robert, and I know that he can and will help you. It makes
me very happy to know in all of your plans for the future, you think
of me, and I am going to try to prove worthy of that great love.
You are so noble, pure and unselfish; always thinking of others and
thinking of what you can do to help protect your country in time of
war.
I do hope and pray as your mother does, that the days of wars may pass
away; that man may cease to fight and may know and understand each
other, settling their differences on the basis of love. I will welcome
that day, and hope that I may stand by your side, when there will be
no more wars and our loved ones will not be taken away to war.
Write me often, Robert, and know that you have all the love that the
heart of one little woman can send.
Your own
Marie.
The month of February slowly passed away. Cotton was very slow and
inactive, but on February 23rd, it started up and went up fast. On
March 2nd, July cotton had advanced to 14.80, and Robert had a profit
of $1,000.00 and Mr. Kennelworth had a profit of $2,500.00. Robert was
very much elated over his progress and the profit for Mr. Kennelworth.
He wrote Marie how the market was working out according to his
prediction; how the money was piling up; and that he would soon have
money to start on his invention and new discovery. Marie was very happy
over Robert's success and wrote encouraging letters. Mr. Kennelworth
was also very happy and congratulated Robert on being able to buy
cotton very close to the low level in January.
March was the month to bring disappointment to Robert. Cotton started
to decline and by the middle of the month had declined to around 13.75
wiping out all Robert's and Mr. Kennelworth's profits, but still
leaving their capital intact. Robert was not discouraged. He told Mr.
Kennelworth that the flood was sure to come in the Mississippi Valley
during April and May, the Spring would be late, and the price would be
sure to advance. He had no thought of selling out his cotton and urged
Mr. Kennelworth to hold his, which he did.
Marie had become very much interested in the market and was reading the
paper every day and watching the prices. She saw the price decline to
around 13.75 and knew that Robert's profits would now be wiped out. She
felt very sorry for him and wrote him:
March 15th, 1927.
My dear Robert:
I have not heard from you in several days. I see that the market has
declined to where you now have no profit left on your deal. Do not get
discouraged; I have great faith in you and believe that you are yet
going to come out all right and make a lot of money. Why don't you
hold your cotton, and tell Mr. Kennelworth to hold his, because my
intuition tells me that you are certainly right?
I have been saving money every week from my allowance. A few weeks
ago I wrote Papa and told him that I had to have some extra money and
asked him if he could let me have $300.00. He sent the money at once,
so I now have $400.00 and I am sending it to you. I want you to buy
me 100 bales of July cotton. I was talking with a broker from Dallas
a few days ago, and he says that he believes cotton will go up even
tho it may be slow for a while. Take the money, and if you can get the
broker to buy a hundred for me, do so. This is my faith in you, and in
the Bible. So don't be afraid to buy for me, Robert. I am just as game
as you are.
With all love and wishing you luck,
As ever, your own
Marie.
This letter was a great consolation and encouragement to Robert. He had
begun to feel a little blue because cotton had declined. Not that he
thought it wouldn't go up again, but he was sorry that he had failed to
get the profits.
He took Marie's money and on March 17th bought 100 bales of July cotton
at 13.90. The cotton market was slow during the balance of March, but
it did not decline, and Robert was greatly encouraged. The market was
slow again during April, but prices were holding steady and Robert felt
encouraged that they did not decline. On April 20th a flood started
in the Mississippi Valley. The Spring was late and planting delayed.
Cotton started to advance and went up fast, July reaching 15.40 by
April 25th. Robert's profits were now piling up fast, and Marie had a
profit of over $700.00 on her 100 bales. Mr. Kennelworth had held his
cotton and profits were accumulating fast for him. He congratulated
Robert on his wonderful prediction that the flood came as he forecast.
Marie was watching the papers so she wired Robert as follows:
YOU ARE A WONDER THE MARKET IS MAKING GOOD AND WE ARE GOING TO WIN I
AM WITH YOU ALWAYS LOVE
Marie.
Robert now began to see possibilities of his dream being realized, and
thought in a few months he could resign his position and go to New
York and continue to speculate in order to make money enough to build
his airplane and work out ideas for his other discoveries. So he wrote
Marie this letter:
April 30th, 1927.
My darling Marie,
The Lord has been good to us. Fortune is smiling on us. Cotton is
on its way up. In a few weeks will be up around 17c a pound, and we
will have a lot of money made. I bought another 100 bales today and
Mr. Kennelworth bought 500 bales more. It won't be long until I have
money enough to go to New York. When I go, I want you to go with me,
because I cannot go there and succeed alone without you. I need your
love and encouragement, and want you to marry me and start to New York
together. Of course I don't like to have you leave school before you
graduate, but I feel it is best for you to go with me.
Write and let me know what you think about it.
With all my love,
Your Robert.
Marie's reply:
Sunday, May 1st, 1927.
My dear Robert,
I have just received your letter, and I am happy to know that the
cotton is moving your way. I know that you love and trust me and
I want you to know that I love and trust you, so please try to
understand me. While I have the greatest faith in you and know that
you will succeed, I feel that marrying you just now might handicap you
and prevent your success. When once I am yours, Robert, you will have
realized your fondest hope, and possibly your ambition may wane. You
will fight harder to win if you still cling to the hope of winning
me. They say that hope and anticipation are greater than realization,
Robert. Never cease to hope for I am with you. Even when I am not with
you, trust me as I trust you, for I love only you.
I am going to tell you a dream that I had a few nights ago. I saw
you a great success. Fortune was smiling on you. The world was at
your feet, but I seemed to see a great tragedy follow this. It seemed
I left you in a mysterious way and then came back to you just as
mysteriously. Now, don't think that I do not want to go with you,
Robert, and don't think that I believe in dreams, but somehow it has
made a great impression on me.
Of course you know that father would never consent to me leaving
school to marry you, and if we married, we would have to run away.
Would it not be best for you to go to New York, as you have planned,
work on your invention, and let my love and faith guide you to
success? You could live for my love, which you have always said was
the greatest thing in the world. You have all my love and will always
have it.
I could continue in school and later, if you became despondent and
could not get along without me, remember that I would have faith and
love enough to give up father, mother, and everything else and come to
you. I want to do what I feel is best for your future, Robert, and I
hope that you will believe me and see it that way. I want you to come
over to see me next Sunday, so we can talk over all your future plans.
With all of my love for you always,
Your Marie.
When Robert received Marie's letter, he was disappointed, but felt that
when he saw her and talked matters over, he could get her to change her
mind, give up school, if necessary, marry him and go to New York with
him. He had heard and read much of the pitfalls of the great City of
New York and felt that he did not care to venture there alone without
Marie with him as his wife. While his old school-mate and chum, Walter
Kennelworth, was in New York and could work with him and be a great
help and comfort, he felt that Marie, his one great inspiration, was
absolutely necessary to his success and that he must persuade her to go
with him to New York.
On Sunday, May 1st, Robert went to visit his mother in the country.
He found that Mr. Kennelworth had been there and told her of Robert's
success and his faith in him. Robert's mother was very happy when he
told her that cotton was advancing and he was making money rapidly and
Mr. Kennelworth was making money; that Marie had such great faith in
him that she had put up her only $400.00 and bought 100 bales of cotton
and now had a profit of about $1,000.00.
Robert told his mother of his plans. That he expected within a few
months to go to New York, establish himself there, and speculate in
order to make money so that he could build his great airplane according
to Ezekiel's plan and prepare to help his country in time of war. Mrs.
Gordon was very happy to learn of her boy's success. She was sad when
he began to talk about war. Robert assured her that the Bible plainly
foretold the great war which was to be fought in the air and that it
was his duty to help protect his country. While his mother admired his
patriotism, she again referred to the dream that she had had years
before, about a great war which would come and in which she thought
that Robert lost his life in San Francisco.
She talked to Robert of his future and told him she hoped he would be
a preacher. Robert confided to her that he could never be an orthodox
minister, for he could not preach and teach the things which the
orthodox ministers were teaching. He did not believe in a personal
devil or believe in Hell, but believed in a God of Love and Justice. He
did not believe that God would inflict upon any of his children eternal
punishment but thought that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap and that we receive our reward here upon earth.
He told her that the Bible plainly said that the kingdom of heaven is
within us and he believed it. If we kept our conscience clear and did
unto others as we would like to have them do unto us, he believed we
would find our heaven and our reward here upon earth. Said that times
and conditions were changing rapidly; that the new inventions and
discoveries caused men to think differently than in the old days; that
the old religious ideas would pass away and give place to more liberal,
advanced ideas. He hoped to live to see the day when men would not
only be too proud to fight, but would be too full of love for their
fellow-men to settle disputes with the sword. This was God's plan and
it would come to pass this way, and he believed that he could be a
great power for peace and hoped to live to see a world of peace with
all nations united under one kingdom and one God, the God of Love and
Justice.
Mrs. Gordon felt that her faith in Robert had been justified and that
she understood him better than his father and brother. He told his
mother of his hopes for an early marriage with Marie and that when he
went to New York, he wanted to take Marie with him as his wife. His
mother was not in favor of an elopement. She wanted him to make good,
act in an honorable way and ask the consent of Mr. Stanton to his
marriage with Marie, but she felt at this time Mr. Stanton would not
give his consent because he wanted Marie to complete her education and
it was right and proper she should. His mother asked him if he didn't
think it would be best to continue his position with Mr. Kennelworth
for a few years longer, after he saw that he was making a success
before going to New York where he might fail in a strange city. Robert
was filled with a great determination to go. He wished to make a
success and knew he would, because he read the Bible and had learned
how.
The week ending May 7th was the greatest week in Robert Gordon's life
up to that time. Cotton advanced rapidly about $4.00 per bale, and by
May 7th Robert's profits were about $2,500.00. Marie had a profit of
over $1,000.00 on her 100 bales which Robert bought for her, and Mr.
Kennelworth now had a profit of about $7,000.00.
On Saturday morning, May 7th, Mr. Kennelworth called Robert into his
private office and asked him if he knew what the cotton market was
doing that morning. Robert said he hadn't heard what the price was.
Mr. Kennelworth told him that July was now selling around 16 cents per
pound, and that while he had some nice profits, the money was not the
thing that counted with him, but the fact that Robert was right on the
market made him happy that he had faith in him and encouraged him.
Robert then confided to Mr. Kennelworth that he was very anxious to
go to New York just as soon as possible. He had been reading about
the contemplated flights of the airplanes from New York across the
Atlantic, and he wanted to be in New York by his birthday in June,
1927, because he figured by that time the airplanes would have crossed
the Atlantic and there would be great excitement in New York.
He wished to be there and get all the information he could about
airplanes, because he wanted to start building his own just as soon
as he had money enough and felt that he could do so. He asked Mr.
Kennelworth what he thought about him resigning in a short time to go
to New York. Mr. Kennelworth told him that he would regret very much
to lose his services, but that he had great faith in Robert's study
of the Bible and what he thought he could do, and that if he wanted
to do so, he would let him go and not only that, but would aid him
financially. Robert confided his hope and desire to take Marie with
him. Mr. Kennelworth didn't exactly agree with this but told him that
this was a problem he would have to solve for himself; that if Marie
had faith enough in him to take the step, he was sure it would work out
all right; and that he could always have his old position back any time
that he wanted to return, and could have any help that he could render
him in New York.
After his conference with Mr. Kennelworth, Robert wired Marie as
follows:
EXPECT TO BE WITH YOU SUNDAY WILL COME OVER ON AFTERNOON TRAIN TODAY.
Robert arrived in Sherman, Texas, Saturday evening, and Marie met
him at the train. She was overjoyed at Robert's success. They spent
Saturday evening and Sunday together. It seemed to them the happiest
days of their lives. Robert talked over his plans and Marie was
enthusiastic about his future. He told her that if the market worked
as he expected, he intended to trade in wheat and corn in the near
future; that he hoped to go to New York by the early part of June, as
he was very enthusiastic about the air flights from New York across the
Atlantic to Paris, and get started on his studies and invention. Marie
was willing to give him all the money she had made to help him out but
he told her that the one thing he wanted was her and her love, and that
he wanted her to go with him to New York.
She knew her father would never consent to their marriage and the only
way would be to elope. While she thought it best to finish her studies
in school and join him in New York later, said if he insisted, she
would go with him. Robert left for Texarkana on Sunday afternoon, May
8th, with Marie's promise that if he decided to go to New York within
a few weeks, they would make arrangements to elope and be married in
St. Louis on their arrival there. Robert had his Bible with him and
on his way back home Sunday night, spent several hours reading it and
going over the predictions by Ezekiel and the plans outlined by Ezekiel
for an airplane, which Robert hoped and expected to build in the near
future.
During the next ten days, cotton was slow and reacted 40 to 50 points.
But this in no wise discouraged Robert, as he felt sure that a big
advance was coming the latter part of May and during the early June.
On May 19th, July cotton was again up around the 16 cent level. Robert
felt that now was the time to start buying wheat and corn. He wired
his broker in New York to buy 10,000 July wheat and 10,000 July corn,
and to raise the stop loss order on his cotton and also place a stop
loss order on the wheat and corn, to protect the broker and himself.
The broker wired that he had bought 10,000 July wheat at 1.38-1/2 and
10,000 July corn at 92 cents. On May 20th Robert bought 10,000 July
corn at 92-1/2 cents for Marie's account. He told Mr. Kennelworth that
he figured wheat and corn were now going to have a big advance, and
advised him to buy some, which he did.