The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-08
u. 3
Mr.. Belcher Plies for a Railroad.

swell. Toll, I'm pillng Tor q railroad. I'm
crying nights for railroad. A fellow must
have amusements, you know. Health must be
taken care, eh? All the fellows have railroads.
It's we'll enough to keep horses and go to Che
theatre. A steamship line isn't bad, but the
trouble is, man can't BE captain Of his own
vessels. No Toll I need railroad. I'm
yearning for engines aid double tracks, and
running over my own llhe."
'.Yoa might buy up d European kingdom Or
two. at pinch, General"
Eyes; but Toll, You don't know what ter
minal facilities I've got for railroad"
''Your pocket will answer for one end, said
Talbot. laughing.
"Right, the first time,' responded the Cen
Toll. do YOU know what | see at the other
end? %
sNo.''
81 see a man Of about the size OF Robert
Belcher in the chair OF Oh Alderman. see
him seated on a horse, riding down Broadway
at the head of regiment. see him Mayor OF
che City of New York. / see him Governor OF
the State. see him President OF the United
States. see no reason why he cannot hold
any, or all these offices. All doors yield to y
golden KEY. TOLL hayn't got to 60 as far as
have come, to reach the top. Do you know
Il? Big thing! Yes, Toll, / must have rail-
road"
ssHave YOU selected the toy You propose to
purchaser inquired Talbot.
"Well. I've looked about some but the
trouble is, that all the best Of 'em are in hands
THAT can hold them. must buy poor one
and build it up, or make it build me up
'sThat's pity"
81 don't know about that. The big ones are
hard to handle, and I'm not quite big enough
for them yet What do you say to the Crooked
Valley?' M
s.Poor road, and wants connection
s'rhose are exactly the points. can buy it
for song. Issue bonds, and build the connec-
tions-issue plenty of bonds, and build plenty
of connections. Terminal facilities large-do
you understand? Eth, Toll %
Mr.. Talbot laughed.
IL don't think you need any suggestions
from me, he said.
s.No: the General can manage this thing
without help. He only wanted to open your
eyes little, and get you ready for your days
work. You fellows who fiddle around with
few goods need waking up occasionally. Now
Toll, go off and let the General get up
81 must have railroad before night or
shall not be able to sleep wink. Bye-bye ~
Talbot turned to leave the room, when Mr..
Belcher arrested him with the question ::
s"Toll, would you like an office in the Crook
ed Valley corporation?"
a dsgracefu history, and disastrous end
that it would be used by the General TOR
the purpose of stealing, and that the head Of it
would not be content to share the plumber with
Others He had no wish to be his principals
cat's-paw, or to be identified with an enterprise
in which, deprived of both will and voice, he
should win neither profit or credit So he
said:
'sNo, thank you have all I can do to-
take care OF your goods, and | am not ampi-
tious.'
'sThere'll be nothing for you to do, you
know. I shall gun the whole thing.
II can serve you better, General, where
ann
ssWell. bye-bye; wont urge you."
After Talbot left, Mr.. Belcher rose and care
fully dressed himself. Phipps was already at
the door with his carriage, and. half an hour
aftcrward, the great proprietor, full Of his vain
and knavish projects, took his seat in it, and
was whirled off down to Wall street. His bro
kers had already been charged with his plans,
and, before he reached the ground, every of
flee where the Crooked Valley stock was held
had been visited. and every considerable de-
post of it ascertained, so that before night, by
one grand swcop, .hc General had absorbed a
controlling interest in the corporation.