The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-04-14

When the story was done he turned on
Kenyon.
"Well," he said, there is nothing for
1t but sue the paper for libel"
"What good will that do?"
"What good will it do! Do you
mean to say that you intend to sit here
under such an imputation as they have
cast upon you and do nothing? What
good will it do? 1t will do all the good
in the world"
ave cannot form our company and
sue the paper at the same time. All
our energies will have to be directed
toward the matter we have in hand"
"But, my dear John, don't you see
the effect of that article? How can we
form our company if such lie remains
unchallenged? Nobody will look at
our proposals. Every one will say:
What have you done about the article
that appeared in the Financial FieldY
If we say we have done nothing, then,
of course, the natural inference is that
we are pair of swindlers, and that our
scheme is fraud"
81 have always thought" said John,
"that the capitalization is TOO high"
"Really, L believe you think that ar
ticle is not so unfair after all. John,
am astonished at you"
"But if we commence libel suit it
cannot be finished before our option
has expired. If we tell the people that
we have begun to sue the Financial
Field for libel, they will merely say
they prefer to wait and hear what the
result Of the case is. By that time our
chances of forming company will be
gone"
Before John could reply there was a
knock at the door, and the clerk entered
with letter in his hand which had just
come in. Kenyon tore it open, Iead it,
and then tossed it across the table to
Wentworth. Wentworth saw the name
of their firm of solicitors at the top of
the letter paper. Then he read:
DEAR SIR: You have doubtless the ar
ticle in the Financial Field of this morn
| ing referring to the Canadian Mica Mining
company. We should be pleased to know
what action you intend to take in the mat
| ter. We may say that, In justice to our
reputation, we can no longer represent your
company unless a suit is brought against
the paper which contains the article.
| Yours truly, w. HAWK.
Wentworth laughed with certain
bitterness. "Well," he said, "if it has
come to such u pass that Hawk fears
for his reputation, the sooner we begin
q libel suit against the paper the bet
ter"
Perhaps" said John, with look OF
agony on his face, you will tell me
where the money is to come from. The
moment we get into the law courts
money will simply have to flow like
water, and doubtless the Field has
plenty of it. 1t will add to their repu
tation, and they will make boast that
they are fighting the battle of the in
vestor in London. Everything is grist
that comes to their mill. Meanwhile
we shall be paying out money, or we
shall be at q tremendous disadvantage
and the result of it all will probably bt
disagreement of the jury and practi
cally ruin us. You see, / have no wit
nesses."
"Yes, but what about the mine
How can we go on without vindicatins
ourselves?"
Before anything further could b'
said young Mr.. Longworth came in
looking as cool, calm, and unruffled a!
if there were no such things in thu
world as financial newspapers.
Discussing it, see," were his frs
words.
YES" said Wentworth. II am yer!
glad you have come. We have littl
difference of opinion in the matter o
that article. Kenyon here is averse II
suing that paper for libel. l am il
favor of prosecuting it. Now what d'
you say?"
"My dear fellow" replied Longworth
II am delighted to be able to agree will
Mr.. Kenyon for once. Sue them
Why, certainly not. That is just wha
they want"
"But," said Wentworth, "if we do not
who is going to look at our mine?"
Exactly the same number of pee
pie as would look at it before the articl
appeared"
Don't you think 1t will nave any Ell
fect%
mot the slightest"
Outlook at this letter from your owl
lawyers on the subject" Wentworth
handed Longworth the letter fror
Hawk. Longworth adjusted his glas
and read it carefully through.
by Jove!" he said, with laugh.
call that distinctly good. had no ide
old Hawk was such humorist! Hi
reputation, indeed; well, that beat
me! All that Hawk wants is anothe
suit on his hands. wish you would lie
me keep this letter. will have som
fun with my friend Hawk over it,"
"You are welcome to the letter, 81
far as I am concerned" said Went
worth; "but do you mean to say, MI
Longworth, that we have to sit her
calmly under this imputation and d
nothing?"
Il mean to say nothing of the kind
but I don't propose to play into thei
hands by suing them; at least, shoul'
not if it were my case instead of Ken
yon's."
what would you do?"