The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-01-05

..Well." he said, there is nothing for
it 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"
"We cannot form our company and
sue the paper at the same time,4 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 ofthat article? How can we
form our company if such a 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 Field?'
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
Il have always thought" said John,
'that the capitalization is TOO high"
"Really, believe you think that ar
ticle is not so unfair after all. John,
[ am astonished you"
but if we commence a 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
knock at the door, and the clerk entered
with letter in his hand which had just
come in. Kenyon tore it open, read 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 he 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reputation, we can no longer represent your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 suit is brought against
the paper which contains the article.
Yours truly, w. HAWK.
Wentworth laughed with a certain
bitterness. WELL" he said, eff it has
come to such d pass that Hawk fears
for his reputation, the sooner we begin
o 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 tremendous disadvantage,
and the result of it all will probably be
q disagreement of the jury and practi-
cally ruin us. You see, 1 have no wit
nesSeS."
eyes, but what about the mine I?
How can we go on without indicating
| ourselves?"
Before anything further could be
said young Mr.. Longworth came in,
looking as cool, calm, and unruff1ed as
If there were no such things in the
world as financial newspapers.
Discussing it, 1 see," were his first
words
"Yes," said Wentworth Il am very
frIO 6 HOY IL
difference of opinion in the matter of
that article. Kenyon here is averse to
suing that paper for libel. l am in
favor of prosecuting it. Now what do
you say?"
MY dear fellow" replied Longworth,
Il am delighted to be able to agree with
Mr.. Kenyon for once Sue them!
Why, certainly not. That is just what
they want
But" said Wentworth, |'if we do not,
who is going to look at our mine?''
Exactly the same number of peo-
/ pie as would look at it before the article
appeared"
Don't you think it will nave any eff
| fect?"
mot the slightest"
Bullock at this letter from your own
lawyers on the subject" Wentworth
handed Longworth the letter from
Hawk. Longworth adjusted his glass
and read it carefully through.
by Jove!" he said, with a laugh. II
call that distinctly good. 1 had no idea
old Hawk was such a humorist! His
reputation, indeed; well, that beats
me! All that Hawk wants is another
suit on his hands. l wish YOU would let
me keep this letter. 1 will have some
fun with my friend Hawk over it,
You are welcome to the letter, so
far as l am concerned" said Went
worth; "but do you mean to say, Mr..
Longworth, that we have to sit here
calmly under this imputation and do
nothing?"
Il mean to say nothing of the kind;
but L don't propose to play into their
hands by suing them; at least, should
not If it were my case instead of Ken
yon's''