The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-01
CHAPTER XVII.

W AEn OOLl On llo OluCC
it seemed to him that his clerk looked
at him askance. He imagined that
innocent gentleman had been reading
the article in the Financial Field, bu5
the truth is John was hardly in frame
of mind to form a correct opinion on
what other people had been doing.
Everybody he met in the street, it
seemed to him, was discussing the
article in the Financial Field.
He asked if any body had been in that
morning. and was told that there had
been no callers. Then he passed into
the directors room, closed the door be-
hind him, sat down on a chair and
leaned his head on his hands with his
elbows on the table. In this position
Wentworth found him some time later.
and when John looked up his face was
haggard and aged.
"Ah! | see you have read it,"
Yes
DO you think Longworth is at the
bottom of that article?"
John shook his head. "Oh, no." he
said; "he had nothing whatever to do
with it,"
How do you know"
Kenyon related exactly what he'd
passed between the oily young man of
the Financial Field and himself in that
very room. While this recital was 90
ing on Wentworth walked up and
down, expressing his opinion now and
then in remarks that were short and
pithy, but hardly fit for publication.
When the story was done he turned on
Kenyon.
We'll" he said, there is nothing for
1T but sue the paper for libel"
What good will that do?"
what good viii 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 viii it do? 1t will do all the good
in the world"
we cannot form our company and
sue the paper at the same time. All
our energies viii 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 a lie remains
unchallenged? Nobody will look at
our proposals. Every one VIII 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 a pair of swindlers, and that our
scheme is a 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,
4 am astOnished at 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 a
knock at the door, and the clerk entered
with a letter in his hand which had just
come in. Kenyon tore il open, Ie..d il.
and then tossed ii 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 re pleased to know
what action you intend TO take in the mat
ter We may say thai, in justice to oUr
-
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, IF it has
come to such pass that Hawk fears
for his reputation. the sooner we begin
q libel suit against the paper the bet
ter"
Perhaps" said John, with a 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 Tepu-
tation. and they will make a boast that
they are fighting the battle of the in
weston in London. Everything IS gTist
that comes to their mill. Meanwhile
we shall be paying out money. or we
shall be at a tremendous disadvantage,
and the result of il all viii probably be
disagreement Of the jury and practi-
C~1Iy ruin US. You see, have no wit
neSses.
Yes. but what about the mine?
How can we go on without vindIcating
ourselves?"
Before anything further could be
said young Mr. Longworth came in,
looking as cool. calm. and unrufned as
if there were no such things in the
world as financial newspapers.
Discussing it, l see" were his first
words.
YES" said Wentworth. Il am very
glad you have come. We have little
difference of opinion in the matter of
that article. Kenyon here is averse to
suing that paper for libel. | am in
OF Now yrbaf do