Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-02-16


| OFF their hands, provided only that
might be maintained and kept running
He held conference with the mel
who owned most of it's stock before b,
answered the letter from Chicago
/ Then he wrote that while the com
pany was not anxious to sell out i
might consider an offer Of $4,000. The
Chicago man came back with a propo
sition to pay $4,000. There followed
further negotiations by correspondence
| Finally Mari was asked to make 9
! trip to Chicago to talk the matter over
Before he left an upset price of $4,000
was fixed for the property.
swell let it go at $55,O0O," the presi
dent of the company said to Mari as
the latter stepped on the train.
Gregory Uppman met him at the
Union station and introduced himself
as one Of the men interested in the pur.
chase Of the road. The two went di-
rectly to the lawyers Office There the
deal was discussed at length. As q
final proposition the new syndicate
made an offer Of $55,OOO, to which
Mari refused to listen.
Finally Uppman came to the point.
''I'u tell you what, MARI" he said.
"You use your influence with the COM
pany to get them to accept $4,000, and
Well be glad to pay you personal
commission of $4,000 when the deeds
are signed"
At first Mari was Mortified at the
thought. 1t seemed to him that to take
such commission would be selling his
professional honor. He shook his head
Uppman went on explaining smoothly
that commission on large sales OF
this kind was quite the usual thing. 1t
was not intended in any way as bride.
The property was not worth more than
$4,000. It's owners were getting
good price for their line. There was
nothing out Of the way about 1t.
The more Mari thought of the mat
ter the more it seemed to him that per-
haps he would be justified in taking
the $4,000. He had secured the price
fixed by the owners Of the line Sure
ly there was no harm in his making b
little out Of it on his own account Be-
sides, he needed the money badly. If
after thinking it over he concluded that
1t would be best not to keep the money,
he could turn it over when the price
agreed on was paid.
Uppman took him out to dinner that
evening They dined at club, and
Mari drank more wine than he was
used to. By 10 o'clock he had decided
to take the money and settle it with his
conscience later. Next day the deal
was completed. MARI got his $1,000 in
cash, and the papers were signed for
the transfer Of the Hartil street car
line.
On the next train Uppman followed
Mari home to the far west. MARI went I
straight through to Hartil, where the
street car people congratulated him on
the successful completion Of his work.
Uppman stopped off at Carton and re-
ported to Swerin and Senator Gitkinz. |
Ten days later he and Swerin went up
to the state capital to open the sena-
tors campaign headquarters. One OF
the first men Uppman met in the lobby |
Of the hotel was Senator Mari, just |
come down to attend the session. The
legislator recognized him with evident |
signs Of embarrassment. But the poll
tician wasted little time.
"How do you do, Senator Marrw he
began. "I'm glad to see you again.
Come down to look the ground over a
little in advanceY
eyes, Mr.. Uppman. but what brings I
you here just nowY
"Oh, I'm Senator Gitkinz's private,
you know! I've come down
to open his headquarters for the cam
oaign. By the way, senator, we'd like
TO have you call on us as soon as you
ian conveniently, Parlor G, second
door."
Senator Mari blushed, hesitated and
ooked around as if he had been de-
eeted in some dishonorabIe act.
"You're Senator Gitkinz's private Sec
'etaryw he stammered. II thought
7ou were street railway man."
ooh, have a little interest in one or
wo lines, but what Pm chiefly inter-
'sted in is to get Senator Gitkinz sent
Jack to the senate. l trust you'll call
N us today. You and I know each
ther pretty we'll already, you know.
rs friends we ought to stick together,
lon't you think? I hate these bitter
'olitical quarrels, and I'm sure we :
hall get along together without any
rouble. You'll come and see me, won't
our"
For moment the two men fought a
uel with their eyes. Then Marr's
lance dropped. He felt that he was t
efeated.
EYES," he answered hesitatingly, {
I'll come"
When Uppman reported the result Of :
is interview to Swerin, who was sit I
ng quietly up stairs in an inner room, '
he latter gentleman smiled grimly.
"Checkmate" he said II thought I
re had the old man where he couldn't
ct away. Chicago Tribune.
Anecdotes of Henry Russell. 9
4, l =