The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-26

minutes?"
Wallace" said Thorpe. do you see
that white whiskered old lynx in the
corner? That's Morrison, the man who
wants to get our land. If 1 fail TO
plank down the cash the very instant
it is demanded. he gets his chance.
And he'll take it. Now. go. Don't
hurry until you get beyond the door;
then fly"
Thorpe sat down again in his broad
armed chair and resumed his drum
ming. The nearest bank was six blocks
away. He counted over in his mind
the steps Of Carpenters progress; now
to the door. now in the next block,
now so far beyond. He had just escort
ed him to the door of the bank. when
the clerks voice broke in on him.
Now" Smithers was saying, I'll
give you a receipt for the amount, and
later will send to your address the title
deeds of the descriptions"
Carpenter had yet TO find the proper
official. to identify himself. to certify
the check, and return. 1t was hope
less. Thorpe dropped his hands in sur
render.
Then he saw the boy lay the two
typed lists before his principal and
dimly he perceived that the youth.
shamefa cedly, was holding something
bulky toward himself.
"Wh-what is it," he stammered.
drawing his hand back as though from
red-hot iron.
You asked me for a telegram" said
the boy stubbornly. as though trying to
excuse himself, land l didn't just
catch the name, anyway. When I saw
II on those lists / had to copy,
thought of this here"
"Where'd you get it?" asked Thorpe
breathlessly
"a fellow came here early and left it
for you while I was sweeping out" ex-
planned the boy, said he had to catch
train. It's yours all right, amt it?'
"Oh, yes" replied Thorpe.
He took the envelope and walked I'M
certainly TO the tall window. He look
ed out at the chimneys. After a mo-
ment he tore open the envelope.
Il hope there's no bad news, sir?'
said the clerk, startled at the paleness
of the face Thorpe turned to the desk.
mo" replied the landlooker. GIVE
me receipt. There's a certified check
for your money!"
CHAPTER XIV.
Next day the articles of partnership
were drawn; and Carpenter gave his
note for the necessary expenses. Then
in answer to a pencilled card which
Mr.. Morrison had evidently left at
Thorpe's hotel in person, both young
men called at the lumberman's place
of business. They were ushered i'm
mediately into the private office.
Mr.. Morrison was a smart little man
with ingratiating manner and fishy
eye. He greeted Thorpe with marked
geniality.
MY opponent of yesterday" he
cried tocularly. "Sit down, Mr.. Thorpe!
Although you did me out of some
land L had made every preparation to
purchase, can't but admire your grit
and resOurcefulness. How did you get
here ahead of us?"
Il walked across the upper penin-
sula, and caught a boat" replied
Thorpe briefly.
Indeed. indeed" replied Mr.. Morri-
son, placing the tips of his fingers to-
gether. Extraordinary Well. Mr..
Thorpe, you overreached us nicely; and
L suppose we must pay for our care
lessness. We must have that pine,
even though we pay stumpage on 1t.
Now, what would you consider fair
price for it?'
at is not for sale" answered Thorpe.
We'll waive all that. OF course it
is to your interest to make difficulties
and run the price up as high as you
can. But my time is somewhat occu-
pied just at present, so l would be very
come to an agreement afterwards"
you do not understand me, Mr.. Nor
rison. | told you .the pine is not for
sale, and 1 mean it,
But surely What did you buy it
for, then?" cried Mr.. Morrison, with
evidences of a growing excitement.
I'VE intend to manufacture it."
Mr.. Morrison's fishy eyes nearly pop
ped out of his head. He controlled him
self with an effort
"Mr. Thorpe" said he, "let us try to
be reasonable. Our case stands this
way. We have gone to a great deal OF
expense on the Ossawinamakee in ex-
pectation of undertaking very extensive
operations there. To that end we have
cleared the stream, built three dams
and have laid the. foundations of har-
Dor and boom. This has been very ex-
pensive. Now, your purchase includes
most of what we had meant to log
You have, roughly speaking, about
three hundred millions in your hold
ing, in addition to which there are
several millions scattered near it, which
would pay nobody but yourself to get
in. Our holdings are further up stream
and comprise only about the equal OF
yours
Three hundred millions are not tc
be sneezed at" replied Thorpe.
Certainly not" agreed Morrison,
suavely, gaining confidence in the
| sound of his own voice. mot in this
| country. But you must remember that
| a man goes into the northern PENN
| sula only because he can get something
| better there than here. When the firm
| of Morrison & DAILY establishes itself
now, it must be for the last time. We
want enough timber to do us for the
rest of the time we are in business
I'm that case you will have to hunt
up another locality" replied Thorpe,
| calmly.
aforrison's eyes flashed. But he re-
tanned his appearance of geniality, and
appealed to Wallace Carpenter.
"Then you will retain the advantage
of our dams and improvements" said
he. "Is that fair?''
mo, not on the face of it." admitted
Thorpe. But you did your work in a
| navigable stream for private purposes,
without the consent of the Board of
Control. Your presence on the river is
illegal. You should have taken out a
charter as an Improvement Company.
Then, as long as you tended to bust
ness and kept the concern in repair,
we'd have paid you a toll per thou
sand feet. AS soon as you let it slide,
however, the works would revert to the
state. ] won't hinder your doing that
yet; although 1 might. Take out your
charter and fix your rate of toll"
"In other words, you force us 60
stay there and run little two-by-four
Improvement Company for your bene-
f1t, or else lose the value of our i'm
provements?"
Suit yourself" answered Thorpe.
| careleSSly. "You can ALWAYS log voilr