The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-12

work done on the Cass Branch this
winter. Is that true?"
DAILY studied his antagonist medita-
lively. If it is true, what is II TO
you? he asked at length.
Il am acting in Mr.. Railways in
/ terest."
You are one of Railways men?"
Yes"
In what capacity have you been
working for him?"
"Cant-hook man." replied Thorpe
briefly.
II see," said Daily. slowly. Then sud-
denly, with an intensity of energy that
startled Thorpe, he cried: Now you
| get out of herei Right of! Quick"
The young man recognized the COM
polling and autocratic boss addressing
a member of the crew.
Il shall do nothing of the kind" he
replied with flash of fire.
| The mill-owner leaped to his feet.
! Thorpe did not wish to bring about
an actual scene of violence. He had
attained his object, which was to nus
ter the other.
Il have Railways power of attor-
ney," he added.
Daily sat down. controlled himself
with an effort, and growled out Why
didn't you say so?"
Now l would like to know your po-
sition," went on Thorpe. Il am not
here to make trouble. but as an as
sociate of Mr.. Railway, l have right
to understand the case. OF course 1
have his side of the story he sug-
gested as though convinced that
detailing Of the other side might
change his views.
DAILY considered carefully. fixing his
fiint-blue eyes unswervingly on
Thorpe's face. Evidently his scrutiny
| advised him that the young man was
a force to be reckoned with.
It's like this" he said abruptly, I'VE
| contracted last fall with this man Rad
wav TO PVT in FIVE million feet of our
timber, delivered to the main drive
at the mouth OIL the Cass Branch. In
this he was to act Independently ex-
cept as to the matter of provisions.
Those he drew from our van, and was
debited with the amount of the same.
Is that clear?"
Perfectly" replied Thorpe.
I'm return we were to pay him, mer-
| charitable scale, four dollars a thou
sand. If, however, he failed to put in
the whole job. the contract was void. "
That's how 1 understand it," COM
mented Thorpe. "Well?"
well, he didn't get in the five mill
lion. There's a million and a half
hung up in the woods"
But you have in your hands three
million and a half, which under the
present arrangement you get free of
any charge whatever"
And we ought to get it," cried Daily.
Great guns. Here we intend to saw
this summer and quit. We want to
get in every stick of timber we own
so as to be able to clear out of here
for good and all at the close of the
season; and now this condigned job
Der ties us up for million and half. "
1T is exceedingly annoying" conced-
| ed Thorpe, and it is a good deal of
Railways fault, 1 am willing to ad-
nit, but it's your fault too"
TO be sure" replied Daily with. the
accent of sarcasm.
You had no business entering into
any such contract. 1t gave him no
show"
Il suppose that was mainly his look
out, wasn't it? And as l already told
you, we had to protect ourselves"
You should have demanded security
for the completion of the work IN
der your present agreement, If Railway
got in the timber, you were to pay
him fair price. II he didn't, you APP
propriated everything he had already
done. In other words, you made him a
bet"
Il don't care what you call it," an
swered DAILY, who had recovered his
good humor in contemplation of the Sc
curity of his position. The fact stands
! all right
1T does" said Thorpe unexpectedly,
"and I'm glad of 1t. Now, let's exam
inc few figures. You owned 5000, 900
feet of timber, which at the price of
stumpage" (standing trees), was
i worth so, 000."
! We'll"
You come out at the end of the
season with $500. 900 of saw logs, which,
with the four dollars worth of log
ging added, are worth $21 0O0.'
Hold on!" cried Daily; I'VE paid
Railway 81; we could have done it our
selves for less
/ You could not have done 1t for one
: cent less than four-twenty in that
country" replied Thorpe, las an expert
will testify"
why did we give it to Railway at
four, then?"
You saved the expense of a salaried
| overseer, and yourselves some bother"
replied Thorpe. Railway could do 1t
for less, because, for some strange
reason, which you yourself do not un-