Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-25
CHAPTER XIII.
William Porter Returns From q Jour

Porter went into Fenton's private Office
and shut and locked the door after him. He
always did this. and Fenton, who humored
his best clients whims perforce pushed
back the law book which he was reading
and Strengthened the pen on his blotter
Il didn't expect you back so sOon," he
said. Porter looked tired and there were
dark rings under his eyes.
Short horse soon curried." he remarked
pulling packet from his Overcoat.
There was something boyish in Porters
mysterious methods. which always amused
Fenton when they did not alarm and ex-
asperate him.
Porter sat down at long table and the
lawyer drew up a chair opposite him.
Which way have you been his timer
Down in the country returned Porter.
indefinitely.
Fenton laughed and watched his client
pulling the rubber bands from his package
What have you there-oats or wheat?"
What have here said Porter straight
ening out the crisp papers he had taken
from his bundle, is a few shares of Clark
son Traction stock"
"Oh!" Fenton picked up a ruler and play
ed with it until Porter had finished counting
and smoothing the stock certificates
There you are." said the banker, passing
the papers over to Fenton. "See II they're
all right"
Fenton compared the names on the face
of the certificates with the assignments on
the back, while Porter watched him and
played with a rubber band.
The assignments are all straight said
He sat waiting. and his silence irritated
Porter, who reached across and took up tho
certificates again.
II want to talk to you little about
Traction
''All right. SIR" said Fenton respectfully.
I've gone in for that pretty deep this
fall"
Fenton nodded gravely. He felt trouble
in the air.
Il started in on this down east last sum-
mer. Those bonds all went east, but a lot of
the stock was kicked around out here III
get enough and reorganize the company I
can handle the new securities down east all
right That's business Now I've been
gathering In the stock around here on the
quiet. Peckham's been buying some for
me. and he's assigned 1t in blank. There's
no use in getting new shares issued until
we're ready to act. for Barnes and those
fellows are not above doing something
nasty II they think they're going to lose
their jobs"
''The original stock issue was FIVE thou
sand shares" said Fenton. How much
have your
well, SIR" said Porter. 1--WE got about
half. and I'm looking for few shares more
right now.
Fenton picked up his ruler again and beat
his knuckles with 1t. Porter had expected
Fenton to lecture him sharply. but the law
yer was ominously quiet
I'm free to CONFESS" said Fenton. "that
I'm sorry you've gone into this. This isn't
the KIND OF tn1ng Cnat you're In the habit
Of going into. I am not much taken with
the idea OF mixing up In corporation that
has as disreputabie a record as the Traction
Company It's been mismanaged and rob-
bed until there's not much left for an hon.
est man to take hold OF; they lssue no
statements; no one of any responsibility
has been connected with 1t for . long time.
The outside stockholders are scattered all
over the country. and most of them have
quit trying to enforce their rights. II they
may be said to have any rights. You re-
member that the last time they went into
court they were knocked out. and I'm tree
to say that I don't want to have to 90 into
any hfgatton against the company"
ssYes. but the franchise II all straight
aiu't It r. -----~---.--..
Probably It q ali rieht." admitted the
lawyer reluctantly; but that isn't the
whole story, BY any manner Of means. II