Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-07-04

plutocrats have in actual money. /
have $7.3S and here it is"
He placed it on the table.
"How much have you got, Haven?"
Mr.. Hiram Haven had been making
an inventory and produced $31.62.
"You are affiuent." observed Mr..
Kent. "And you, Mr.. Carmody?"
81 find on examination that ! have
sig and some small change; $12.25,
to be exact" said Mr.. Carmody. Mr..
Palmer j. Morton. finding that Mr..
Kent was determined to pursue this
cash investigation, announced that
he had $42S.s5. Mr.. Rockwell was
less fortunate in his immediate pos
sessions. lie scheduled $7S.15.
We'll, dig up, Brother Pence" said
Mr.. Kent. What is your contribu-
ton to the war chest?"
Il have II cents and Brooklyn
bridge ticket" said Mr.. Pence. "You
see l never c.rry anything but car
fare. 1t is so easy to lose money
out of your pockets, and then you
may he. held up and robbed. / lost
n silver dollar through hole in my
pocket once, and have never carried
any large sums of money since"
$50 l have heard" said Mr.. Kent.
'"Well, pass over your II cents. You
know the story of the widows mite.
Everything counts. Let's see; we
have a total of S55S.20. That is a
good average for six millionaires. /
seldom carry more than 500. Now,
what can we do with it?'
He looked at Mr.. Morton.
81 do not suppose we can do any
thing with that amount of money!"
responded the financier. THAT was
not my idea. Still it is a good plan
to know just how much we have on
hand. | look at the matter in this
light: If this man Hestor is not abso-
lutely crazy he has some definite OBJ
iect in view. 1t may take the form
of n demand for ransom. The ques-
ton for us to decide is, first, shall
we pay a ransom; and second, if So,
how much? Personally l regard this
in a purely business way. My time
is worth money. We have been
trapped and our time captured with
our persons. i should be willing to
make reasonable compromise.
Since ! am the one most to blame
for this affair, shall insist on stand
ing half of any fund which may be
agreed upon"
Il have often thought of what l
would do if kidnapped and held for
ransom" said M. Carmody in re-
Elective way. II have always thought
that / would die rather than pay n
dollar, but now that the fact con-
fronts me believe that the thoughts
of those at home outweigh my
scruples. / think I should be ready
to contribute to any such fund"
"Who are you'going to give it'to?'
asked Mr.. Kent.
"Why, to Mr.. Hestor," answered
Mr.. Morton.
i'It will do no good" replied Mr..
Kent, with the decision of a man
who has unalterably made up his
mind. Gle is as crazy as a womans
watch. He will laugh at you. Mark
my words; it will do no good to talk
to him. Your only hope is in that
Capt. Waters. You might try that
$55s.2O on him, but l don't believe
he would touch it or hundred times
that amount. / tell you we are In
for an ocean voyage with land-ur
on some island"
Mr.. Pence groaned and abstracted
his eleven cents from the pile which
vet remained on the table.
81 am not so sure about Hestor,
said Mr.. Morton. HE loves money as
, we'll as the best of them. Hestol
acts crazy but it may be assumed
If we offered him say 100000 he
might regain his sense. What dc
you think about it, Mr.. Rockwell?'
81 am not very hopeful" said Mr.
Rockwell. I'm the event we decide
/. on such a course / would suggest
larger amount. ] will cheerfully
l pledge 100000 to n $5,000,O0O fund
5 THAT is more than your share,
I said Mr.. Morton. II think your sug
gestion as to a larger amount is
wise one and / will pledge half o.
Y it,"
This was objected to by all excep
= by Mr.. Pence, who had been bus.
with a pencil and announced that hi
S could not see his way clear to con
: tributing more than $4,000 to an.
}. fund. He explained that money wa
:. at so low a rate of interest that /
was drug on the market.
!. "Why, l have $4,0Oo,0OO right nov
+ in the bank which is not drawing
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