Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-03-18

any preliminary conversation. ssMr.
Kent has agreed to breach. the sub
iect to- Mr.. Haven. 7 find that none
OF US have pressing engagements for
next Monday afternoon after bank
ing hours. They expressed willing
mess to listen to. your plans at that
time, If such viii suit your conven-
ience."
Hestor was cool as ice. He thought
a moment, calmly consulted a memo
randum book, and stated that he had
only an unimportant engagement
which readily could be postponed
"We will meet at this Office, then"
said Mr.. Morton as he rose to signify
that the interview was at an end.
SCI have a suggestion to make"
said Hestor. 'You never have been
on board my new yacht. All last
season she was in commission in In
dian and @ Asiatic waters. The
Shark returned to the United States
ABOUT a month ago and. has been
thoroughly overhauled and is in fine
condition. You and the gentlemen
you have named-with the possible
exception of Mr.. Pence-are famous
water dogs. 1 should be glad to
welcome you on the Shark j.. and
promise you a good dinner. after
which we can discuss matters at
leisure. I will dock her at the Bat.
terry, and it is but a few steps from
here to the PIER
Rather too early in the season
for yachting, is it not?" said Mr..
Morton, but his face lit up at the
thought. He was famous yachts
man. cit is fine and warm to-day,
but it may be disagreeable Monday"
eff it is bad weather we can meet
at your Office. If it is fine we will
go on the yacht" suggested Hestor.
eff the weather is favorable see
no reason why we should not accept
your invitation said Mr.. Morton.
"We viii wait and see. I will let
You know by two o'clock Monday
afternoon if we decide to go on your
yacht. Good day."
On Friday Hestors received q tele-
phone message from Sidney Ham
mond announcing his return from
Chicago. Hestor at once addressed
him the following letter:
My Dear Sidney:
l. I have accomplished great things since
you have been away. I should like to see
you and talk them over with you at once.
but have matters of much Importance on
hand which will take up every minute
of my time until Monday evening. ]
presume that you will find plenty of work
awaiting your return I have arranged
to give a dinner to several gentlemen on
board the SHARK" on Monday evening.
Among them will be Mr.. Palmer ]. Nor
ton. Mr.. Carmody, Mr.. Rockwell and
others You must be one of the party.
L am going to surprise you.
The Shark will be docked near the
BATTERY n ne
at the boat. Do not fail to accept this
invitation, as we shall discuss matters
which will require your advice. Notify
me by message at once of your accept
ance Of this invitation. Will see you
IN the meanwhile if can spare the time.
For reacons sufficiently obvious, you will
! kindly light a cigar with this note and
maintain your habitual secrecy as 6
friend and a lawyer.
1 remain dear Sidney.
Sincerely yours,
WALTER B. EESTOR.
To this letter Hestor7 received. a
reply accepting the invitation and
congratulating him on the evident
prospects of the e trust" and ex-.
pressing a lively curiosity as to it's
subject and object.
The Monday selected by Mr.. Palmer
j. Morton for a conference between
his business associates and the repre-
sentative of the New York Record
was perfect day, as has been stated
in this history. Mr.. Hestor was not
surprised when the fnancier called
him on the telephone and Informed
him that the invitation for trip and
a dinner on the SHARK was ac-
cepted. Mr.. Morton said that he
| had notified Messrs. Kent, Pence and
Haven to meet at his Office at about
| four o'clock, and that he would ses,
cort them through Battery park to
| the pier, the location of which was
perfectly familiar to Mr.. Morton.
Mr.. Hestor replied that he would
arrange with Mr.. Rockwell and Mr.,
eCarmody to<meet either at Mr.. Nor
tons office or to proceed directly to
the yacht. This terminated the con-
versation over the 3 telephone.
Hestor then called Mr.. Rockwell
on the telephone. That gentle
man stated that he had an ap-
pointment to meet Mr.. Carmody at
his office at three o'clock, and said
that if Mr.. Hestor would call for
| them at about four O'Clock they
would be pleased to accompany him.
This was agreed to. At this hour the
Hestor carriage, with the old family
coachman on the box. stood in front
of the Carmody building, and g few
minutes later the three gentlemen
were on their way to the boat. They
found that Mr.. Morton and his party
had arrived, as had Mr.. Sidney Ham
mond, whoowas acquainted with the
members of the group Of capitalists.
mfr. Hammond is my attorney as
well as my friend" said Mr.. Hestor
land he may be able to throw light
on any legal complications that may