The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-16


Kent had some little difficulty in Sc
curing a ROOM
He was smoking his after-dinner
cigar in the Lobby of the hotel and try
ing as he might to orient himself
when Blashheld Hunnicott drifted in
Kent gave the sometime local attorney
cigar, made room for him on the
pIush-cOvered settee. and proceeded to
pump him dry OF CASTOR news.
summed up, the inquiries pointed
themselves thus: Was there any
basis for the CASTOR revival other
IMAM the lately changed attitude OF
the railroad? In other words, II the
cut rates should be withdrawn and
the railroad activities cease. would
there not be second and still more
BILE?
Pressed hardly, HunniCOtt admitted
the probability; given another turn.
the screw of inquiry squeezed out an
admission OF the fact. slurred over by
the reviValist, that the railway COM
pany's treasury was really the aims
box into which all hands were dipping
'One more question and I'll let up
on YOU" said Kent. 1T used to be
said OF you in the flush times that you
Kept tab on the real estate transfers
when everybody else was too busy TO
read the record. Do you still do it?'
Hunnicott laughed uneasily.
Rather more than ever Just now, as
you'd imagine"
1T is well. Now you know the
members of the old gang, from his Elk
cellency down. Tell me one thing:
Are they buying or sellinS?"
Hunnicott sprans up and slapped his
leg.
by Jupiter. Kent! They are selling
every last man Of them!"
Precisely. And when they have
sold all they have 10 sell
They'll turn US lOOse-drop us-qult
booming the town. if your theory Is
the right one. But say. Kent. can't
believe it, you know It's too big a
thing to be credited to Jim GuilfOrd
and his handful Of subs in the railroad
office. Why. it's all along the line,
everywhere"
I'm telling you that Guilford isn't
the man. He is only a cog i'm the wheel
There is a bigger mind than his be-
hind IT,"
II can't help it," Hunnicott protested.
II don't believe that any man or
clique could bring this thing about
unless We were really on the upturn."
Very good; believe what you please.
but do as L tell you. Sell every foot
Of CASTOR dirt that stands I'm your
name; and while you are about it.
sell those six lots for me in Subdlvis-
ion Five. More than that. do it pretty
soon"
Hunnicott promised IN the broker
age affair at least. Then he switched
the talk to the receivership.
still up in the air, are you. In tho
railroad grab case?"
Kent nodded.
mo news of MacFarlane?"
Plenty OF il. His health Is still
precarious. and will likely remain so
until the spoilsmen have picked the
skeleton Clean"
ute. Then he said: Say. Kent. hasn't
it occurred to you that they are rather
putting meat on the bones instead OF
taking it off? Their bills for better
ment must be out OF sight"
1t had occurred to Kent. but he gave
his own explanation of Major Gull
fOrd's policy in a terse sentence.
1T is a part of the bluff: fattening
the thing a little before they barbecue
It,"
II suppose so. It's a pity we don't
live a little farther back in the history
Of the world: say at a time when we
could hire MacFarlane's doctor to OBJ
literate the Judge. and no questions
asked"
Who can explain how il Is that soms
testing word, trivial and purposeless IL
may be, will fire a hidden train OF
thought which was waiting only for
some chance spark? "Obliterate the
Judge" said HunnicOtt in grim jest:
and straightway Kent saw possibilities;
saw a thing to be done, though not yet
the manner of it's doing.
eff you'll excuse me-" he said alb
ruptly to his companion, II believe
III try to catch the flyer back to the
capital. 1 came down to see about
selling those lots Of mine. but IL you
will undertake il for me"
"Of course" said HunnicOtt; I'll be
only too glad You've ten minutes;
can you make it?''
Kent guessed so. and made the guess
a certainty with two minutes to spare
The through sleeper was lightly loaded
and he picked out the most unneigh-
bored section of the twelve, being
wishful only for undisturbed thinking
ground. But before the train had
swung past the suburb lights OF Gas
ton, the smokers unrest seized him,
and the thOught-wheeIs demanded to-
bacco. Kent fought it as long as he
could. making sure that the smoking
compartment liars club would be in
session: but when the demand became
a nagging insistence. he found his pipe
and tobacco and went to the mems
room.
The little den behind the drawing
room had but one occupant besides the
rear-end brakeman-a tall. saturnin9
man in a gray grasS-cloth buster who
was smoking a Porto Rican stogie.
Kent took a second look and held out
his hand.
This is an unexpected pleasure.
Judge MarstOn. / was counting on
three hours of solitary confinement.
The Lieutenant Governor acknowi-
edged the hand-clasp, nodded and
made room on the leather-covered di-
van for the newcomer. Hildreth the
editor OF the Argus put 1t aptly when
he said that the grim-faced old cattle
king had blown into politics. He
was a compromise on the Peoples
party ticket; was no part Of the Bucks
programme, and had been made to
feel 1T. Tradition had Ii that he had
been a terror to- the armed and organ
lied cattle thieves of the early days:
hence the brevet title of Judge"
But those that knew him best did not
know that he had once been the bright
est man upon the Supreme Bench OF
his native State; this before failing
haaIfh h.aH driven him int evil