The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-06-09

It uoes,'' said Thorpe unexpectedly,
"and I'm glad of it. Now, let's examine
a few figures. You owned 100000
feet of timber, which at the price Of
stumpage" (standing trees) 'swas worth
$4,000"
"Well?"
''You come out at the end of the sea-
son with three million and a half of
saw logs, which with the 81 worth of
logging added are worth $21,00O."
"Hold on!'' cried DAILY. eve paid
Railway 81. We could have done it
ourselves for less"
"You could not have done it for one
cent less than four-twenty in that coun-
try" replied Thorpe, Gas an expert will
testify"
"Why did we give it to Railway at
four them?
''You saved the expense of a salaried
overseer and yourselves some bother,''
replied Thorpe. Roadway could do it
for less because, for some strange rea-
son which you yourself do not under
stand, jObber can always log for less
than company"
eve could have done it for four" in
sisted Daily stubbornly. "But get on.
What are you driving at? My times
valuable"
"Well, put her at four, then," agreed
Thorpe. '"That makes your saw logs
worth over $4,000. Of this value Rad
way added $4,000. You have appro-
priated that much of his without pay
ing him one cent?
DAILY seemed amused. "How about
the million and half feet of ours he
appropriated?" he asked quietly.
I'm coming to that. Now for your
losses. At the stumpage rate your
million and half which Railway zap.
propriated' would be only three thou
sand. But for the sake Of argument
we'll take the actual sum you'd have
received for saw logs. Even then the
million and a half would only have
been worth between eight and nine
thousand. Deducting this purely theo-
retical loss Railway has occasioned
you from the amount he has gained
for you, you are still some four or five
thousand ahead of the game. For that
you paid him nothing"
'That's Railways lookout"
"In justice you should pay him that
amount He is poor man. He has
sunk all he owned in this venture,
some $4,000, and he has nothing to
live on. Even if you pay him five thou
sand, he has lost considerable, while
you have gained.''
"How have we gained by this bit OF
philanthropy
Because you originally paid in cash
for all that timber on the stump just
$4,000. and you get from Railway saw
logs to the value Of $20,000," replied
Thorpe sharply. Besides, you still
own the million and a half which, if
you do not care to put them in your
self, you can sell for something on the
skids.''
Don't you know, young man, that
white pine logs on skids will spoil ut
terly in a SUMMER? Worms get into
EN-"
II do," replied Thorpe, unless you
bark them, which process will cost you
about 81 a thousand. You can find
any amount of small purchasers at re-
luced price. You can sell them easily
at So. That nets you for your million
and half little over $4,000 more
Under the circumstances do not think
that my request for five thousand is
at all exorbitant."
Daily laughed "You are a shrewd
fgurer, and your remarks are interest
ing" said he.
"Will you give SCOOP asked Thorpe.
II will not" replied DAILY; then, with
sudden change of humor: "And now
you just about as long as Pm going
to. I have Railways contract in that
safe, and live up to it. I'll thank you
to go plumb to blazes!''
'"That's your last word. is it?' asked
Thorpe, rising.
1T is"
'Then," said he slowly and distinctly,
"1'll tell you what I'll do. l intend to
collect in full the 81 thousand for the
three millions and half Mr.. Railway
has delivered to you. In return Mr..
Railway will purchase Of you at the
gtumpage rates Of So thousand the
million and half he failed to put
in. That makes a bill against you,
if my figuring is correct, of just SILL
600. You will pay that bill, and will
tell you why. Your contract will be
classed in any court as gambling con-
tract for lack of consideration. You
have no legal standing in the world.
call your bluff, Mr.. DAILY, and I'll fight
you from the drop Of the hat through
every court in Christendom.''
Flight ahead" advised DAILY sweetly,
who knew perfectly well that Thorpe's
law was faulty. AS matter of fact,
the young man could have collected
on other grounds, but neither was
aware of that.
Furthermore" pursued Thorpe in
addition, "I'll repeat my offer before
witnesses, and if win the first suit
I'll sue you for the money we could