Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-07
didn't you say su?"

here to mako trouble, but as an asso-
ciate Of Mr.. Railway I have right to
understand the case. OF course have
his side Of the story" he suggested, a.
though convinced that a detailing Of
the other side might change his views.
Daily considered carefully, fixing his
flint blue eyes unswervingly on
Thorpc's face. Evidently his scrutiny
advised him that the young man was
a force to be reckoned with.
"It's like this" he said abruptly;
I'VE contracted last fall with this man
Railway to put in 100000 fee: Of our
timber, delivered to the main drive at
the mouth Of the Cass branch. In this
We was to act independently. except as
TO the matter Of provisions. Those
he drew from our van and was debited
fifth the amount of the same. Is that
U,ar?'
Perfectly" replied Thorpe.
"ln return we were to pay him, mer.
charitable scale, 81 thousand. If,
however, he failed to put in the whole
lob the contract was void"
THAT'S how I understand IT," com
mented Thorpe. "wellY"
"well, he didn't get in the 5000, 900
There's million and half hung up ID
the woods"
"But you have in your hands thrse
nillion and a half. which Under the
present arrangement you get free OF
any charge whatever
Ard we ought to get H." cried DAILY.
Great guns! Here we intend to saw
this summer and quit. We want to
get in every stick Of timber we own
so as to be able to clear out Of here
for good and oil ut the close Of the
season, and now this condigned jobber
lies us up for million and a half"
at is exceedingly annoying" con-
eeded Thorpe, land It is a good deal
Of Railways fault, 1 am willing to ad-
nit. but it's your fault too"
"To be sure" replied DAILY. with the
accent Of sarcasm.
you had no business entering into
any such contract. 1t gave him no
show"
II suppose that was mainly his look
out. wasn't it? And. as already told
you. we had to protect ourselves
You should have demanded security
for the completion Of the work. Under
your present agreement. il Padway
got in the timber, you were to pay him
fair price. II he didn't. you appro-
prated everything he had already
done. In other words, you made him
q bet
81 aon't care what you call it." an
swered Daily, who had recovered his
good humor IN contemplation Of the Sc.
curlty OF his position. The fact stands
oil right"
ut does" said Thorpe Unexpectedly,
land I'm glad Of II. Now, let's examine
few figures. You owned 5000, 600
feet Of timber. which at the rfice Of
stumpage" (stauding trees) was worth
$40 OOO.'
"Well?"
"You come cut at the end Of the sea
son with three million aud n half Of
saw logs, which with The - worth of
logging added are worth $11.tOO."
Hold on" cried DAILY. I'VE paid
Railway 81. We could have done it
ourselves for less
You could not have done 1t for one
cent less than four-twenty in that couu.
try" replied Thorpe, las AN expert will
testify"
why did we give 1t to Raiva- at
four then?'
You saved the expense Of a salaried
Overseer and yourselves some bother"
replied Thorpe. Railway 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 a company"
I'VE could have done 1t for four" in
sisted DAILY stubbornly. But get ON.
What are you driving at? Ny times
valuable"
We'll, put her at four, then" agreed
Thorpe. That makes your saw logs
worth over $4,000. or 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 stunpage rate your
million and a half which Railway 'ap.
propriated would Oe 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
millioA and half would only have
been worth between eight and nine
thousand. Dcducting this purely +heo-
retical loss Railway has occnsioned
you from the amount he has gained
for you. you are still some four or i've
thousand ahead Of the game. For that
you paid him nothing
That's Railways lookout"
"In justice You should pay him that
amount. He IL poor man. He has
sunk all he owned in this venture
some $4,000 and he has nothing to
live on. Even il you pay him Ave 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 $4,000" replied
Thorpe sharply. Besides, you still
own the million and half which. II
you do not care to put them In your
self. you can sell for something on the
skids."