The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

spider has seemed to be shifting the
skein of his web. The vanguard had
gone far and it must retreat cautious
| ly. With it's camp-fires still blazing.
the roads defenders found themselves
in sudden possession of Restraining
Order Heights" the red battle flag
upon it's summit bearing the cabalistic
message "Nunc Pro Tunc!"
Here the State has rested for a
space, waiting for what was first
| thought would be a frank surrender to
| be made, while the enemy was saying
nothing and filing off to the tall tim
| Der.
But yesterday there came an idea
of one of the wisest of mental analysts
as to the formal capitulation presaged
by Nunc pro tune. That is
that seeing that the litigation for re-
ownership is doomed to failure, appre-
ciating that Cuyler has been unable to
mend the fences of McBee and Finch,
the main position was evacuated as a
feint to the delivery of another blow
According to this theorist, the next
move will be by a Division Command
er, through competent brigadier who
is big enough to remain unknown even
at this stage of hostilities, and it will
be made in such way as to let the as
sault seem to be delivered by fresh
blood, which will stand out as stran-
gers to both the parties to the litiga-
ton, but will be, i'm reality, the same
Power that has moved the forces here
tofore.
Plainly, this is the scheme suspect
ed, the evolution of Nunc Pro Tune:
Tired of McBee and Finch, Disguised
with the litigation and hopeless of
succeeding, the misty A. & n. c. schem-
ers have determined to appear to give
up the idea of taking away the prop
erty of the road or of preventing
lease.
Lease they will say. "Why we
have always wanted a lease. The court
wants it--look at Nunc Pro Tune! Go
on and lease!'
Yet the minute the road is leased, or
attempted to be leased, there will be
an injunction!-a fresh party to the
fore, with the ammunition of 100 shares
of stock. hitherto unrepresented!
Haiti he will cry. Il, too, want
lease, but not to this party. He is not
substantial. His offer is not in good
faithi The price is too low!"
So that, harassed beyond endurance,
the road hampered by continuous liti-
CATION, plastered with injunctions and
suits and counter-SuitS, the State may
at last give up in despair-and the
wrecking begin.
WnofoupOn cuy1er, anu NC
Bee, with meagre tips as to what is
expected, will pose industriously as
beaten" and "out of it and having
no interest"-while the Power safe,
respectable and patronizing, will come
out of it's web and proceed to benevo-
lently assimilate the scraps.
And the key to all this. the small
wedge which will be expected to force
open the cocoanut if the scheme is
- hi. IL
of A. & N. G.. stock which, amid all
the Juror over the road, despite the
fact that the holdings of every stock
holder on the books have been investi-
gated with a fine tooth comb, has lain
throughout it all quiet, inarticulate and
undiscovered.
Where are these 100 shares? Long
ago they have been transferred from
the original book holder, transferred
again and again until the record of
them is lost. Are they somewhere near
the center of the web, in the Powers
iron box-the last shot in the locker?
Consider the Importance of these
100 shares. Only they can be heard to
speak. OF the others all are COM
mitted. The private stockholders, with
the exception of Cuyler and little
Finch, who bought" some fifty shares
in Raleigh, want a lease but didn't
want it forced. Cuyler is taking righ-
teous stand with Lease" flying from
his flag pole; Finch, reaching after
chestnuts burnt his paws too badly TO
take another shot, and gave away his
standing in a court when the excess of
his zeal caused him to give away him.
self.
So that, of all the holders of the
stock of the road, none save he who
possesses the 100 missing shares can
bob up at this stage of the game and
object with even the semblance of a
straight face.
1t would make an interesting story
could it but be known-the tale of the
hundred shares, their wanderings and
their coming to their obscure rest
But it will never be told because the
Power will not use them directly it
self; for it is it's plan not to appear till
the feast be spread for it's watering
lips-by which time, bless your heart,
the gentlemen of the poetic brain will
be musing on the ruins of London
Bridge.