The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-05-13


the other day he seemed to get an i'm
preston that this vote would be a
hundred shares short? Can that have
been a vague hint that something was
going to happen to Bump
Il tried to get the boy by telephone"
answered Donaldson. 'I,orothy doesn't
know where he is. Nobody knows"
Il wish we had him here said l.
Upon a chance | went to a public
telephone and called up the office. but
| got no word of any one, Archer, Bum
nor Donald. | had curious expert
ence with crossed wires. however, in
the course of which l heard Kelvin's
voice for a few minutes and made out
that he was trying to get communica-
ton with Gillespie. 1t came to me
then to wonder whether that rascal
had spirited Bum away. 1t was a
trick that did not believe Kelvin
would stick at.
Donaldson and | were entirely help
less. We had to rely upon Archer. for
we could not set 10 Tunl5riGGe and
back Before the time set fer the meet
ing, and so, as there, was nothing bet
ter to DO, we had Il morscl of dinner
Shortly before , Ocl3ci Archer ar
rived in pit:lGle state of excitement.
"N'hat s!.:;lI we do:" he cried as soon
as h" was Wit,!.n speaking distance.
"Witlout Nu"n we're lost, and l can
get no tr;;t', Of the man. I've got all
Tunlrit:,~c hunting for him. We must
hold UP the meeting as long as we
can"
There were about a dozen of the
stockholders in the room when we
three entered. ThCrndyke was there,
and l immediately perceived that he
was very restless. l could not get him
into conversation. He sat in corner
of window seat in the attitude Of a
man with the stomach ache and drum
med upon the floor with one foot, a
habit that especially distresses NE.
Presently the meeting was called to
order by a little dummy who acts as
president of the company because more
important men do not want the office.
Some reports were read. and then, I'M
der the rules. it became necessary to
proceed to the election of a board Of
directors, | had little scheme for
holding back the vote but it Was not
necessary to spring it Immediately.
Meanwhile the pr0EiVH were passed
upon in the usual way, and tplIers were
appointed, enc from C%ch party. They
Were Donaldson ana Il man named Al
vim Green, Il small St0c!;holder who had
gone entirely over to the Kelvin party.
although he owed las stock and every
thing else which he had in the world
to me.
There were two tickets-that is, two
lists of men named for directors. The
lists were printed ard were entitled
Ticket no. / and Ticket No. .. Ours
was no. l.
was about to begin my tactics for
delay when there Was q loud knocking
at the door. (which WAS locked. We all
jumped up from oar places around the
long table except Thorndykc. who had
maint"i:irl his scat in the window
throughout the proceedings and did not
stir ut the nUSr
The door WAS opened. and Jim Bum
,Stalkrd INTO the room. with the air OF
a crazy man. | cast one look at him
and dion turned toward Kelvin. My
enemy had seized uIton Archer, who
happened to be nearest to him, and haG
dragged linn into a corner. | judged
that Kelvin WAS protesting upon one
ground or another against the admis
sion of Runn'S vote, but | could not
hear what was said. SO | turned tC
HuMn.
well. jim" said L. where have 20,
. been:'
"Wait," said he, speaking like a maj
in a trance. "Wait. I'm here to vote"
"That's what we're all here for
responded, land the sooner the better.
Quiet was restored and the votinl
| began, the ballots being dropped into {
| hat When all had been collected, thu
| tellcrs took them to a little table in thu
| corner and proceeded to make thu
| count. | glanced across at Donaldson
| and saw instantly that he had encoun
| tered a most unpleasant surprise. II
| great uneaSiness | turned to Carl II,
| rigid in q chair, his head thrust for
| ward, his eyes staring.
l began to feel dire iSola ton. Thes
| men seemed to know something o
! which | was ignorant. The perspira
ton started from my face. | woul,
have given much for a gift of prophec.
| to anticipate the events of the mex
few minutes. and this wish natural,
| suggested Donald | took from M
| pocket the envelope which containe,
| his prediction and turned it nervousl
in my fingers. Curiosity overcame me
l broke the seal and read. with grea
| surprise. this line:
1.-THE Harrington ticket will win b.
800 majority"
While l was vainly trying to max
this result fit the mathematical poss
bilities. I heard the tellers rise fror