The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-09-15
THE
MINORITY
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL
Author of 1.-The Case and
Exceptions, Etc.
sOOpyTight, l9a2 By FREDERICK A. Stokes U0'l
Continue l

AOuIlhut
N the new conditions. Kennard recog-
7fzed the imDracticability of his old
fashioned methods. and the vote on
Mr Trundell's proposition was unani-
nous.
II was destined to be the last evil
dence of harmony in that beard.
For some time prior to his election
as director, Mr.. Cornelius Croydon had
Seen talking Confederated Machine
5hsres to his customers with his usual
reliability and Skill Not that he made
any very positive statements, or en-
Iered upon any very definite details.
indeed Mr.. Croydon seldom said any
Thing that he did not adroitly unsay
n half an hours talk. With the rapid
movements of a lightning calculator
Ae chaIked up his amazing arithmetic,
ind passed a spNlge over his half
made figures with a breathless Babel
If talk. But there was flattery in the
Funior partners confidential tone and
1 fascination about his glib rattle OF
igures which sold many a share OF
she Confederated Companies at hand.
some premium. Kennard. passing
through the customers room one day,
overheard part of a prophecy as to the
companys future which amazed him,
and he took occasion later to ask the
Jptimist upon what he based his cal.
@ulations. The inquiry was put good
naturedly, bit Croyden turned on his
luestioner like a fash.
Aren't you satisfied with running
he company Kennard," he snapped
'or 90 you want to control my opin-
pns roo?"
Kennard turned away with a laugh.
Everybody has touchy moments, and
presumably he had happened on one
IF Croyden's. That was all he thought
If the matter. A few days later tho
Incident acquired more meaning.
AT The very next meeting of the d.
sectors Mr.. Croyaen disclosed to his
lew associates the result of some pri-
rate investigations ne had undertaken
Jn behalf of the corporation. The
books showed. he reported, that there
we're on the pension list of the Asso-
Eiated companies some 90 persons to
whom there was annually paid in the
aggregate nearly $4,000. None of
Ghese persons fulfilled any useful or
necessary function to the company;
none of them had, as far as he was ad-
gised. any legal claim upon the cor
3oTat0n He therefore moved that
all pensions not expressly authorized
BY the board be discontinued forth
With
FOR a few moments after Croydon
assumed his seat, 10 ono spoke. Ken
lard in the chair deliberately turned
sway. and looked out Of the window
rs the only possible comment on such
Z proposition. Mr.. Harlan's voice
seconding the motion brought him
back to gaze with establishment at the
speakers face. Was this the same
mau who, only a short time ago. had
moyed the vote OF thanks and been
its gracious lNOst, and whose daugh-
ter Remarks eyes were flashing. and
ais voice had a note of contempt in il
as he inquired whether any one wished
"a debate the notion For an instant
he forgot he was no longer IN power.
Bot the faces a the or oosite side OF
The table spaedl'. disiGusioned him
With helpless rage Le realized that |
this monstrous thing bad been all ar.
ranged beforehand. He could read il !
IN Croyden's barely perceptibIe smile
II Tp1TrIC1l'r ha e
shifting glance, in Hardness nervous |
angers, in the stolid Indifference OF |
che financial 6eureheads. But it was
Rogers who brought him to the full |
realization of what was happening. To |
hear Daniel Rogers-honest. blunt old |
Rogers stopping to ask for delay in |
stead of instantly denouncing the |
proposition in unmeasured terms, re-
tealed the desperate nature of the
situation
Dave Maddox leaned forward and |
whispered few rapid words in Ken
RardS ear, to which he listened with
ont turning his head. Then he sud-
denly swung around and nodded an
understanding. As Rogers ceased |
speaking Maddox began an attack
against the proposed measure from ito
legal aspect He pointed out the liza
sility to which any such action would
subject the company, and limited, for
Hardness benefit at the possible risk
IN those stockholders whose individual
responsibilities might be revived il
fhe amalgamated company could moi
DC held for damages. The board which
reused sleeping dogs would scarcely
commend itself to those subjected to
attack.
u sec" interrupted Mr. Trundell
Some Of YOU gentlemen desire to be
philanthropists if If doesn't cost any
thing. That's natural But | don't
propose thet YOU 10 it at my expense"
Maddox continued without noticing
lie Tareh whieh greeted this Interrupt
ton. As matter of law, he argued.
the pensions were probably contracts
which the company could not throw
over at its pleasure. Anyway the