The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-09-08

| conferred the duJnOTlly anu supplied
he necessary details of information
Dave Maddox took in the situation
at glance, and instantly set about
,urning it to practical account. Note
BOOK in hand, he moved about the
room. introducing himself to every
one. questioning and answering ques-
tons, stopping to tell a funny story
or speak an earnest word as occasion
suggested, but always forwarding his
purpose.
'By Jove. haven't done anything
like this since Neryey Baldwin ran for
congress-" he observed to Latham and
Spaulding I've had a good time,
but"-he paused and consulted the
ote-book-"we're still 1900 votes
short. Where can we get them?"
Kennard nodded at a group over
which little Hardness presided in the
proud consciousness that his was the
only name by which the syndicate was
as yet known.
Latham shook his head at Kennard's
suggestion.
You'll never get 'em there" he in
terposed; Hardness has an idea he's
| front and both sides of this combina-
| ton. lie reTers to the HarKness syn
dicate about once a minute. and he's
got directors if not the presidential
bee in his FOOLS cap"
Wen take him in if it's necessary"
replied Kennard; 1--WE want his vote,
and believe he'd be satisfied with less
than the presidency"
yes, l guess he would" laughed
Rhodes. But how can you offer him
anything? The banking interest win
want representation.
"All right. Well give it to them"
answered Maddox.
"How?" asked Spaulding. ''Oh,
see," he added smilingly. I'VE only
want to know who composes the ma
iority of the board They can have
the ether places. Isn't That it,
Exactly; but to do it we must have
the votes, and shall try. to get them"
answered Kennard, as he Started to-
ward the Hardness group.
Men OF small caliber have this adj
vantage over their mental superiors
They experience more moments of tri-
umph. Little Hardness was continu-
ally conjurins up ovations to himself
out of which he took more private sat
lsfaction than an able man would ever
extract from real recognition But Of
all his supreme moments, the bright
est was that which saw John Ken
nard crossing the room to single him
out for consultation. No king or po-
tentate could have inspired William
Hardness with the respect which the
firm of John Kennard's Sons COM
manded. The might of majesty would
not have seriously impressed him, but
the power of the great business house
was real He had felt and tested it a
score of times. He recognized in Ken
nard commercial supremacy, than
which he knew no higher law, and he
could scarcely restrain himself from
starting forward to greet the man
whom he regarded as its exponent
However. he continued to harangue
his adherents, as Kennard approached,
raising his voice little for the bene-
fit of the newcomer.
Eyes, was one Of the first" he re-
peated, 'the first 1 may say, to think
of our getting together in this way
had been observing the trend OF
events in the business world for many
years, and everywhere | noted drift
toward consultations slow drift, inn
perceptible to many, but to my eyes
showing the Good-evening, Mr..
Kennard. It's a real pleasure to see
you here, sir. Won't you have cigar?
A commercial pipe of peace Ha, ha.
ha! think these gentlemen don't
know YOU" he continued with a note
of pride. "Allow me to present them"
Little Hardness introduced his friend
Mr.. Kennard, of John Kennards Sons,
as though he personally owned him,
and desired to impress the favor of
the introduction upon the circle. Then
fearing he was displaying too much
pleasure, he FASTENED to continue his
analysis of the process of thought
which had led him to conceive the
great project of consolidation. Ken
HdAu 1lSlCucu " thC
logue until the ego of the man was sat
isfied, and then asked for moments
private consultation. The air with
which Willie Hardness reluctantly ex-
cused himself to his admirers was the
essence of pure comedy. But no trace
of Kennard's amusement betrayed it.
self in his voice as he rapidly sketched
the situation to his new ally. They
we're going into big and an untried
venture, he explained. Its success
would largely depend upon its start.
The most powerful interests should
therefore stand together at the very
outset.
Hardness drank in the words eager
ly, but was too swollen with pride for
merely nodding his head
with comic solemnity His hour had
come John I<ennard, the head of the
house of Kennard's Sons, was about to
offer him the presidency of the new
He was appreciated at last!
The directorate was, of all things,
the most important, Kennard contin-
Ved. and the prominent stockholders
cbnrnId ,,r;fo x,oxxy f;vc,.w.. tie haiY1y