Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-19
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
DEAD WATER AND QUICK.
The cubby-hole in which Hildredth
earned his bread by the sweat OF his
brain was dark even at midday; and
during working hours the editor sal
under a funnel-shaped reflector in Q
comic shower bath Of electric light
which flooded man and desk and left
the corners Of the room in penumbra
Of grateful twilight.
Kent sat just outside Of the cone Of
radiance, watching Hildredth's face as
the editor read stolidly through the
contents of the box envelope. 1t was
an instructive study in thought dy-
namics. There was CLEAN of battle
satisfaction in the editorial eye when
Hildreth faced the last sheet down
upon the accumulation of evidence,
saying:
"You didn't overstate the fact IN
your brag about the political graves.
Only this isn't a spade; it's a steam
shovel. Do understand you are CIV
ing me this stuff to use as please?
Just that" said Kent.
"And you have made 1t serve your
turn. too?"
mo" Kent's voice was sharp and
crisp.
isn't that what you got it for?"
Eyes"
"Then why don't you use it?"
THAT was what Bucks wanted to
know a little while ago when he came
to my rooms to try to buy me on. /
don't think 1 succeeded in making him
understand why l couldn't traffic with
it; and possibly you wouldn't under
stand"
81 guess I do. It's public property.
and you couldn't divert 1t into private
channels. Is that the way 1t struck
you?"
1T is the way 1t struck a friend OF
mine whose sense of ultimate right and
wrong hasn't lost its fine edge in the
world-mill. I did not want to do It."
Naturally" said the editor. CIV
ing 1t up means the loss Of all you have
been working for in the railroad game.
I wish I could use it, Just as 1t stands" I"
Cant your"
81 am afraid not-effectively. 1t
would make an issue in a campaign;
or. sprung on the eve Of an election. 1t
might down the ring conclusively. ]
think it would. But this is the of
year, and the people won't rise to a
political issue--couldn't make them
selves felt If they should"
81 don't agree with you. You have
your case all made out. with the EVIL
dence in sound legal form. What Is
to prevent your trying it?"
"The one thing that you ought to be
lawyer enough to see at a glance,
There is no court to try it in. With
the assembly in session We ought to do
something: as it is, we can only yap
at the heels of the ringsters. and our
yapping won't help you in the railroad
fight. What do you hear from Bos-
TOM"
Nothing new. The stock is still fiat
on the market, with the stockholders
pool holding a bare majority, and the
Plantagould brokers buying In drib-
lets wherever they find small holder
who is willing to let go. 1t is only
a question of time; and very short
time at that"
The editor wagged his head in SYM
pathy.
II wish I could help you. David.
You've done big thing for me-for
the Argus; and all have to hand you
in return is a death sentence. Mac
Farlane is back"
Here? In town."
Yes. And that isn't the worst OF
1t. The governor sent for him."
Have you any idea what Is in the
wind?" asked Kent, dry-lipped.
I'm afraid have. My young men
have been nosing around in the Trans
Western affair, and several things
have developed. Matters are approach
ing a crisis. The cut-rate boom is
about to collapse, and there is trouble
brewing in the labor organizations.
II Bucks doesn't get his hench-
men out of it pretty soon, they
will be involved in the smash-which
will be bad for them and for him.
politically"
Il developed most of that a good
while ago." Kent cut in.
Yes: know. But there Is more
to follow. The stock-smashing plan
was all right, but 1t Is proving too
slow. Now they are going to do some
thing else"
Can you give it a name?" asked
Kent, nerving himself.
Il can. But first tell me one thing:
as matters stand, could Guilford dis
pose of the road--sell it or lease it?"
No; he would first have to be made
permanent receiver and be given
authority by the court"
"Ah! that explains Judge MacFar-
lanes return. Now what am going
to tell you is the deadest Of secrets.
1t came to me from one Of the Over
land officials, and I'm not supposed
to gossip. Did you know the Overland
Short Line had passed under Planta-
gould domination?"
Il know they elected Plantagould
directory at the annual meeting"