Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-07
CHAPTER XIV.

A cardboard clock with movable
hands nailed to the door OF room
indicated to all comers that Mr.. Peter
McMannis would return to No. 2lh
Water street at a certain hour. The
truth of this legend was, however, al
ways open to doubt, what with mis-
chievous boys who turned the hands
every time they passed the door, and
the irregularity of the tenant for whom
1t vouched. But when by any chance
It happened to testify truly, McMannis
could, by turning the key in the door
utterly discredit 1t: and this he almost
invariably did. Its functions were
therefore largely ornamental, although
the penciled insults scribbled across
its patient face-of which you lie"
was the mildest-might be said to rot
1t Of even that virtue.
The delegate-at-large had not for-
gotten his maiden effort with John
Kennard's Sons. He had promised
himself the firm should receive close
attention, and McMannis never broke
promise made to himself. One OF
his earliest activities had therefore
been in the factory on the Hudson,
where he discovered wide field, but
one of little promise. The union Ia
Dor was practically unorganized. and
although many of the workers were
union men, many were not. Indeed
there was a regrettable apathy among
the members about seeking recruits
for their ranks, and a general dis
interestedness in the cause. To rem
edy this was McMannis' object, and
although he found several personalities
which promised we'll for future lead
ership, most of the material was poor,
and such response as he did receive
was unenthusiastic There was moth
ing In the factory itself upon which
he could at present build. The wages
were union scale or better: the man
agement was strict. but the work
steady, and II the profits were large
the employees seemed to think they
received a fair share. Had II not been
that every man in the union was grist
TO his mill, the new delegate would
have postponed payment Of his per-
sonal grudge. and turned his attention
to more impressionable material.
There was no mail awaiting Mr.. Nc
Mannis' arrival at his office, but he
had brought his newspaper. and sit
ting down at the small desk. he spread
1t out and began reading 1t leisurely.
Under the heading. "Incorporations at
Albany Yesterday" he noted a list OF
names in fine print He started to
read them and suddenly stopped with
an exclamation Of surprise.
"The Confederated Machine compa-
nies; authorized capital $40. .0O0, ,0O0."
Machine companies? That was In
Kennard's line. What did II mean
Was John Kennard actually planning
to sell out? What II a combination
was forming? Something was afoot,
and money might be made by working
it properly. If he could get on the
track of the facts, the opportunity OF
a lifetime lay before him. How could
he learn what was going on? He
must not guess, he must not prophesy
prematurely or raise any false alarms
He must know what he was talking
about when the time came to talk
and until then, what not to speak Of
There was nothing more to be learned
from the newspaper. He knew the
paragraph by heart. II Kennasd was
about to sell out, who would be in the
secret! His confidential clerks, OF
course. Not very promising allies for
an outsider in a place Hike Kennard's 4
Sons. II consolidation was the pur-
pose Of this incorporation, who would
know of it? Josh Harlan. Of course.
Mr.. McMannis closed and locked his
door, turned the clock-face to the oak,
and hurrying to the nearest telephone
pay-station, called up the Office Of the
Milling Companies, where Mr.. Harlan
reigned as vice president. Central was
somewhat tardy in making the neces-
sary connection, and McMannis grew
impatient as he sat sweating In the
stuffy little cabinet. Two or three
times he put the receiver to his ear,
and hearing nothing but the faint hum
ming of the wires, swore into the tube
for the benefit of the operator. Elicit
ing no reply, he rang the bell long
and angrily, until at last he was re-
warded by hearing Mr.. Harlan's voice.
AS he had merely called up the Mill.
ing Companies and had not yet asked
specifically for any one, McMannis was
somewhat surprised to find his friend
and patron already at the phone.
"Hello?" sang Mr.. Harlans voice, in
quiringly.
McMannis opened his mouth to an
swer, but it remained open in aston
ishment as another voice answered.
"Is that you, Harlan? This is Trun-
dell"
"Yes?"
Whats doing in Confederated Ma
chine?"
Nothing much. We're marking
time"
"Um!"
There was long pause, and McMan-
mis- strained his ears, fearing he had
been cut off, but at last the strange
voice continued:
81 see you're incorporated"
eyes"
That's all you want to say?"
Eyes. Report progress to inquirers.
"Um. l don't see it,"
| "What?"
"The progress"
"Well, you will. Just remember this
still-hunt was your idea"
"Yes, but this is a little too still.
Hope you'll have something to tell me
soon."
Hope so, too. Good-by."
"Good-by."
| McMannis hung up the receiver on
| the hook, paid double charge without
protest, and hastened toward the Of
fee of the Milling Companies. His
present business with Mr.. Harlan could
not well be conducted by telephone.
The vice president Of the Milling
Companies was a somewhat inaccessi-
| bIo maroon and tho Stranppr within