Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-11-01
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CHAPTER XII.-CoNr1SuEp,
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e."- 4AiS WAS tu6 WOIk Oh the urSC rev
administrative days or weeks, and
while it was going ON, the business
attitude Of the road remained I'M
changed. But once seated firmly in
the saddle, with his awkward, squad
we'll in hand. the major proceeded to
throw bomb of CONSERVATION into
the camp of bis competitors.
Il Kent was dining with Ormsby in the
grtll-room of the Camelot club when
the waiter brought in the evening
edition Of the Argus, whose railroad
reporter had heard the preliminary
tizzing of the bomb fuse. The story
was set out on the first page, first
column. with appropriate headlines.
WAR TO THE KNIFE AND THE
KNIFE TO THE Hit.
TRANS-WESTERN CUTS COMMODI-
TY RATES.
Great Excitement in Railroad Circles.
Receiver Guilford's Hold-up.
Kent ran his eye rapidly down the
column and passed the pa per across
to Ormsby.
Il told you So" he said. "They
didn't find the road insolyent, but they
are going to make it so in the shortest
possible order. A rate war will do it
quicker than anything else on earth. !"
Ormsby thrust out his jaw.
"Have we got to stand by and see
ZEN, do it,"
The man from Massachusetts, saws
yes, and he knows, or thinks he does.
He has been here two weeks
now. and he has nosed o,rt for himself
all the dead-walls. We can't appeal,
because there is no decision to appeal
from. We can't take it out OF the
lower court until it is finished in the
lower court. We can't enjoin an off,
Ger OF the court; and there is no au-
thority in the state that will set aside
Judge MacFarlane's order when that
order was made under technically le-
gal conditions"
You could have told him all that
In the first five minctes," said Ormsby,
Il did tell him, anG was mildly sat
upon. To-day he came around and
gave me back my opinion, clause for
clause, as his own. But have no
kick coming. Somebody will have to
be here TO fight the battle to a finish
when the judge returns, and our ex-
pert will advise the Bostonians to re-
tain me-"
Does he stay" Ormsby asked -
( !, 'Oh. no; he is going back with Lo-
ring tonight. Loring has an idea Of
his own which may or may not be
worth the powder it will take to ex-
Blode it. He is going to beseech the
Boston people to enlarge the pool until
1t controls safe majority of the
stock" =.
What sood will that do?'> =.
None, directly. ) It's merely a safe
preliminary to anything that may
happen tell Loring he is like all
the others: he knows when he has
enough and is willing to stand from
under. I'm the only fool in the lot.''
Ormsby's smile was heartening and
good for sore nerves.
Il like your pluck, Kent; I'll be
b hanged if don't. And I'll back you
to win, yet"
Kent shook his head unhopefully.
Don't mistake me- he said. Il
AN fighting for the pure love of it,
and not with any great hope of saving
the stockholders. These grafters may
have us by the nape of the neck. We
can't make move till MacFarlane
comes back and gives us hearing on
the merits. That may not be till the
next term OF court. Meanwhile, the
temporary receiver is to all intents
and purposes permanent receiver;
and the interval would suffice to wreck
q dozen railroads." "'.55..s -
"And still You won't give up?" ,>-~@.>
! NO"
Il hope you won't have to. But to
man up tree it looks very much
like a dead cock in the pit AS have
said, If there is any backing to do,
I'm with you, first, last, and all the
time, merely from a sportsman's inter-
est in the game. But Is there any use
in little handful of us trying to buck
up against a whole state governments"
The coffee had been served, and Kent
"Ormsby, Ill never let go while I'm
alive enough to fight he said slowly.
"One decent quality I have and the
only one, perhaps: don't know when
I'm beaten. And I'll down this crowd of
political plunderers yet, if Bucks
doesn't get me sand-bagged."
His listener pushed back his chair.
~ OF 70 r..
than your job could understand IT,"
he commented. '.As it is, can't. Any
way you look at it, your stake in the
game isn't worth the time and effort
I Il will take to play the string out.
And happen to know you're ambi-
tious to do thingg-things that count
What Is 1t You don't understand
the motive?' " @@@.s a.: ~: ".
That's It," ,- "a. ~ r. = :
Kent laughed. s.s.,', i +. =, !. - *s" Il
You are not as astute as Miss Van
[ Brock. She pointed It out to me last
night-or thought she i did--in two
u words. >
t Ormsby's eyes darkened, and he did
rot affect to misunderstood 4
1T would be grandstand play
B he said half-musingly. IT you should
4 happen to worry it through, mean.
4 ] believe Mrs. Hepzibah would be ready
10 fall on your neck and forgive you,
Ii and turn me down" Then, half-jest-
ingly: Kent, what win you take to
{. drop this thing permanently and go
II away III
THE one thing You wouldn't be