The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-30

himself "How many times have yol
yourself talked to me of this eterna
excuse habit of men who fail? And if
expended my limited brain power il
looking into all the excuses and eNpla,
nations, hat energy or time would
have for constructive work? ALI I cal
do is to select a man for a position anc
to judge him by results. You We're pu'
In charge to produce dividends. Tn
sorry, n I venture to hope that things
are not so bad as you make out in youl
eagerness to excuse yourself. For the
sake of old times, Tom, l ignore YOU
angry ~insfnuations against me. I try te
be just, and to be just one nus al
ways be im~personal."
WELL" said Walters with an air OF
desperation, give me another year, Mr.
Roebuck, and I'll produce results all
right. I'll break the agreements and
cut rates. I'll freeze u the branch
roads and our minority stockholders.
III keep the books so that all the ex-
pert accountants in New York couldn't
untangle them. I'll wink at and COM
init and order committed all the nee
essary crimes. I don't know why I've
been so squeamish, when there We're so
many penitentiary offenses that I did
consent to, and. for that matter, COM
init. without a culver. I thought I
ought to draw the line somewhere
n 1 drew 1t at keeping my personal
word and at keeping the books reason
ably straight. But I'll go the limit"
FL never forget Roebuck's express
sion; ii was perfect, simply perfect-a
great and good man outraged beyond
endurance, but a Christian still. You
have made it impossible for me to tenn
per Justice with mercy, Walters" said
he. eff it were not for the long years
or association, for the affection for
you which has grown up in me, 1
Should hand you over to the fate you
have earned. You tell me you have
oeen committing crimes in my service.
You tell me you will commit more and
greater crimes. / can scarcely believe
my own ears
Walters laughed scornfully-the reck-
less laugh of a man who suddenly sees
tnat he is cornered and must fight for
his life. "Rot!" he jeered. Rot! You
always have been a wonder at juggling
with your conscience. But do you ex-
pect me to believe you think yourself
innocent because you do not yourself
execute the orders you issue-orders
mat can be carried out only by COM
Knitting crimes?" Walters was now be-
side himself with rage. He gave the
relgns to that high horse he had been
rld1ng ever since he was promoted to
n presidency of the great coal road.
ne began to lay on whip and pur.
DC you think" he cried to Roebuck,
~'the blood of those 500 men drowned
N-AD NioCl LllIllC 10 liOl Ol Sodi
head? You, who ordered
John Wilkinson to suppress the compe-
Iltlon the Pequot was giving you, or
dered him in such a way that he knew
the alternative was his own ruin? He
himself-yet he had as good an
excuse as you, for he, too, passed on
the order until it got to the poor fire
man-that wretched fellow they sent to
the ~penitentiary for life? And as sure
there is a God in heaven, you will
some day do a long, long sentence in
Whatever hell there is, for letting that
Wllkinson's suicide, and for the lives
OF those 500 drowned. Your pensions
to the widows and orphans can't save
I listened to this TRADE astounded.
Used as ] was to men losing their
heads through vanity, I could not cred
1t my ears and eyes when they
reported to me this insane exhibition.
! ooked at Roebuck. He was wearing
expression of beatific patience; he
would have made a fine study for a
picture of h martyr at the stake.
Il forgive you, Tom" he said, when
stopped for breath. Your own
or sin upon everything. l had heard
that you We're going about making
loud boasts Of your power over your
employers, but I tried not to believe it.
l see now that you have, indeed, lost
your senses: Your prosperity has been
too much for your good sense He
m%ournfully. II shall not inter-
fere to prevent your getting a position
he continued. But after
what you have confessed, after your
ISLANDERS. how can I put you back in
your old place out west, as I intended?
care for your career that I have had. in
spite of all your shortcomings? I who
raised you W from a clerk
RAISED ME up as you fellows always
raise men up-because you find them
clever at doing your dirty work. I was a
honest fellow when you first took
notice of me and tempted me. But. by
Mr.. Roebuck. II I've sold out beyond
hope of living decent again. I'll have my
price-to the last cent. You've got to
leave me where l am or give me a place
and salary equally as good" This Walters
blusteringly, but beneath I could
detect the beginnings of a whine
you are angry, Tom" said Roebuck
soothingly. II have hurt your vanity-it
is one of the heaviest crosses I nave to
bear, that l must be continually hurting
he vanity of men. Go away and-and
calm down. Think the situation over
then come and apologize to me. and
I will do what 1 can to help you. AS for
threats-when you are calm, you will
see how idle they are"
Walters gave a sort OF groan; and
though I, blinded by my preiudices in
tavor OF Roebuck and of the crowd with
whom my interests lay, had been feeling
that he was an impudent and crazy in
crate, I pitied him.
What proofs lave I got?" he said des-
oerately. IF 1 show up the things / know
about, I show myself UP, and everybody
will say I'm lying about you and the
others in the effort to save myself. The
newspapers would denounce me as a
.reacherous liar-you fellows w or con-
or foozle them in one way and an
And If I was believed, who'd pros
.cute you and what court'd condemn you?
you own both political parties and
make all the tickets. and can't you ruin
office holders who lifted a finger
against you? What a hell Of a state of
A swifter or a weaker descent I never
My pity changed to contempt.
This fellow, with his great reputation"
hought I, us a fool and a knave. and a
weak one at that"
Go away now, Tom" said Roebuck.
When you're master of yourself again,
ONE to see me-"
Master of myself!' cried Walters Bit
crly. Who that's got anything to lose