The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-07-13
Bly,.
GEORGE
CARY
ECCLESTON,

i
hating cordially detested the man
afraid
Nevertheless these two never quar-
relied Each of them was too worldly
wise TO make an open breach with one
whose co operation in great affairs he
might at any time need.
On the night of the ball Hallam took
Duncan aside and said to him:
Il wish you'd take the o'clock
train I'm the morning and go up to the
mines for few days. Everything
there seems TO be at skies and sevens.
/ can't make head or tail out of ii all.
All | know is that the COMPOUNDED
mine is losing good many thousands
of my dollars every month | want
you To go UP and make "A thorough in
vestigaton. If you can't find a way
out I'll shut up the hole in the ground
and quit
Captain Hallam knew, of course.
that Duncan could not get much sleep
that night. but he had long ago learned
that Guilford Duncan utterly disre-
garded personal comfort whenever
duty called, and so he had no hesta-
ton in thus ordering his young lieuten-
ant to take an early morning train on
the heels Of a night of dancing.
perhaps you'd better go up there
with me-" suggested Duncan.
mo. That would embarrass mat
ters. I've been up several times. and /
70 hi, e.
bear upon the trouble. I'll telegraph
the people there to put everything at
your command. | want you To study
the situation and make up your mind.
just as if the whole thing belonged to
you. Part of it does. you know, and
more of it shall if you find way out
If the thing can be made to go I'll
give you ten more of the hundred
shares in addition to the five you al
ready own. Good night and goodby
till you're ready to report"
Captain VIII Hallam had recently
bought this coal mine on little branch
railroad in the interior of Illinois. He
had not wanted to buy 1t. but had done
SO by way OF saving a debt. The mine
had been badly constructed at the be-
ginning. and latterly it had been good
deal neglected There were other diff
cultieS. as Duncan soon discovered,
and the coal resources of the property
had never been half developed. In
recognition of his services in eXamin-
ing titles and other matters connected
with the purchase Hallam had given
the young man , per cent of the com
pany's stock He was thus for the
first time working in part for himself
when he was sent TO study the situa-
ton.
Quietly, but insistently. in face of the
surly opposition Of the superintendent.
who was also styled chief engineer,
Duncan looked into things 1t was
true. as the superintendent sullenly
said, that this young man knew moth
ing of coal mining. But ii was also
true. as Duncan answered. that he
knew how TO learn.
And he did learn. He learned so
much that after three or four days he
sent a telegram to Captain Will Hal
lam, saying:
Give me a perfectly free hand here or
call me home. must have all the au-
thority you possess or / can be OF no use.
Answer by telegraph.
For response Hallam telegraphed:
Consider yourself the whole thing.
give you complete and absolute authority.
Hire or discharge men at will. Order all
improvements you think best Draw on
the bank here for any sum you need.
Only make the thing go If you can.
Thus armed Duncan set to work In
earnest
why isn't your output of coal larger
than IL is?' he asked Of Davidson, the
superintendent.
IL can't make IL larger under the cir
cumstances"
what are the circumstances2 What
difficulties are there i'm the way? You
have miners enough surely"
well, for one thing the mine is bad.
~ ventilated Many Of the best gal
leries are filled with choke damp and
must be kept closed"
why don't you improve the ventila-
ton? As an engineer you ought to
kuyw how TO do that much"
ut isn't feasible. as you would
know. Mr.. Duncan, if you knew any
thing about mining"
"Oh. never mind my ignorancel IL
Is your knowledge that I'm concerned
about Just now. Do | understand you
TO say that a mine lying only seventy
five feet or so below the surface can
not be ventilated?"
II suppose ii might be II the busi-
ness could afford the expense"
THE business can and will afford
any expense that may be necessary
to make it pay. If you know enough
Of engineering TO devise a practicable
plan for ventilating the mine I'll fur
nish you all the money you need to
carry il out"
He had II In mind TO add, eff you
don't know enough for that I'll find a
more competent engineer" but he kept
his temper and refrained.
'Twouldn't be Of any use" answer
ed Davidson after moment We're
producing more coal now than we can
market"
How is that? | don't understand.