The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-11-01

a judicial one. He knew one side Of
the case. It was his duty to hear the
other, and Tandy was the spokesman
of that other
Duncan's reception was most gra-
cious, and Napier Tandy came at
once to the subject in hand.
'I'm more than glad, Duncan" he
lyingly said, "that these financial peo-
pie have asked you to examine and re-
port upon this scheme Of extension.
You are so heartily in sympathy with
every enterprise that looks to the de-
velnnnent Of our western country, and
your intelligence is so superbly well
Informed, that of course a project like
this appeals to you.'
ut does not appeal to me at all, Mr..
Tandy," said Duncan frankly. II do
not think well Of the extension. It.
pardon me for interrupting," inter-
posed Tandy in fear that Duncan
might commit himself beyond recall
against the scheme. pardon me for
interrupting, but you must see that the
Redwood mines, in which, I under
stand, you own Is per cent
81 own 25 per cent, for I have put
my savings into that enterprise" an
swered Duncan
"Well, so much the better. You must
see that the Redwood mines, in which
you own 25 per cent, will benefit as
much as the Quentin mines do by this
extension Of the railroad. It will give
US two markets for our coal instead Of
one. We can play one market against
the other, you see, and"-
"That isn't the question that I am
employed and paid to answer" inter-
rupted Duncan. "You have other and
vastly greater interests than those of
the mines that would be served by the
extension Of the railroad. But the
fnanciers who are asked to put their
money into this project will be in no.
wise benefited either by the increased
earnings Of your coal mine and ours
or by the development Of your other
and far greater interests that are de-
pendent upon this extension. So when
they employ me to report upon the
project I am not free to consider any
Of these things. must consider only
their interests. I must ask myself
whether or not it will pay them to
undertake this extension. know that
it will not. know that the extended
line cannot within a generation to
come pay even operating expenses, to
say nothing Of interest on the cost Of
construction. I am bound to set forth
those facts in my report. They pay
me to tell them what the facts are. Of
course, shall tell them truly. Other
wise I should not be an honest man. I
should be swindler, taking their mon
ey as pay for deceiving them and in
ducing them to undertake losing en-
terprise"
"Oh, that's all right. But you might
be mistaken, you know. You've form
ed a judgment after a brief trip
through the country. That country
seems poverty stricken just now, but
that's because it hasn't enjoyed the
stimulating influence of railroad. It
Is a better country than you think, as
can convince you if you'll let me take
you through it in a carriage. We can
start at once-tomorrow morning-run
out to the mines by rail and there take
a carriage and drive through the coun-
try. I've ordered the carriage, with
abundant supplies, from Chicago. I
want to show you the resources of the
country. I'll convince you before we
get back that the country will build up
as soon as the railroad penetrates it
and that there will be an abundant
traffic for the road"
pardon me-" answered Duncan
give already been through that region
I've questioned every farmer as to his
crops. I've questioned every merchant
in every village as to his possible ship
ments by the railroad and as to the
amount Of goods he hopes to sell if the
railroad is built. Their replies are
hopelessly discouraging. Taking their
outside estimates as certain, there can
not be enough traffic over such line
for twenty years to come to pay operat-
Ing expenses. In the meantime the
men whom you are asking to build the
road must lose not only the interest on
their investment, but the investment
itself. I know all the facts that bear
upon the case"
Gail but one," answered Tandy.
"What is that One?'
''That favorable report from you
means a check, right now and here,
tonight, payable to bearer for $1O,-
600. My check is supposed to be good
for all it calls for. You can have it
now, and it will be cashed tomorrow
morning. Here it is. Payable to bear
er as it is, you needn't indorse it, and
you need not be known in the matter
in any way. I'm talking business
now
Duncan scanned the face of his in
terlocutor for an instant. Then he rose
from his seat, and with utterance
choked by emotion managed to say:
II quite understand. You would
bribe me with that check. You would
hire me to betray the confidence Of the
men who are paying me a very much