The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-09-27
THE
GRAFTERS
By
FRAN CTS Lynn d b
= Copyright. IsOA. BY The Boes.x-rrin CO..
CHAPTER XII.-CosrrSuED.


This was the work OF the first few
administrative days or weeks. and
while II was going on. the business
attitude of the road remained un-
changed. But once seated firmly in
the saddle. with his awkward squad
well in hand, the major proceeded TO
throw a bomb of CONSERVATION into
the camp Of his competitors.
Kent was dining with Ormsb} IN the
grill-room of the Camelot club when
the waiter brought In the evening
edition of the Argus. whose railroad
reporter had heard the preliminary
fixing 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 HILT.
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 paper across
10 Ormsby.
Il told you so" he said. They
didn't find the road insoivent, but they
are going to make IL so in the shortest
possible order. A rate war will do e
quicker than anything else on earth"
Ormsby thrust out his Jaw.
Have we got to stand by and zee
'em do it?"
The man from Massachusetts SAYS
yes, and he knows. or thinks be does.
lie has been here two weeks
now. and he has nosed out for himself
all the dead-walls. We can't appeal,
because there is no decision to appeal
from. We can't take II out Of the
lower court until it is finished in the
lower court. We can't enjoin an OH
Ger OF the court; and there is no su-
thority in the state that will set aside
Judge MacFarlane's order when that
order was made under technically Ie-
gal conditions"
You could have told him all that
in the first five minutes" said Ormsby
Il did tell him. and 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 10. fight the battle to a finish
when the judge returns. and our en-
pert will advise the Bostonians TO re-
tain me-"
Does he stayf" 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 1t will take TO ex-
plode it. He is going to beseech the
Boston people to enlarge the pool until
u controls safe majority OF the
stock" tNHAaH
What good will that do?"
None, directly. It's merely a safe
preliminary TO anything that may
happen. tell Loring he is Hike all
the others: he knows when he has
enough and is willing to stand from
snder. 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
hanged if | don't And I'll back you
10 win, yet"
Kent shook his head unhopefuiIy.
Don't mistake me-" he said Il
sm fighting for the pure love OF 1t.
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 a move till MacF'ariane
comes back and gives us hearing on
the merits That may not be till the
next term OF court. Meanwhile, the
temporary receiver is 10 all inteuts
and purposes permanent receiver;
and the interval would suffice to wreck
. dozen railroads"
And still you won't give up?"
No"
Il hope you won't have to. But to
q man up a tree II looks very much
like q dead cock m the pit. AS have
said. II there IA any backing TO do.
I'm with you, first. last. and all the
time. merely fsom a sportsman's inter
ist In tbs CANA But Is there any nss