Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-11-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

HE next hair n0ur was Spent, as
Barbara expressed 1t. In "per-
fecting the guess" she had made.
4 "Tandy has gone into that
Memphis and Ohio river enterprise up
to his eyes" said Duncan. Naturally
he has got his controlling interest In 1t
at an extremely low price as compar-
ed with the face value of the stock
and bonds. for the reason that the
road ends Mt Paducah, which Is much
the same thing as ending nowhere.
But If he can succeed In diverting
our line to Paducah instead of Cairo,
thus securing an entirely satisfactory
connection north and east, his Memphis
and Ohio road will become part Of one
Of the greatest trunk lines In this part
of the country. and the advance In his
stock and bond holdings will make him
one Of the richie It men In the west"
''rhat lsJwhat was thinking, Gull
ford. but hardly dared suggest It, l
know so little | didn't know that II
would be possible to change our line.
| thought that maybe Its charter COM
PEELED II to run to Cairo"
mo, unfortunately II doesn't Tan
dy secured the charter In the first place.
before Hallam and Stafford went into
the project. | wonder" he added. with
q puzzled look, II wonder II the old
schemer was looking this far ahead.
AT any rate. the charter. as Tandy had
1t drawn. requires only that the line
shall be so located and constructed as
to connect the railroads running east
from it's eastern terminus with the Mis-
sissippi river. 1t doesn't say at what
point. That requirement would be
fully met. Of course. II the road should
he diverted to Paducah. connecting
there with the line to Memphis"
But why did Tandy want THAT coun-
ty line provision put into the bond
subscription
Look at the map again. Those two
counties lie west of the point at which
the road must be turned south II 1t Is
to be diverted to Paducah. If we fall
to build across that. county line by
noon of the 18th of next March the
subscriptions Of both those counties
will be forfeited. Then Tandy Will
step in and offer the company that Is
building the line much larger SUBJ
scription Of some sort from Paducah
and from his Memphis road as IN In
ducement to shorten the line by taking
It to Paducah instead OF Cairo"
"That would ruin Cairo" the girl
asked anxiously.
ut would be terrible blow to the
clty's prosperity, But" looking at his
watch. II must lay this matter before
Hallam and Stafford tonight. late as
ii is"
Then, going to the little telegraph In.
strument which for his own conven-
fence he had installed In Barbara's
house, he called Captain Hallam out OF
bed and clicked off the message: --
The milk in the cocoanut is accounted
for. I must see you and Stafford tonight.
without fail. Summon him. I'll go UP to
your house at once.
It did not require much time or many
words for Duncan to explain the situa'
ton as he now understood 1t. nor was
there the slightest ground for doubt
that the solution reached was altogeth-
err the correct one.
"It's deep game he's been playing"
said Hallam.
at is one of the finest combinations
ever heard Of" responded Stafford.
you've a mighty long head. Duncan.
to work out such puzzle"
"Don't be too complimentary to my
head. didn't work 1t out" responded
the younger man.
'You didn't? Who did, then"
Barbara Verne! She forbade me to
mention her name, but I will not sail
under false colors."
"Wsll, now, / want to say" said
Stafford. that you've mighty long
head, anyhow, to make counselor Of
such girl as Barbara Verne. It's the
very wisest thing you ever did in your
life and the wisest you ever will do till
you make her your wife. OF course
that will come In due timer
81 hope so, but I am not sure can
accomplish that" 80
"Why, l had supposed it was all ar.
ranged. Why haven't you ..
perhaps | have. At any RATE. the
Doubt spoke of Is not due to any neg
lect Of opportunity on my part. But
we must get to business. 1t Is
o'clock in the morning. We've found
put old Napper's game. Now, what are
we going to do about it?'
During this little side conversation
Hallam had been pacing the floor,
thinking. He now began Issuing Or
lers, like shots from rapid fire gun.
go to the instrument there, Duncan.
Ind telegraph Temple to come to Cairo
~ the first train. Tell him to give in.
,tructions to his assistant as to the
Of the mine during long abb
'ence on his part"
When Duncan had finished the work
# telegraphing. Hallam turned to him,
aging:
"You, Duncan, are to start for New
York on the Z o'clock train this morn.
n.y. Leave your proxy with Stafford
o vote your stock In the present COM
,any, and
What's your plan, HallamT inter
upted STAFFORD. - 49,
ITO give old Napuer Tandy the very