Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-07
CHAPTER xxIv.
" 'a @s
 DEAD WATER AND QUICK.

DEAD WATER AND QUICK.
 The cubby-h hole in which Hildredth earned his bread by the sweat of his brain was dark even at midday; and ~ during working hours the editor sat under a funnel-shaped reflector in a comic shower bath of electric light which flooded man and desk and left the corners of the room in penumbra of grateful twilight.
 Kant sat just outside of the cone of radiance, watching Hildredth's face as the editor read stolidly through the contents of the box envelope. It was an instructive study in thought dy- namics. There was gleam of battle satisfaction in the editorial eye when Hildreth faced the last sheet down upon the accumulation of evidence, Frying:
 You didn't overstate the fact in sN31ar brag about the political graves. Only this isn't spade; it's a steam . shovel. Do understand you are giv- S.3ng me this stuff to use as please?" < Just that" said Kent. ' "And you have made it serve your . turn. too?"
 ' s No" Rents voice was sharp and crisp. ' FIsn't that what you got it for?" ' E.Yes." ' "Then why don't you use it." T That was what Bucks wanted to ' know a little while ago when he came z to my rooms to try to buy me of. l < don't think succeeded in making him \ understand why couldn't traffic with ' 1t; and possibly you wouldn't under \ stand"
 : T guess I do. It's public property, ' and you couldn't divert 1t into private * channels. Is that the way it struck : you?"
 = Tt is the way it struck friend of mine whose sense of ultimate right and wrong hasn't lost its fine edge in the world-mill. I did not want to do it."
 Naturally" said the editor. Civ lpg it up means the loss of all you have been working for in the railroad game. wish could use it, just as 1t stands"
 Cant you?"
 T am afraid not-effectively., It would make an issue in a campaign; pr, sprung on the eve of an election, 1t might down the ring conclusively. I think it would. But this is the off year, and the people won't rise to political issue-couldn't make them selves felt if they should"
 T don't agree with you. You have your case all made out, with the evil dence in sound legal form. What is to prevent your trying it?'
 "The one thing that you ought to be lawyer enough to see at glance There is no court to try it in. With she assembly in session we ought to do something: as it is, we can only yap at the heels of the ringsters, and our yapping won't help you in the railroad fight. What do you hear from Bos- ton? sr Nothing new. The stock is still fiat Son the market, with the stockholders Rool holding bare majority. and the Plantagould brokers buying in drib- lets wherever they find small holder who is willing to let go. It is only question of time; and very short | time at that" i, The editor wagged his head in sym pathy.
 T wish could help you, David l You've done big thing for me-for | the Argus; and all I have to hand you ] In return is a death sentence Mac farlane is back" x Here? Tn town?"
 ''Yes. And that isn't the worst of | it The governor sent for him." Have you any idea what is in the wind?" asked Kent. dry-lipped.
 I'm afraid I have. My young men | have been nosing around in the Trans Western affair, and several things l shave developed. Matters are approach ,Hng a crisis. The cut-rate boom is i about to collapse, and there is trouble brewing In the labor organizations. i If Bucks doesn't get his hench- men out of it pretty soon, they will be involved in the smash-which . will be bad for them and for him, i politically"
 "I developed most of that e good while ago." Kent cut in.
 "Yes; know. But there is more | to follow. The stock-smashing plan 1. . Vas all right. but it is proving too slow. Now they are going to do some thing else"
 Can you give it a name?' asked Kent, nerving himself
 "I can. But first tell me one thing: l as matters stand. could Guilford dis pose of the road-sell it or lease it?"
 No: he would first have to be made |, permanent receiver and be given authority by the court"
 ''Ahi that explains Judge MacFar- rlane's return. Now what I am going ito tell you is the deadest of secrets. It came to me from one of the Over land officials. and I'm not supposed to gossip. Did you know the Overland Short Line had passed under Planta- gould domination?-
 .s T know they elected a PIantazould directory at the annual meeting .rf Exactly. Well. Guilford is going ] 10 lease the Trsns-wssteTn to it's com petitor for a term of @ years That's your death sentence
 = Kent sprane to his feet. and what he said is unreoordable. He vas not profzne man but the sznguins otemperanent would assert itself sx-