Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-04-12

81 don't think you can fix II up win
me. Mr.. Ryder. Just the same. Id like
to know how this got OUT
Then there is TO be a shakeup"
Oakley bit his lips. You seem to
take it for granted there is TO be-
Il guess there's something back Of
the rumor."
Il may as well tell you why Hoad-
ley's got to 60"
"Oh, he's to 20 then? / thought my
information was correct"
in the first place he's not needed
and in the second place he's lazy
loafer The road must earn its keep.
General Cornish Is sick Of putting his
hand in his pocket every six months to
keep 1t out of bankruptcy. You are
enough of a business man to know he
won't stand that sort of thing forever
OF course I am sorry for Hoadley If he
needs the money, but some ones got to
suffer, and he happens to be the one
TIL take on his work myself. | can DO
II. and that's a salary saved. | haven't
any personal feeling in the matter
The fact that | don't like him, as 1t
happens, has nothing 10 do with 1t. If
he were my own brother he'd have to
get out"
II can't see that one man more or
less is going to make such a differ
ence, Oakley" Ryder urged, with what
\ 4 10 otr ~ fro nh
good fellowship.
Cant you?" with chilly dignity.
Oakley was slow TO anger, but ne had
always fought stubbornly for what he
felt was due him, and he wished the
editor to understand that the manage
ment Of the B. and A. was distinctly
not his province.
Ryder's eyes were half closed, and
only a narrow slit of color showed be
tween the lids.
81 am very much afraid we won't bit
il off | begin to see we aren't going
to get on. | want you to keep Hoad-
ley as a personal favor to me. Just
wait until | finish. If you are going
in for reform | may have it In my
power to be of some service to you.
You will need some backing here, and
even a country newspaper can manu-
facture public sentiment. Now If we
aren't to be friends you will find me
on the other side and working Just as
hard against you as | am willing to
work for you II you let Hoadley stay
Oakley jumped up
81 don't allow anybody to talk like
that to me. am running this for
Cornish. They are his interests. no
mine, and you can start in and manu-
facture all the public sentiment yol
please" Then he cooled down a bi,
and felt ashamed OF himself for the
outburst.
81 am not going to be unfair to any
one If | can help il. But if the roads
earnings don't meet the operating e.
penses the general Will sell it to the VI
and W. Do you understand what that
means? 1t will knock Antioch higher
than a kite, for the shops will be
closed. | guess when all hands get
that through their heads they will take
Ii easier"
That's just the point | made. Who
is going TO enlighten them if 1t isn't
me? | don't suppose you will care tc
go around telling everybody what
fine fellow you are and how Thankful
they should be that you have stopped
their wages. We can work double
Oakley. want Hoadley kept because
he's promised me his influence for Ken
yon II I'd exert myself in his behalf
He's Of Importance up at the June
tion. OF course we know he's a drunk.
en- beast, but that's got nothing to dc
with it,"
Il am sorry, but he's got to go.
said Oakley dogcedly. a one hor..
railroad can't carry dead timber"
Very we'll" And Ryder pulled In
his legs and rose slowly from his chair
"lf you can't and won't see it as l dc
its Your lookout"
Oakley laughed shortly.
Il guess I'll be able to meet the sit
uaton, Mr. Ryder"
He secuted the idea that Ryder will
his little country newspaper could eli,
ther help or harm him.