The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-03
THE EVENING STORY

IBy C. B. Lewis.l

by C. B. Lewis.l
It was reported of the Hon. John |
Sharpe that he had but two fads.
where other schemers and SPECTATORS
and owners OF railroad lines had
dozen. One of his fads was the p. and
g. railroad, In which he owned a con- |
trolling interest. He knew every foot
of its roadbed and kept himself posted ]
on all details.
His other fad was that his daughter
Edith, having finished her school days. |
should interest herself in the p. and G:
even as he had. II she had been cut
out for an old maid or a business wo-
man she might have obeyed orders
literally, but as it was she had to as
sumo an interest she did not feel.
The Hon. John lived in Chicago, and
his pet line was farther west. When
tired Of making money and fighting
other lines on the stock exchange or
by some sly coup. he would order the
general superintendent or other ON
plan improvements.
If it wasn't the general superin-
tendent then it was one of division.
or civil engineer and bridge builder.
He had them at his house that his
daughter might hear and secure ex-
perience. and when they had departed
he would 60 over the matter again with
her to make sure that she understood.
|
building the bridge over Centipede
| creek was called in. he and Miss Edith
| met. The Hon. John was in high feath-
er that day. He had secured mail
| told that the bridge could be built for
$4,000 less than the estimated expense
He stretched his courtesy to invite the
| engineer to dinner, and to ask Miss
/ Edith to play the piano afterward.
| Then two or three things happened
| that he didn't take cognizance of, al
though he was rated keen and obser-
want man.
From that night Miss Edith began to
take more interest in railroad mat
tiers. especially in the department Of
bridge building, and Mr.. Ravens, the
engineer. sent in reports that seemed
to necessitate his visiting Chicago
much oftener than before.
AS punctually as the clock, the Hon.
John Sharpe took trip over his line
in his own private car every three
months. Miss Edith had accompanied
him twice before her sudden great in
her enthusiasm over the third APP
preaching trip SO pleased him that ne
patted her golden hair and feelingly
observed:
You are your own fathers daugh-
ter after ALL You will come back bet
ter posted on the railroad business
!, than any other girl in America"
ut must take a very brainy man 70
construct such bridge as have
about?" she demurely suggested.
1T does. my dear-a very brainy
man"
And one pretty certain to rise in
the world?"
The Hon. John had risen In the
; world, and he took care to let the world
!, know it. But he was rather opposed
to any one else rising. especially any
1 % p ~
yes, Mr. Ravens may rise in his
| profession he reluctantly admitted
: "but you must remember the socia
gulf now existing between us. l. o.
/, YOU and I, are the owners of the r. Z
6. road. Mr. Ravens is an employe.'
Ten days previous to the start or
the third trip the Hon. John discover
ed something that threw him INTO
fervid futter. 1t was not tnat nls
y more about railroad bridge building
was writing to the engineer for furthe'
information about the cantilever prin
ciple, or that he in reply was teilint
about the tensile strength OF steel ant
the strain put upon it under certain
III It was that a feeder to his line wal
about to pass into other hands unless
he could secure enough proxies to pre-
5 vent this at the election to be held II
r Denver He took of his coat ane
+ | started in and he came home one nigh
with beaming face to say to the oaugn
, ter:
the first principle of railroading is te
get possession Of the road"
'But II you can't get enough OF the
, stock?" she asked.
Then get the proxies. Buy borrow
or beg but get them. 1t Is with proxies
that 1 shall get control OF the M. q
w I need only a thousand more votes
and they are in Denver waiting for
me-"
when his car left Chicago. He enjoyed
| COINS. and he was on his way to make
one He felt just a little sympathy
for the already routed enemy. De1eat
| would come with dull tnuo. Wnereas
he rather preferred something of a bat
, tie hrst. - -:
| daughter as he took bundle or them
from his pocket and tnu,nDea "a men ZEN
! to desolate the ranks OF the enemy
Blessed be proxies!"
At santa Fe business detained him
half day He H sae sea msds he's a ne
: nearance and was received with a
smile and blush
The talk between him and Miss
Edith began about the bridge over the
Centinede but gradually came down
70 less scientific and more interesting
things.
He referred to a hint she had given
him in her last letter, and assured her
that he had acted on it, and he solic-
tied her permission to ASK ner n ra5nrs
the day had expired. That afternoon
/ rhen The train had pulled out Miss
t Eaith fluttered around for bit and
: then tfmidly asked:
arotber what will happen IL you
ct, e. get that thousand proxies you
are counting on?"
) cwhy-wiy, I'd be knocked into a
: osed hat. daughter. But can't fall.