Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-26

ment, that my prediction comes true;
that within thirty-six or forty-eigh
hours Saints Rest is packed with PEG
pie trying to get to Copah. Your new
chief. If you will have found him
will hardly be in the saddle. When he
comes he will have to reorganize til:
department, break in new, men, learn
by hard knocks what / have been
learning in detail
Mr.. Colblith thrust out thin lin a
obstinate determination.
"And if he does your Hypothetical
rush will simply have to wait. Mr.
Ford. We have the key to the Copaa
door"
Don't you fool yourself! snapped
Ford, forgetting his role of the hum
Die one for the moment "The Trans
continental is only forty miles away
at Jacks Canyon, with pretty decent
stage rood. Long before you can get
the extension in shape to carry pas.
sengers, or even freight, the other
line will be known from Maine to Cal
ifornia as the keyholder to this dis
trict.''
That shot told. The president was
not yet convinced that the Copah
boom was real: but there was the
chance that it might be- always the
chance. And to the overcautious tie
taking, of, chancesfi however remote.
is like the handling of a snake; !;
thing to inspire creeping horrors.
IF YOU could convince me, Mr.
/ Ford, that your interest in that mine
did not influence you in changing the
route of the extension, he began
but Ford took him up sharply.
| II can't: and | can say no more
than have said
Mr. Colbrith got UP and went to the
window to look down upon the excit-
ed throng in tho street. II did look
real
| Perhaps we might leave matters
as they are, pending a future investi.
CATION, Mr.. Ford he said, turning
back to his victim, who was method
cally clipping the end of a cigar.
| No was the brittle rejoinder
Again the president took time 10
| look down into the crowded street.
His next attack was from the rear
But l have understood that you do
not wish to resign. Let us be magnan.
imous, MI. Ford, and agree to hang
this matter up until until this sup.
posed crisis is past"
mo, was the curt reply T have
changed my mind. I don't think i
want to work Tor you any longer. Mr.
Colbritf"
mot If withdrew my ali OBJ.
| jections?'
| No"
Silence again. The packed lobby OF
the hotel had overlooked upon the
plank sidewalk, and the din Of the
buyers and sellers rose like the noise
of a frantic street fleht. Ford's half
| testing remark about the possibility of
| the microbe finding it's way into the
blood Of the president was not so
point'ess as the old mans retort
sought to make it appear. Tt was the
wheat nit which had aiven Mr.. Col
/ BIRTH his first half million: and as he
listened to the hoarse cries, the thing
! which he hoped was safely caution.
killed began to stir within him. Sud
denly he picked out, word or two
out Of the sidewalk cIamor that made
him turn swiftly upon the silent young
man.
They are selling Little Alicia -
vo',r stock down there!' he gasped
Have you---have you
| mo; | haven't put mine on the mar
ket. It's some of my partners, Grigs-
bvs stock. | suppose he couldn't
stand the push
Once more the president listened.
Only an eX-wrest'er in the wheat pit
could have picked intelligence out OF
the Babel Of puts and calls.
SITS I'D to hundred and tiftv
he exploded. "What did you pay Tor
your shares Mr. Ford?"
Twenty said Ford coolly
Good Heavens. II hope you hold
a safe majority?'
mo: we broke even, Grigsby and l.
have fifty neT cent
The president groaned.
It'll excuse YOU, Mr. Ford Get
down there at once and buy the other
necessary share!"
Ford shook his head with Dremedi.
tated gloom. mo, Mr.. Co1brith, I'M
not buving any more mining stock.
What did buy seems to have cost ma
my job
But. my dear young man! This is
a-crisis. You are likelv to lose COZ.
tlol I'll Soui plpptilS vi. dT !'dSJ, =.
is soaring to point at which YOU
will never he able to secure the con.
troll"
Ford came Up smiling. You forget
that this is mere mad excitement,
Mr.. Colhrjtb,' he said handino oac!7
the presidents own phrase. fTonao1-
row, dare say. I shall be able to buy
at twenty AGAIN.
The president came away from the
window anil sat down His face was
twitching and his thin white hands
were tremulous.
There may be more in this gold
discovery than | have been willing to
admit he said abstractedlv, land in
that case Mr.. Ford. upon
what terms will you consent to go on
and whip this line of ours into shape?"
Ford came out of the fog OF dis:
couragement with bound.
"A complete change in the man
aeement Of the Pacific Southwestern,
Mr.. Colbriih North and his grafters
must go"
H.. L