Mexico Missouri message., 1908-03-19
In Pursuit of Frank jackson
copyright. 1908. by Daily story Pub. Coz

President NARROW 10 meet him In the
auditors private ONCE. The young
man stepped at once to the elevator
and presently found himself In the
well-furnished ONCE that had Auditor"
printed in gold letters on the door.
John @. NARROW. a big. brusquc man
who had pushed his way 10 success
by sheer force OF 6ul!dog win. was
stridlng up and down the room. As
the door opened to let his subordinate
in he wheeled in his tracks and fixed
his piercing deep-set eyes on him.
He saw a young man of lean, clean
build. with q forceful face that spoke
Of latent power The eyes were gray
and steady, the Jaw firmly clamped,
and there was In his manner an air OF
quiet resolution that said more elo-
quently than words that Roger Cotton
was a man to be relied upon to meet
an emergency competently.
"Sit down. Colton-in that chair"
MARROW pointed TO the swivel chair
usually occupied by the auditor OF the
United States Coal and Iron Company
when the corporation had one, which
Just at present II did not.
The young man took the assigned
seat
How do you like it?''
Like what. sir?" asked Cotton.
The auditors chair
Only a hint OF the young mans sud.
den exultation reached his voice. Il
Ike II very much, sir, II II suits yon
10 have me sit here"
THAT depends" was the prompt,
grim answer. 1T depends on wheth-
er you have the stun In you TO earn II.
You may be auditor II you're good
fighter enough to win the place"
How"
Let me outline the situation for
you. You know from the newspapers
that Kelly. who practically owns the
Pacific Transcontincntal railroad. Is
fighting to gain control of our com.
pany. He is building a spur across
the state to connect his chain OF lines
from coast to coast so that he may
be Independent of other and Compel
Ing roads. To make this new noun
tain line pay he must get as much
local freight as he can; In other
words. he wants to carry all ours.
whether we want him TO or not. To
do this he must control our company.
The annual election Is next week. It's
q finish fight between me and Kelly.
Just now Il looks as II l were going
to lose. II do there will be a clean
sweep Of officers clear down the line
and one of Kelly's men win be au.
ditor."
Cotton waited. He had the rare gift
Of knowing when to keep silent.
IT'S going TO be a near thing. Gel.
ton. so near that II could put my
hands on 1900 more shares would
win. You're the first living soul
have told this TO. Don't let II out for
your life. Now there is just one per.
son from whom that stock can pos.
sibly be got. His name is Frank Jack
son. and he lives. or did when the
stock was bought, in Salt Lake. Kelly
10 after him. too but neither OF US can
find him. Go ont there and rake that
country with fine-tOoth comb. II may
cost money, but whatever 1t costs, find
Frank jackson and make him give you
his stock 20 vote. Buy IL ct his own
price. If necessary"
Cotton rose. "I'll leave on to-night's
train" he said
That's the way 10 talk. Get that
stock and you're a made man. ]. G.
MaPlow sticks 20 his friends. I've
got to have that stock or be busted
from a business that have made out
OF nothing into the biggest thing OF
/ It's kind In the west. Get II for me.
and I'll not forget"
I'm do my best"
"One thing more, Cotton. You want
to keep an eye peeled for their man
Briggs. He's out there somewhere in
that country on the same errand you
are. I'll give you line to the head OF
the local ONCE Of the detective firm
that has been retained by u.s."
Roger Cotton spent the night In a
sleeper He awoke early, and drew
aside the window curtain Of his berth
TO find himself In the heart OF the
Rockies. He was an early riser BY
custom and he got up at once. He
could see that the train was pufing It's
way under a doubleheader toward
Leadville. and by the time II reached
Malta Junction he was washed and
ready for a breath OF the cool, crisp
air OF the high lands.
Only one other passenger descended
from his car to walk the platform dur
ing the stop. and she vas resolute
business-like woman OF middle age
She was plainly but cheaply dressed
and there was a suggestion Of grim
meas about the corners OF her mouth
that suggested the ability 70 look oui
for herself in ali situations. Strong
minded. the young man voted her
When Cotton returned TO his seat he
found that the porter had boon bus,
putting Up his berth and the one oppo
site. He sat down and picked up {
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