Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-16
Wanted: Thirty-Five Millions.


brokers and financial agents. are in Broad
street. and the windows of the room used
for board meetings look down upon the
angle where beats the money pulse of the
nation.
Ford had successfully resisted the temp
tation to lobby for his scheme during the
one-day interval between his conference
with Mr.. Colbrith and the date of the
called meeting of the directors. 1t was
not any mistaken sense. of loyalty to the
president that restrained him; on the
contrary, he decided that Mr.. Colbrith' S
declaration of war left him free to fight
as he would. But upon due consideration
he concluded to set the advantage of an
assault en- masse over against the dubious
gain of an advanced skirmish line. and
when he turned out of Broadway into
Wall street on the morning of destiny the
men whom he was to meet and convince
were still no more to him than list of
names in the Poor's Manual, consulted
within the hour for the purpose
He was early on the battle ground;
much too early, he thought, when a clerk
ushered him into the board room in the
rear of the brokers' offices. AS yet there
was only one person present-a young
man. who was lounging in the easiest of
the leather-cOvered chairs and yawning
dsmally. At the first glance the face
seemed oddly and strikingly familiar; but
when the young man marked the new
comer's entrance. the small handbag in
which the amateur promoter carried his
papers, and got up to shake hands. Ford
found the suggestive groupings baffied.
my name is Adair." said the lounger.
genially. land l suppose you are the
Mr.. Ford Uncle Sidney has been telling
us about. Pull up chair and sit by the
window. It's the only amusement you'll
have until the clan gathers"
Ford looked at his watch.
Il seem to be ahead of time he re-
marked. II understood Mr.. Colbrith to
say that the meeting would be called for
10 o'clock
"Oh. that's all right, and so he did" re-
joined the other, cheerfully. But that
means anything up to noon for di-
after pause: do you know any of us
personally, Mr.. Ford?"
Ford was rummaging in his memory
again. II ought to know you. Mr.. Adair.
1t isn't very decent to drag in reSem-
blances. but
1.-The resemblance is the real thing this
time" said Adair. ''You saw me day
before yesterday, driving out of the Over
look grounds as you were going in
Ford shook his head.
mo. 1t goes back of that: some time
I'll remember how and where. But to
answer your question: l know Mr.. Col
BIRTH slightly, but I've never met any of
the directors"
We'll, you are meeting one at this mo-
ment.' laughed the young man. crossing
his legs comfortably. But l am the
easiest mark of the lot" he added. II in
herited my holdings in Pacific aouth-
WESTERN
Ford was crucially anxious to find out
how the battle was likely to go. and his
companion seemed amiably communica-
tive
"Since you call Mr. Colbrith Uncle Sid
ney.' l infer that you know what i am
here for. Mr.. Adair. How do you think
my proposition is likely to strike the
board?"
Again the young man laughed.
Fancy your asking me!' he said. Il
haven't talked with any one but Uncle
Sidney. and the most l could get out OF
him was that you wanted thirty-five mil
lion dollars to spend"
Well said the weSterner, anXiouSly,
Jam | going to get it?'
''You can search me-" was the good
natured rejoinder. But from my knowl-
edge of the men you are going presently
to wrestle with, l should say no. and
italiciZe it,
Perhaps it might help me little if 1
could know in advance the particular
reason for the italics" Ford suggested.
''Oh. sure. The principal reason is that
your name isn't Hill or Hartman or Nor
gan or Gates. Money is ridiculously
sheepish. 1t will follow known leader
blindly, idiotically. But If 1t doesn't hear
the familiar tinkle of the leaders bell 1t
is mighty apt to huddle and run back
:. Ford's smile was grim.
81 don't mind saying to you. Mr.. Adair,
that this is one of the times when 1t Will
be much safer to huddle and run forward.
Have you seen the half-yearly report?"
81? Heaven forbid! l have never seen
anything out of the Pacific Southwestern
not even a dividend"
Ford would very willingly have tried to
share his enthusiasm with the care-free
young man. whose face was still vaguely
but persistently remindful of some i'm
preston antedating the automobile pass
ing: but now the other members of the
board We're dropping in by twos and
threes and privacy was at an end.
Just before President Colbrith took his
call the meeting to order Adair leaned
forward TO say in low tones: Il couldn't
give you the tip you wanted, Mr.. Ford,
but 1 can give you another which may
serve as well. If your good word doesn't
win out. scare em-scare 'em stiff! l
don't know but YOU could Brighten half
a million or so out Of me if you should
try
THANK YOU said Ford. Il may take
you at your Woodland just then Mr..
thin white beard rather nervOusly, Ford
thought, and rapping on the table for
silence.
1t was admitted on all hands that the
president of the Pacific Southwestern was
a careful man and. q thrifty. 1t was
these qualities which had first deter
mined his election. There were many
small stockholders in the company, and
it is the foible of small stockholders TO
believe that rigid economy counts for
more than adventurous outreachings i'll
the larger field.
Gentlemen" he began, his high. raul
cous voice rasping the silence like the
filing of a saw, this meeting is called,
as you have probably been informed, for
the purpose of considering a plan IoI
submitted by Mr.. Stuart
Ford. who is at the present time superin-
tendent Of cur Plug Mountain division.
I'm making this unusual innovation
and in introducing Mr.. Ford. ] desire TO
say that | have been actuated by that
motive of prudence which. while 1t stands
firmly upon its own feet, is willing TO
consider suggestions from without. even
when these suggestions appear TO be
totally at variance with ii policy of care
full and judicious tinanciering.
In presenting Mr.. Ford as the son of
an old friend, long since gone TO his re-
ward. l wish it distinctly understood that
am in no sense committed to his plan.
The policy of this company under the
present administration has been uniform
ly cautious and prudent: Mr. Ford would
throw caution and prudence to the winds.
Our best efforts have been directed to-
ward the saving of the ultimate dollar of
expense; Nh. Ford urges us to spend
millions We have been trying to dis
nose of some of our non-paying branches:
Mr.. Ford would have us acquire others
and build new lines.
While Mr.. Colbrith was speaking Adair
.harn pt izin