The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-09-15
CHAPTER XIX.

daffodils dared, looked down from bare
boughs upon the receding line of snow on
the Porter hillside The yellow river
had shaken Itself free of ice, and Its swol-
len flood rolled seaward. Porter watch
| ed 1t from his windows; and early in
March he was allowed to take short
walks in the grounds. He was much
weakened by his illness, and though he
pleaded daily to be allowed to go to the
bank, he submitted to Evelyn's refusal
with tameness that was new in him.
Fenton came several times for short In
terviews; Thompson called as an old
friend as well as a business associate
Wheaton was often at the house, and Por-
ter preferred his account Of bank mat
ters to Thompson's. Wheaton carried the
figures In his head, and answered ques-
tions offhand, while Thompson was help
less without the statements which he
was always having the clerks make for
him. Porter fretted and fumed over
Traction matters, though Fenton did his
best to reassure him.
He did not understand why Saxton
should have been made receiver; If Fen
ton was able to dictate the appointment,
have been spared from the bank easily
enough when Thompson returned. Fen
ton did not tell him the true reason
but he urged the fact that Saxton repre-
serted certain shares which were enti-
tied to consideration, and he made much
of the danger of Thompson's breaking
down at any moment and having to
leave. Porter dreaded litigation, and
wanted to know how soon the receiver
ship could be terminated and the company
reorganized. The only comfort he de-
rived from the situation was the victory
which had been gained over Margrave,
VINO had repeatedly sent messages to the
house asking for an interview with Por-
ter at the earliest moment possible. The
bankers humor had not been injured by
the fever, and he told Evelyn and the
doctor that he'd almost be willing to stay
In bed a while longer merely to annoy
Tim Madgrave.
IF I'd known l was going to be sick,
l guess l wouldn't have tackled It," he
said to Fenton one day, holding up his
thin hand to the fire. The doctors had
found his heart weak and had cut off his
tobacco, which he missed sorely. IL might
unload as soon as we can rebond and
reorganize."
That's for you to say" answered the
lawyer. "Margrave wanted it, and no
doubt he would be glad to take it off your
hands IL you care to deal with him."
IF / was sure / had dead horse, |
guess I'd as lief let Tim curry him as
any man In town; but 1 don't believe this
animal Is dead"
Not much, said the lawyer, reassur-
ingly. "Saxton says les making money
every day, now that nobody Is stealing the
revenues. He's painting the open cars
and expects to do much better through
the summer"
II guess Saxton doesn't know much
about the business" said Porter.
He knows more than he did. He's all
right, that fellow-slow but sure. He's
been a surprise to everybody. He's solid
with the men, too, they tell me- l guess
there won't be any strikes while he's In
charge"
You'd better get a good man to keep
the accounts Porter suggested. "whea-
toms pretty keen on such things"
"Oh, that's all fixed. Saxton brought
man out from an Eastern audit COM
pany to run that for him, and he depos-
its with the bank"
"All right" said Porter, weakly.
Saxton came and talked to him of the
receivership several times, and Porter
quizzed him about it in his characteristic
vein. Saxton was very patient under his
cross-examination, and reassured the
banker by his manner and his facts. Por-
ter had lost his jaunty way, and after the
first interview he contented himself with
asking how the receipts were running and
how they compared with those Of the
year previous. Saxton suggested several
times to Fenton that he would relinquish
the receivership, now that Porter was
able to nominate some one to his own
liking. The lawyer would not have 1t so.
He believed in Saxton and he felt sure
that when Porter could get about and see
what the receiver had ACCOMPLISHED he
would be satisfied. 1t would be foolish
to make q change until Porter had fully
recovered and was able to take hold of
Traction matters In earnest.
Saxton had suddenly become a person
Of Importance in the community. The
public continued to be mystified BY the
legal stroke which had placed William
Porter virtually In possession of the
property; and 1t naturally took a deep
interest In the courts agent who was
managing II SO successfully. Wary Rari.
dan was delighted to find Saxton praised,
and he dealt ironically with those who
expressed surprise at Saxtons capacity
He was glad to be associated with John,
and when he could find an excuse, he
liked to visit the power house with him,
And to identify himself in any way pos
.ible with his friends work. During the
extreme cold he paid from his own pock.
ct for the hot coffee which was handed
up to the motormen along all the lines,
and gave 1t out to the newspapers that
the receiver was doing It, John warned
him that this would appear reckless and
injure him with the Judge Of the court
to whom he was responsible.
Though Porter was not strong enough
to resume his business burdens, he was
the better able In his abundant leisure
to quibble over domestic and social mat
ters with an invalid's unreason. He was
troubled because Evelyn would not 70
out; she had missed practically all the
social gaiety Of the winter by reason Of
his illness, and he wished her TO feel