The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-08-11

prey. uc now resOrteu W lndl Ii 81 III
sidious and economical form of bribery
known as the annual pass.
Wheaton accepted the pass as tribute
to his growing prominence in the town.
He knew that Porter refused railroad
passes on practical grounds, holding that
such favors were extended In the hope
of reciprocal compliments, and he be-
lieved that banker was better off with
out them. Wheaton, whose vanity had
been touched, could see no harm in them.
He had little use for passes as he knew
and cared little about travelling, but he
had always envied men who carried their
''annuals" In little brass-bound books
made for the purpose. Ho be sure it was
late in the year and passes were usually
sent out in January, but this made the
compliment seem much more direct; the
Transcontinental had forgotten him, and
had thought it we'll to rectify the error
between seasons. He felt that he must
not make too much Of the railroads cour-
tesy; he did not know to which official
In particular he was indebted, but he
ran into Margrave one evening at the
club and decided to thank him.
"How's trafic?" he asked, as Margrave
made room for him on the settee where
he was reading the evening paper.
Fair. Anything new?"
no; it's the same routine with me
pretty much all the time"
II guess that's right. shouldn't think
there was much fun in banking. You got
to keep the public too far away. I like
to be up against people myself"
But you railroad people are not con-
sidered SO very warm" said Wheaton
'The follows who want favors seem 70
think so. By the way, I'm much Obliged
to some one for ali annual Thai turned
up in my mail the other day. don't
know who sent 1t to me-if it's you"
"Um" Margrave affected to have
been wandering In his thoughts, but this
was what he was waiting for. "Oh, l
guess that was Wilson. 1 never fool
with the pass business myself; I've got
troubles of my own"
II guess I'll not use 1t very often"
said Wheaton, as IL he owed an apology
to the road for accepting it.
Better come out with me in the car
some time and see the road" Margrave
suggested, throwing his newspaper on the
table.
"I'd like that very much," said Whea-
tonu.
Where's Thompson now? Old mans
pretty well done up, amt he2"
He went back to Arizona. He was
here at work all summer. He's afraid Of
our winters
"Well, that gives you your chance,
said Margravce, affably. There amt
any young man in town that's got a bet
ter chance than you have, Jim. be-
lieve there's going to be a good thing for
some one In Traction stock. Porter
ought to let you in on that" Margrave
didn't know that Porter was in, but he
expected to find out.
"Mr. Porter has a way of keeping
things to himself" said Wheaton, eau
tiously; yet he was hattered by Mar
graves friendliness, and anxious to make
favorable impression. Vanity is not
| as Is usually assumed, mere incident
of character; 1t is disease.
II suppose" said Margrave, "that q
man could buy barrel of the stuff just
now at low figure"
whats your guess as to the turn this
| Traction business will take?" asked
| Wheaton. He had not expected an op
portunity to talk to any one Of Mar
graves standing on this subject, and he
thought he would get some information
while the opportunity offered.
"Don't ask me! If knew I'd like tc
| get into the game. But, look here"-he
moved his fat body q little nearer tc
Wheaton-''the way to go into that thing
Is to go into it big I've had my eye Oh
1t for a good while, but l amt going
to touch it unless I can swing 1t all
Now, you know Porter, and l know him
and you can bet your last dollar he'll
never be able to handle 1t. He amt built
for it!" His voice sank to a whisper
"But If l decide to 90 in, I've got to gel
rid Of Porter. Me and Porter can't trav
ell in the same harness. You know that
| Now, l don't know how much he's got
and he's so mysterious you can't tel
what he's up to. You know how he is
you can't go to, fellow like that and dt
business with him, and he won't play
anyhow, unless you play his way"
"Well, 1 don't know anything abou
his affairs, of course" said Wheaton, ye
feeling that Margrave's condolences mus
be reciprocated. Just between our
selves, he did buy little some time ago
but no great amount. 1t would take
good deal of money to control that com
pany."
you're dead right, 1t would and Por
ter hasn't any business fooling with 1t
You've got to syndicate thing like that
He's probably got tip from some o
his Eastern friends as to what they'r
going to do, and he's buying in, when h
can, to get next. But say, he hasn't an.
Traction bonds, has heT'
Wheaton had already said more thai
he had intended, and repented now tina
he had been drawn into this conversation
but Margrave was bending toward hin
with q great air of condescending init
macy. Porter had never been confiden
tial with him; and 1t was really Mar
grave who had given him his start.
II don't think SO; at least l neve
knew Of It." His mind was on thos
checks to Peckham. which clearly repre-
sented purchases of stock. OF course
Porter might have bonds. too, but havin
gone thus far he did not like to admit t
Margrave how little he really knew o
Porter's doings.
That's all between us-that little mat