Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-06

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 10 go to the
bank, he submitted to Evelyn's refusal
with a 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
tiers to Thompson's. Wheaton carried the
figures in his head, and answered ques-
tions oifhand, 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 rcassurc him.
He did not understand why SaXton
should have been made receiver; If Fen
ton was able to dictate the appointment,
why did he ignore Wheaton, WING could
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 T~hompson's breaking
uOWu Ut any DliHi s'lli h"N'ho u
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 Aiargravc.
who had repeatedly sent messages TO the
house asking for an interview with Por-
ter ut the earliest moment possible. Tho
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 Madgravc.
IF I'd known l was going to be sick,
/ guess l wouldn't have tackled it," he
said to Fenton one day, holding up his
hin hand to the fire. The doctors had
found his heart weak and had cut of his
tobacco, which he missed sorely. II 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 If you care to deal with him."
IF / was sure l had a dead horse, |
guess I'd as lief let Tim curry him as
any man in town but | don't believe this
animal is dead"
mot much said the lawyer, reassur-
ingly. "Saxton says les making money
every day, now that nobody is stealing the
He's painting the open ca RS
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. Hes all
,.iyhf thct fa11nw-rinuy h,t ~ Has
been a surprise to everybody. He's solid
with the men, too, they tell me. I guess
there won't be any strikes while he's in
charge"
You'd better get n good man to keep
the accounts" Porter suggested. "Whea-
tons pretty keen on such things"
"Oh, that's all fixed. Saxton brought
a man out from an Eastern audit com
pany to run that for him, and he depos-
its with the bank n
"Al right" said Porter. weakly.
i Saxton came and talked to him of the
receivership several times, and Porter
quizzed him about it in his characteristic
vein. Snxton ,yas very patient under his
c-to4s-examina tion, and treasured the
by his manner ind his facts. Por-
ter had lost his jaunty way, and after the
first interview he contented himself with
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 nave it so.
He believed in Saxton and he felt sure
that when Porter could get about and see
what the receiver had ACCOMPLISHED he
would b. 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 mystifed 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 1t 20 successfully. Wary Rari
dan was delighted to find Saxton praised,
and he dealt ironically with those who
expressed surprise mt Saxton's 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 peck.
ct for the hot coffee which was handed
up to the motormen along all the lines,
and gave 1t out to the wspaper 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 Suibble over domestic and social mat.
tess with an invalid's unreason. He was
troubled because Evelyn would no 20
our: she had missed practically all the
social gaiety of the winter by reason of
his illness, and he wished her to feel
free to leave him when she liked. In
his careful reading of the newspapers he
noted the items classified under 1.-THE
Giddy Throng" and Social Clarkson.'
and Il panied him to miss Evelyn's name
in the list Of those who poured or ''as-
sisted" or 'wcre charming" in some par
ii :ular raiment.
The doctor advised q change for Por-
ter, the purpose of which was to make it
Impossible for him to return to his work
BIZ fore his complete recovery Evelyn
aud the doctor chose Asheville before
they mentioned 1t to him. and the plan,
OF course, included his son Grant. Mrs.
Whipple still supervised the Porter house
held at long range. and the general FREE
qrently called alone to help the banker
over the hard places in his concalevsence