The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-30
LA1EKS
RTER VII.

IN
observed, as the door closed behind
Evans. "He seems moody and 81.
lent, and not at all like the man we
know at the ranch two or three
years ago."
HE is bit absent minded to-
night" Maddox admitted, but
otherwise / don't notice much
change. He never was great con.
versationalist."
What's he here for?"
Simply on a vacation with me. u
How much of a vacation do you
take"
1.-TWO months this year. I've been
pretty hard worked lately and don't
intend to think of the office or any.
thing connected with 1t for eight
weeks"
Eight weeks! When l was your
age we were lucky If we got eight
days"
IF many people held you opinion
of the legal profession" answered
Maddox, slyly, lawyers could take
even longer holiday with benefit
to the community"
Eyes, sir, I'd give you all IL
month holiday every calendar year
which reminds me of what was
going to tell you when Evans left
the room. You know the Coast &
Gulf railroad, of course?'
"Searing's road? Certainly"
did you ever hear of the Pla.
cento company"
Maddox shook his head.
"Well, sir, I've tumbled upon as
pretty a gang of scoundrels in
those two companies as exists any.
where outside of the legal profes.
sion, and II there was an honest at.
torney anywhere in this country, or
one who wouldn't sell me out at
the earliest opportunity, I'd strip
those fellows to the skin and flay
'em alive"
The idea that he was insulting
,his guest never occurred to the
choleric old gentleman as he glared
at Maddox, who nodded gravely
and sympathetically, his alone
showing his intense amusement.
Some time ago." Mr.. Prayer con.
tinued, more quietly. Il invested
part of Harmony's trust funds in
the Placento Iron Co. I'm quite
well aware that mining companies
are not trust investments, but as
happened to know all about this
one l thought I'd assume whatever
risk there was. 1t is a perfectly
solvent concern. The mines have
good ore in them-better stuff TAIN
we expected, and probably much
more of 1t than we hoped, with a
ready market - good prifit for
all we SAtp,ne. Well, everything
was JnaAx smoothly when along
comess,s sdsaaosal from the Coast &
GMH ko&d that we contract to
supply Its needs for there years al
figure somewhat above the pres
ent market rates. AS director.
objected to accepting this business
because l don't believe in putting
all your eggs in one basket, and be
cause the quantity required in the
future might be more than the out
put of the mines. Then. too. sew
eral of Searing's friends were on
our board. which made me suspi
cious that the price wasn't toe
high. called attention to this"
Maddox laughed.
Il fancy you didn't fail to make
yourself understood"
81 tried to be perfectly frank" re
sumed Mr.. Prayer, with a reminis
cent chuckle. Anyway, two of the
fellows claimed had insulted them
and resigned In high indignation
But they didn't fool me. sir. Men
don't resign, one at a time, and Sc
lect substitutes to keep control OF
the board. when they're indignant
They do that when they're discreet
/ haven't been downtown 30 years
for nothing. Those fellows kept
control of the board and brought
the Coast & Gulf proposition to the
front at every opportunity. When
! saw they were determined to
force the business down my throat
l resigned, and they passed reso
luton accepting a contract which
ties us up to this railroad for the
next three years."
p did they actually sign the con
tract?"
Maddox leaned forward on the
table as he put the question.
mo, it isn't actually signed YET
because one of my friends insisted
that a lawyer examine the papers
first"
"Who is the Placento's attorney
Mr.. Frayer?"