Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-08-19
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CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.) J

est idea who the other shareholders are ::
the company is thoroughly rotten in all
its past history, and here you go plung-
ing into il up TO your eyes. And they
say you're the most conservative banker
on the river
Il guess you don't have to get me out
OF many scrapes," said Porter.
"When's the annual meeting?" asked
Fenton.
Its day after to-morrow-a close call
hul I'll make il all right
Mr. Porter, l want you to remember
that l haven't given you any advice at
all in this matter. It's an extra hazard
Gus thing that you're doing. Now, don't
know anything definitely about it, but
I've got the impression that Margrave's
paralleling your lines in this business" ;"
'Where'd you get that?'
IT'S this way" said Fenton, in his
quietest tones. a Baltimore lawyer that
! know wrote ME letter asking me
about Margrave's responsibility. 1t seems
that my friend has a client who owns
some of these shares. A good deal of
that stock went to Baltimore and Phi'a-
delphia. you may remember. assume
that Margrave is after it
"Wire your friend right away not to
sell I" shouted Porter, pounding the table
with his fist.
II did that this morning, and here's his
answer. l got it just before you came
in. Margrave evidently got anxious and
wired them to send certificates with draft
through the Drovers' National. They're
probably on the way now.' He passed
the telegram across to Porter, who put
on his glasses and read it.
"Now." continued Fenton, Il don't
know just what this means. but it looks
to me as if Margrave was hot on the
track of the trolley company himself ana
Tim Margrave isn't a particularly pleas
ant fellow to go into business with, Is
hep
"But the bondholders would still have
their chance, wouldn't they, even if he got
a majority of the stock?"
well. you haven't any bonds, have
YOU? First thing l know you'll be telling
me that you've got a few barrels OF
them" he added, jokingly. he could not
help laughing at Porter
MY dear boy, I've got every blamed
bond
Fenton sat gazing at him in stupefed
wonder. He walked around the table ana
nut his hand on Porters shoulder. lie
was trying to keep from laughing, IKE
parent who is about to rebuke chlin
and yet laughs at the cause OF ITS Oh
fense. Porter evidently thought that ne
had done an extremely bright thing.
"As understand you, you have bought
all of the bonds and half of the stock
"About half. I'm little-just little
short"
"Will you kindly tell me what you
wanted with the stock if you had the
bonds?''
"Wel. l figured it this way, that the
franchise was worth the price l had TO
nav for the whole thing, and II had the
stock control I'd save the fuss of foreclos-
ing. You lawyers always make a lot OF
rumpus about those things, and a receiv-
ership would prejudice the Eastern mar
ket when | come to reorganize and sell
out"
Fenton lay back in his chair and
laughed. while Porter looked at him lit
tle defiantly, with his hat tipped over his
eyes
You'd better finish your job and MAXI
sure of your ajority,' said Fenton. his
rage was rising now and he did not urge
Porter to remain when the banker got
m to do. He was not at all anxious to
defend a franchise which the local courts,
always sensitive to public sentiment,
might set aside.
"Iu see you in the morning first
thing" said Porter at the door, which
Fenton opened for him. Il want you to
90 to the meeting with me and we'll need
a day to get ready"
The lawyer watched his client walk
toward the elevator. 1t occurred to him
that Porter's step was losing its elastic
itv. While the banker waited for the ele-
vator he leaned YEARLY against the wire
screen of the shaft.
Fentou then sat down with a copy Of
the charter of the ClarksOn Traction
Company before him, and spent the re-
mainder Of the day studying it. He had
troubled much over Porter's secretive
ways. and had labored to shatter the dan
gerous conceit which had gradually grown
M in his client. Porter had, in fact, a
contempt for lawyers, though he leaned
on Fenton more than he would admit.
Fenton. on the other hand was constant
" fearful lest his client should undo him
self by his secretive methods. He had
difficulty in getting all the facts out of
him even when they were imperatively re-
quired.
The next morning Fenton was at his
office early and sent his boy at once to
ask Mr.. Porter 10 come up. The boy re-
ported that Mr.. Porter had not been at
the bank Fenton went down himself at
10 o'clock and found the presidents desk
closed.
where's the boss?" be demanded.
Wont be down this morning." said
Wheaton. Miss Porter telephoned that
he wasn't feeling well. but he expected to
be down after luncheon"
CHAPTER XIII.
Porter's illness was proclaimed In the
first editions of the afternoon papers,
which Wheaton saw at his desk. News
gains force by publication, and when ne
read the printed statement that the presi-
A.nt ~ fhs Clarkson National Bank was