Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-07-30
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CHAPTER xvI.-(Continucd.)
CoPYRICHr 1908
THE BoBBs- MERRILL COMPANY

setting his sherider against the woodel
frame over me lock. The lock held, bu'
the doos oent away from it.. He brace
his feet and drove his shoulder har1c'
into the corner, at the same time press
ing his hip against the lock. 1t ~refuscC
to yield, but the glass cracked, and final
ly half of it fell with a crash to the hooi
within.
Don't hurry yourselves. gentlemen
said Fenton, coolly, speaking through the
ragged edges of broken glass. Saxton
thrust his hand in to the catch and open
ed the door.
"Why. it's only Fenton.'' called Mar
grave in a pleasant home to his as.
sociatcs, who had effected their exits safe
ly into a rear room.
ITS only Fenton." continued the law
yer, stepping inside, 'but I'll have to
trouble you to wait a few minutes"
"Oh, the meetings adjourned, if that's
what you want" said Miargrave.
THAT won't go down. said Fenton.
placing his package on the table. You're
old enough to know, Margrave, that one
man can't hold a stockholders meeting
behind locked doors"
1.-THE meeting was held regular. at the
nour and place advertised" said Mar
grave, with dignity. "A majority of the
stockholders were represented"
by you, l suppose" said Fcnton, who
had walked into the room followed by
Saxton.
by me-" said Margrave.
"How many shares have you?' asked
the lawyer.
II suppose you think I'm working q
bluff, but Nv really got the stuff this
time. To be real decent with you I don't
mind telling you that I've got exactly
twenty-five hundred and ninety-seven
shares Of this stock. l guess that's a
majority all right. Now one good turn
deserves another; how much has Porter
got? l don't care, but I'd just like to
know" He stood by the table and osten-
tatlously played with his certificates to
make Fenton's humiliation all the keener.
Margrave's associates stood at the back
of the room and watched him admiring-
ly. Fenton's bundle still lay on the ia
bic, and SaXton stood with his hands in
his pockets watching events. There had
been no chance for him to explain to Fen
ton his reasons for seeking the Offices of
the Traction Company and it had pleased
AIargrave to ignore his presence Fenton
paid no further attention to him. He
wondered afs Fentenss forbearance, and
expected the lawyer to demolish Mar
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sst
are quite Fight, Mafgravc.
hold for Mr.. Porter exactly twenty-three
and fifty shares
Margrave nodded patronizingly.
...Just a little under the mark"
You may make that twenty-four hun
dred even" said Saxton, '.if it will do
you good"
sim still shy" said Fenton. "Onr
friend clearly has the advantage"
II suppose il you'd known how neal
you'd come, you'd have hustled pretty
hard for the others said Margrave, syb-
pa thetically.
".Oh, l don't know" said Fenton, with
the haunting infection which gives slang
to the phrase. He did not seem greatly
disturbed. Saxton expected him to try to
make terms but the lawyer yawned in
q preoccupied way, before he said:
80 long as the margins so small, you'd
better be decent and hold your stockhold-
ers' meeting according to law and let US
In. I'm sure Mr.. Saxton and l would be
of great assistance-wise counsel and all
that"
You're a pretty good fellow, Fenton,
and I'm sorry we can't do business to-
gether."
'.Oh, well, if you won't, you won't
Fenton took up. his bundle and turned to
the door.
II suppose you've got large chunks of
Traction bonds, too, Margrave. There's
nothing like going in deep in these
things"
.l've been hearing for four years that
Traction bondholders were going to tear
up the earth, but I guess those old frosts
down in New England won't foreclose on
me. I'll Ray 'em their interest as soon as
l get to going. And say" he CALCULATED,
suddenly, IF Porter's got any Of those
bonds don't YOU get gay with EN-. It's a
big thing for the town to have a practical
railroad man like me running the street
car lines and if I can't make EN- nav
nobody can"
YOU'RE not conceited or anything, are
you. MRrgrave?"
by the way. young man." said Mar
grave. addressing Saxton for the first
time. w won't charge you anything for
b~reakage to-day, but don't let it happen
again"
Margrave fingered to reassure and in
struct his associates as to the adjourned
meeting, and Saxton went out with Fen
ton.
..That was rather tame,'' said John, as
he and Fenton reached the street togeth-
er. II hoped there would be some fun.
These shares belong to a Boston friend
aud they're for sale"
y wonder how Porter came to miss
them,' said Fenton, grimly. You'd bet
ter keep them as souvenirs of the occa-
sion. The engraving isn't bad. l turn up
this way They paused at the corner.
He still carried his bundle and he drew
from his pocket now a number of docu-
ments in manila jackets.
Il have a little errand at the Federal
Court. The fact is. tina Mr.. Porter owns
all of the bonds OF the Traction Com
pany."
saxon nodded. He understood now
why the stockholders meeting had not
disturbed Fenton.
This is an ugly mess the lawyer con-
tinued. 1T would have suited me better
to control the company through the stock
so long as we had 80 much. but we didn't
quite make it,. You're friendly to Mr..
Porter, aren't youY"
Yes; 1 dou't know how he feels toward
me-
1--WE can't ask him just now. ;, we'll
take - for granted. The court will un-
Questaonably nppoin: a receiver, independ.
ent OF this mornings proceedings. and II
ssl ISns S.al, ~ $. 70 have you pat