The Irish standard., 1910-10-08

aormIy Deliberately Laid All His
Cards on the Table.
{ hear is an immensely strong
financial organization and is nat.
urally relentless and memorable in
matters of business, is apt to exact
compliance with its demands, or
leave your warehouses, as it were, in
the air."
II have never credited them with
any other intent"
Then l suppose in the end you will
take your medicine, as tho young men
say, and content yourself with your
approximations"
"My experience has been that pub
licity, II coupled with surrender, Is
never very efficacious. If l should
accede to the demands of the Gotham
Freight Traction company. the fact
that had exposed them would be Of
little moment"
"Oh, then, you propose to do your
own freighting BY wagon and give ur
the battle?" asked Haldane. his eager
ness little more apparent than he
imagined possible.
II have not said so," he answered.
What do you propose?"
1t was blunt, direct question, and
one unwarranted by the situation.
well" began the merchant
slowly.
Il ask simply as a citizen interested
In the welfare of the community.
Some of the hackers of the Gotham
Freight Traction company are friends
of mine, and from tonight shall hope
to count you also among that num-
her," explained the financier grace
fully.
Thank you," returned Gormly. Il
have learned that it is not wise to
say what you are going to do until
you are ready to do 1t; that it is
much better, in fact, to substitute
doing for saying"
can excellent maxim!" returned the
other with we'll simulated indifference.
"All of your fellow citizens, however.
will be deeply interested in the out
come of the affair. I am an older man
than you are, Mr.. Gormly. and may
therefore take the liberty, not of ad-
vising you as to the conduct OF your
business, but Of saying In a friendly
way one or two things that occur to
me. The first is that as business
man know that this publicity Is more
or less distasteful to you. l assume
that it will be to the Gotham Freight
| Tpooffnn }oh 10
very worthy concern, DESTROYS OF
minding its own business and exploit
ing its own properties. l think N.Y.
self, viewing the situation impartial
ly, that you have been hardly dealt
with. don't want to see the affair
advance any farther, for the credit
of the community. Suppose we
say five hundred thousand dollars
for the connections and nothing more
to appear about 1t In the public
press?"
us this" burst out Gormly
quickly. as this compromise you
are offering?"
II am offering nothing" returned
Haldane lightly, almost indifferently.
| LOL III HO6lLlOH W OACA oily IulAko.
As stated to you, am simply citi-
zen who wants to see this unpleasant
matter removed from the papers,
where such things are discussed by
Incorporate writer's without any real
comprehension of the issues involved
and offer as the friend of my friends.
and, II I may so call myself, as your
friend, to bring you two together"
"You are not empowered to mako
such q propositions"
"Certainly not" was the specious
answer. Il simply take advantage Of
the fortunate chance that gives me the
privilege Of your acquaintance to do
what l conceive to be most impor-
tant public service"
"And you have no personal interest
in the matter?"
Il have already assured you as to
that"
II will not accept any such offer.
II 1t should be made me by authority.
I will not pay a single cent over and
above the actual cost OF building the
switches and proper and reasonable
amount for the privilege Of the con-
nection."
"Of course, you must make your
own decision. In that case, however,
fear you will never get the switches"
II am quite sure that before get
through shall have not only the
switches, but"
Gormly paused, and looked his COM
panion hard and directly in the face.
But what?" said Haldane, fiicking
the ashes from his cigar daintily, and
speculatively watching the blue curl
of smoke that rose languidiy from it's
end in the air.
Gormly thought quickly. He was