Rock Island Argus., 1911-04-05

conspirators.
well. boys" he said. with a grin
that went from ear TO ear, Il guess
we did It up all right and according to
orders. 1 don't know what sort OF
game the Hon. Dave Sagebrush Is
playing this time, but whatever he
says goes, and I reckon we gave the
young man a right pleasant time.
Anyway, he seemed to think So"
Blount did not reach his Office in the
capitaI until the afternoon Of the sec
ond day His first care was to call
up the Inter-Mountain. and when the
clerk disappointed him by telling him
that bis father. Mrs Blount and their
guest had gone out TO Warrace Hall
he counted it as one more opportunity
missed and settled down TO business.
First in the memoranda on his desk
was a stenographer's note asking him
to make an appointment with one s.
P Hathaway. whose address was the
nter-Mountain hotel. Since the note
was marked important he told the
clerk to call up the hotel at once, and
in due time the gentleman, who. the
stenographer said, had called several
times during the day, made his ap-
pearance at the door OF the private Of
fee.
It was a mutual shock. Blount rec
ognized instantly his companion of the
Omaha-Aretas Pullman smoking com
partment and the man who had doubt
less sent the three highbinders after
him on the night of mysteries and who
had been the prime mover in the Sc
ries Of singular incidents ending in the
midnight homecoming to Wartrace
Hall
On the other hand, the president saw
before him the supposed agent of the
forestry service.
well, I'll be hanged"' he ejaculat-
ed. dropping into the nearest chair.
You needn't be- laughed Blount
easily. 'I'I admit that it was partly
my fault, Mr.. Hathaway. What can
do for you today?"
By this time The lumber king had re-
covered his breath and some measure
of his composure.
Great Scott"' ne said. "If you had
given me half a hint that you were
Dave Blount's son, but you didn't, you
know, aud now l am handicapped just
at the time when 1 oughtn't to be. l
have come TO talk business with you
today, Mr.. Blount. and you've got me
going when I ought to be coming. I've
been given to understand that you are
handling the political end for the
railroad company IN this campaign, Mr..
Blount. Is that right?"
'It IS and it isn't" was the quick
reply. THE railroad company is noJ
in politics in this campaign-as a po-
litical factor, 1 mean. What we are
trying 70 do-wbat we mean to dos
to lay the entire matter plainly and
fairly before the people with plea
for square deal"
HIM. yes said the trust president,
who was evidently suffering from q
fresh attack Of embarrassment But
there are certain little business mat
tiers which have 10 enter into every
campaign. and your company, like my
own. is obliged 10 take coGniZance Of
them. Two years ago the railroad
neople found It advisable and profit
able to-er-make a little arrangement
with US which was to our mutual ad
vantage, and called to see if It could
not be made again"
Blount sat back IA his chair. and the
conciliatory smile disappeared. state
the facts, if you please, Mr.. Hatha-
way" he said curtly.
We'll, It was like this. AS you know.
we have great many sawmius scat
tered around in different places in the
state, ard we employ good many
men. While our employees are resi-
dents Of the state, they are not citl-
zenS in the sense that they take any
active interest in state politics. They
may be here this year and up among
the Oregon redwoOds next year and
somewhere else the year following.
That being the case, when they vote
at all they naturally ask US how we
would Ike 70 have them vote"
go on" said Blount.
"Weil, as 1 say, such being the case.
we are able to control at least four
and probably five Of the legislative
districts in this state The control is
worth something TO your people. and
IN the last election that fact was rec
ognized. Since the Twin Buttes Lum-
ber company IS practically the only
heavy lumber shipper in this region, it
was given a preferential rate on its
products, not at ell as a quid pro quo.
you understand, but merely in friend
" recognition OF our help in the last
election
Really. it was not such a great
thing that was done for Us. Mr..
BIount. II you are familiar with Ium-
Der rates in this territory you VIII
know that the special tariff made for
US is all that enables US TO live. With
out it we would go into bankruptcy
inside Of year
Blount had opened his penknife and
was absently sharpening a pencil.
This special rate you speak OF. Mr..
Hathaway" he said. speaking slowly
Il imagine it is not confined to this
state"
"WeH-ec-no.' was the hesitatng
reply. TO meet competition it has
been made TO apply also on through
And IL is covered by rebates. SUP