Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-17
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

II know little about the social obli-
cations of the world to which you re-
fer. 1t has not been my privilege to
have an entrance therein"
Merely a matter of choice on your
part, I am sure" murmured Haldane
deprecatingIy.
Possibly" was the cool reply. q
have not hitherto been greatly inter
ested in effecting an entrance with
in the charmed circle, nor am es-
pecialIy now, saving your presence of
course and meaning not the slightest
offense in the world"
None whatever is taken, and
pray you to proceed. You interest
me exceedingly"
I'm my business, Mr.. Haldane, and
have no doubt that the experience
is your own, I have found that what
I supervise myself is well done, and
what I delegate to others is frequently
i'll done, and sometimes not done at
all,
The remark is as old as Ben Frank
lin" laughed Haldane, "and the prin-
Nt}IC Is OluCt sill nut oul C1Jy liz
went on, "in a great business such
as yours is, you can't attend personal
ly to every detail yourself"
by no means" returned the other
q have succeeded in surrounding my.
self with a very capable corps of sub
ordinates-perhaps I had better call
them assistants-who have been tried
and tested, and upon whom l have de
yOlved responsibilities commensurate
with their capacities, and from whom
/ expect results. But / supervise ev.
cry department of the business myself
am in possession of frequent reports
concerning it even in it's details.
make regular and rigid inspections
In short, so far as one man can dc
so, I have it all in my own hands
certainly in my own mind"
MY own practise, Mr.. Gormly, with
my affairs, which are somewhat large
and extensive, is similar to yours"
4 take it, sir" was the answer
that we are in line with all successful
men in that"
1t irked Haldane a little to be sc
calmly included in the same category
with GOrmly; for he had never beer
in trade and had acquired much of the
old world prejudice against the keep
Ing of a store However, it was not
worth quarreling about Not that
Haldane had the slightest objections
to quarreling with Gormly; on the
contrary, he would have enjoyed il
immensely, and indeed intended fl
one way or another to do that very
thing before he got through with him
but it would be bad policy to do il
without more preparation for victory
and It would be in execrable taste tC
precipitate antagonism in the enjoy
ment of his hospitality Therefore he
swallowed his dislike and proceeded
as follows:
Even the best of subordinatss
make mistakes once in a while"
They are no more immune from
that was the swift rejoinder, thar
the ablest of employers"
HaIdane laughed 1t was exceed
ingly we'll done For the moment il
even deceived his acute companion
He spoke with an air of the utmost
frankness.
I have no personal concern, O
course, in the matter, but I have
been greatly interested in the remark
able series of articles that have ap
peared under your name. I suppose
YOU were betrayed into this unfortu
nate position through some error OIL
the part of one of your subordinates.
No said Gormly, that was a mis-
take of my own, one Of those employ
er's errors to which we alluded mo
ment since"
lit is like to cost you dear. I fancy
before you get through. The Cor
ham Freight Traction company, which
l hear is an immensely strons
financial organization and is nat
urally relentless and inexorable il
matters of business. is apt to exac
compliance with its demands, O
leave your warehouses, as it were, il
the air"
Il have never credited them Will
any other intent
Then I suppose in the end you vii
take your medicine, as the young meI
say, and content yourself with your
approximations?
My experience has been that pub
Hcity, if coupled with surrender, i.
never very eficacious. If I shout,
accede to the demands of the Gotham
Freight Traction company. the fac
that lad exposed them would be o
little aent'
"Oh. men, you propose to do you
own freighting by wagon and give u
the battls?" asked Haldane, his eager
ness a little more apparent than h,
imagined possible.
Il have not said So he answered.
What do you propose?"