Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-05-05

The owner of the name had finished
his ice and was sitting back to clip the
end from very long and very black
cigar. He was q man past middle
age, large framed and heavy, with the
SQUARE. resolute face Of a born master
of circumstances.
Though he fguDd only as the first
vice president of the Transcontinental
company, Hardwick McVickar was
really the active head Of its affairs and
the director of its policy.
Across the small round table sat the
railway magnate's dinner guest, a mar
who was more than McVickar's match
In big boned, square shouldered ply
sique; a man whose half century was
written only in the thick grizzled hail
and heavy grazing mustaches.
Il wish / could convince you that
1t isn't worth while to hold me al
arms length, SENATOR" McVickar was
saying. You know as well as l dc
that under the present law In this
state we are practically bankrupt
We do n losing business from the mo
ment we cross your state line"
"Yes; it seems to me that l have
heard something like that before,
was the noncommittal rejoinder.
You have heard the simple truth
only to the railroad. but to the PEG
pie 1t serves. We can't give adequat.
service when the cost exceeds the
earnings"
"And you are unable to convince the
members Of the railroad commission? 2
asked the man whom the vice presi
dent addressed as senator"
You know we'll enough that We
can't convince an anti-railroad com
mission" was the half angry retort.
yet you are still running the rail
road" suggested the other.
Yes; luckily the Transcontinenta
system does not lie wholly within YOU
state boundaries. II it did we might
as we'll surrender our charter and e
out Of business"
"All Of which has come to be pref
ty old story. McVickar." said the lis
tener quietly. you didn't make me
motor thirty miles to hear you tell Il
all over again. l know. What do yor
want"
1--WE want a square DEAL" was the
curt reply.
$50 do the people Of this state" as
serted the man across the table. "Yor
bled Us. IIardwick-bled Us to death
while you had the chance. You are
Justly. II not legally. in debt to every
man In this state who had ever ship.
ped carload Of freight or paid pas
senger fare over your line before the
present rate law went into effect"
The vice president sat up and pu,
his elbows on the edge Of the table.
You are too many for me, Blount,
and I'm no apprentice at the game Ell
Their. In all the years we've dickered
together you've always been a con
sistent fighter for your own hand
What's happened to you? Have you
oNQuiAC0 q hCW bCS Va COut AStlOuS, Va
is this only a different way Of whip
ping the devil around the stump"
"Oh, / don't know" returned the
guest. 1--WE are all growing older
and wiser perhaps. You don't deny
the debt you owe US, do your
do we owe you anything. BlountT'
asked the magnate pointedly. III we
do we are willing to pay 1t In spot
cash on demand"
The big man on the other side Of the
table was leaning back In his chair
with his hands In his pockets. and the
smile wrinkling at the corners of his
eyes was half genial, half satirical.
ITS lucky we are alone. McVickar,' "
he said. "A third party might imagine
that you are trying to bride me-"
That's all right, Blount. We un
derstand each other. Nothing fol
nothing Is the accepted rule in this
world Of ours, and we all recognize
1t. You are figuring on something.
know you are. Name 1t. II 1t Is any.
thing less than a mortgage on the
earth and one or two of the planets
I'll get 1t for you"
Il am afraid we are more than q
mile or two apart yet" said the man
who was not smoking after q long