The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-08-11
CHAPTER V.-contlnued.

81 know little about the social obli-
cations of the world to which you re-
fer. It has not been my privilege to
nave an entrance therein"
Merely a matter of choice on your
mart. I am sure" murmured Haldane
deprecatingly.
Possibly" was the cool reply. Il
have not hitherto been greatly inter
ested in effecting an entrance with.
in the charmed circle, nor am | es-
pecially 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
ne exceedingly"
In my business, Mr.. Haldane. and
! have no doubt that the experience
is your own. have found that what
l supervise myself is we'll done, and
what 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. land the prin-
ciple is older still" But surely" he
vent on. "in great business such
as yours is. you can't attend personal
iy to every detail yourself"
by no MEANS" returned the other.
~ have succeeded in surrounding my
self with a very capable corps of sub
ordinates-perhaps had better call
them assistants-who have been tried
and tested, and upon whom have de-
volved responsibilities commensurate
with their capacities. and from whom
expect results. But | supervise ev-
ery'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 do
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"
q take 1t, SIR was the answer,
that we are in line with all successful
men in that"
1t irked Haldane a little to be so
calmly included in the same category
with Gormly; for he had never been
in trade and had acquired much of the
old world prejudice against the keep
ing of a store. However, 1t was not
North n,,orro1fnn oh Not that
Haldane had the slightest objections
to queYreling with GorpllT; on the
contrary, he would haw, tnjoyed II
immensely, and indeed attended In
one way or another to so that very
thing before he got throsgh with him !;
but it would be bad policy TO do II
without more preparation for victory,
and it would be in execrable taste to
precipitate antagonism In the enjoy
ment of his hospitality. Therefore he
swallowed his dislike and proceeded
as follows:
Even the best of subordinates
make mistakes once in a while"
They are no more immune From
that" was the swift rejoinder. than
the ablest of employers"
Haldane laughed 1t was exceed
ingly we'll done. For the moment II
even deceived his acute companion
He spOee with an air of the utmost
frankness.
Il have no personal concern, oil
course, in the matter, but | have
been greatly interested In the remark
able series Of articles that have ap
peared under your name. | suppose
you were betrayed into this unfortu
nate position through some error or
the part OF one of your subordinatss.
No. said Gormly, that was a mis-
take of my own, one OF those employ
ers errors to which We alluded q mo
merit since"
~ Is like to cost you dear, fancy
pefore you get through. The Cor
nam Freight Traction company, which
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, OF
ieave your warehouses, as 1t we're, In
the air"
l have never credited them with
any other intent"
Then | suppose in the end you will
take your medicine, as the young mer
say and content yourself with your
proclamations
My experience has been that pub
hcity, If coupled with surrender, Ii
never very efficacious. If | should
accede to the demands of the Gotham
freight Traction company, the fac
mat | had exposed them would be Of
little moment"
oh. then, you propose to do your
own freighting by wagon and give vi
'ne battle?" asked Haldane, his eager
ness little more apparent than hs
imagined possible.
| have not said So" he answered.
What do you propose?"