The Red Cloud chief., 1911-07-27

chise under which the Tine has been
constructed and by which II Is oper
ated. through the provisions Of which
It will be held"
"Have the people surrendered their
rights absolutely 10 the Gotham
Freight Traction company"
Il should say that they had"
Are they delivered. bound hand
and foot, to this corporation?"
well, you put II rather POLITICALLY:
but in substance your remark is true"
And have they no redress or re-
course?"
Certainly"
| And what Is that!''
Il haven't the slightest objection to
telling you. They can revoke the
franchise--at the expiration Of tho
ninety.nine-year term"
rs that all they can do!"
Absolutely all. You see, therefore,
It would be quite hopeless for you to
attempt to nght this corporation, even
with the alliance and support Of the
people, which 1t IL by no means Ger.
tain you could gain"
And that is your unprejudiced opln-
ionH"
1T Is. Therefore I urge upon you
the acceptance o. my offer to mediate
between you and them"
And you say your interest is purely
impersonal?'
Entirely"
II am glad. a. I said before. to
know that" returned Gormly. "be.
cause I should not like to md myself
In opposition to one who has mani.
tested such friendliness to me as you
have"
haldane looked up suspiciousiy;
but Gormlys appearance was abso-
lutely guileless.
For notwithstanding what you tell
me-" the merchant continued. all Of
which 10 doubtless true. l propose to
enter tho contest with the Gotham
Freight Traction company. have
never allowed myself to be robbed;
have never been beaten by trickery
and chicanery: and don't propose to
be robbed or beaten now"
Ruin. absolute ruin. is before you" !"
said the other earnestly. III you en-.
gage In this contest.
But sir. they are trying TO hold me
up-to use a blunt phrase--for mil.
lion dollars for thing that should
not be worth tenth Of that amount
on a liberal basis. Morally"
Morals. my dear Mr.. Gormly, some
how seem to have little to do with
business. You must do what they
like. Or"
He shrugged his shoulders.
We shall see." said Gormly. Il be
lieve, though l am not a student OF
military history, that an able general
Is one who takes advantage of the
mistakes OF the enemy. and that more
battles are won by such sharp sighted
endeavor than by deliberate plan
ming"
But suppose you did succeed. what
then? How would that affect the
Gotham Freight Traction company
Meanwhile" said Gormly. and in
this instance he deliberately laid all
his cards on tho table. 81 propose &c
take advantage of the one blunder ol
the Gotham Freight Traction com
pany."
And what Ia that?" asked Hal
dane with intense eagerness. There
was no longer the faintest pretensC
between these two. His cards were
on the table as we'll. although he hac
not admitted 1t.
IN order to make the franchise o.
tho Gotham Freight Traction company
really Of value. to complete the sys
TEN, without which 1t begins and end
In the air. they must have the ole
New York Street Car company fran
| chise which expires next spring. 4
| covers the only available routes ant
| the only available streets to connec
| the two ends of the Gotham enter
| prise Somehow or other the astut
| minds controlling the corporation
/ failed to secure the renewal Of thi
| franchise. 1t has to be voted upol
/ and passed In the spring"
The present administration" wa
the quick reply. will be In power III
/ til the April elections. The franchis
/ expires In March. No re-grant Of
] could be made until then. II will b
renewed before a new administratio
could supplant the old. even II you
wild dreams were successful"
THAT 10 to be seen." answerc
Gormly coolly.
MY dear sir. II 10 self evident"
by no means. Public opinion sha
be aroused ON the question OF the n
" newal of the franchise OF the Me-
" York Street Car company. with cles
explanation Of the principles and col
~ sequences involved. to such an exteI
~ that I do not believe any administer
er ton on earth will dare to counter It
't And who will do this arousing?"
=, II will"
:. Howl"
- by offering myself a. candida'
-, for mayor of New York and BY hSh
!, Ing the battle on that issue, and thi