Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-07-20
CHAPTER v-contlnusd.

Il know little about the social obi.
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, 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
me exceedingly"
TN my business, Mr.. Haldane, and
] have no doubt that the experience
II your own, have found that what
/ supervise myself is well done. and
what / delegate to others 10 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
went on. "in great business such
as yours is. you can't attend personal
ly to every detail yourself"
by no MEANS" returned the other.
II have succeeded In surrounding my
self with very capable corps Of sub
ordinates--perhaps l 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
I expect results. But l supervise ev-
cry department of the business myself.
l am In possession of frequent reports
concerning 1t even in its details.
make regular and rigid inspections.
In short. so far as one man can do
20, have 1t all in my own hands.
certainly In my own mind"
my own practise, Mr.. cormly. with
my affairs, which are somewhat large
and extensive, is similar to yours"
Il take 1t, SIR" was the answer.
''tL 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 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 1t
immensely. and indeed intended In
one way or another to do that very
thing before he got through with him;
but 1t would be bad policy to do It
without more preparation for victory.
and II would be In execrable taste to
precipitate antagonism In the enjoy
ment Of his hospitality. Therefore he
swallowed his dislike and proceeded
~ 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. It was exceed
ingly well done. For the moment 1t
even deceived his acute companion.
He spoke with an air Of the utmost
frankhess.
Il have no personal concern, Of
course. in the matter, but l have
been greatly interested In the remark
able series Of articles that have ap-
peared under your name. l suppose
you were betrayed into this unfortu-
nate position through some error on
the part of one of your subordinates.
NO" said Gormly. that was q mis-
take of my own. one of those employ
er's errors to which we alluded a mo-
ment since"
1T is like to cost you dear. fancy.
before you get through. The Cor
ham Freight Traction company. which
l hear IL an immensely strong
financial organization and IL nat.
urally relentless and inexorable In
matters Of business. is apt to exact
compliance with its demands, or
leave your warehouses, as It were. In
the air"
Il have never credited them with
any other intent"
"Then l suppose in the end you will
take your medicine. as the young men
say. and content yourself with your
Approximations"
my experience has been that pub
licity, II coupled with surrender, Is
never very eficacious. II l should
accede to the demands OF the Gotham
Freight Traction company, the fact
that ! had exposed them would be OF
little moment"
"Oh, then. you propose to do your
own freighting by wagon and give up
the battle" asked Haldane. his eager
ness a little more apparent than he
Imagined possible.
ri have not said So" he answered.
what do you propose7"