Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-07-13

IL III llht w 'obt yOu utdT, ! fancy,
before you get through. The Cor.
ham Freight Traction company. which
I hear Is an immensely strong
financial organization and is nat.
urally relentless and inexorable in
matters Of business, is apt to exact
compliance with its demands, or
leave your warehouses, as 1t were, In
the air"
Il have never credited them with
any other intent"
"Then | 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. If | 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 Il little more apparent than he
imagined possible.
81 have not said So" he answered.
What do you propose?"
1t was a blunt, direct question, and
one unwarranted by the situation.
well" began the merchant
slowly.
Il ask simply as a citizen interested
In the welfare of the community.
Some of the hackers of the Gotham
Freight Traction company are friends
Of mine, and from tonight | shall hope
to count you also among that mum.
ber." explained the financier grace
fully.
Thank you" returned Gormly. ~
have learned that 1t Is not wise to
say what you are going to do until
you are ready to do 1t; that it Is
much better, in fact. to substitute
doing for saying"
IAN excellent MAXIM" returned the
other with well simulated Indifference.
"All of your fellow citizens. however,
come Of the affair. | am an older mar
than you are. Mr.. GOrmly, and may
therefore take the liberty. not Of ad-
vising you as to the conduct of your
business, but Of saying In a friendly
way one or two things that occur to
me. The first is that as a business
man | know that this publicity Is more
or less distasteful to you. assume
that 1t will be to the Gotham Freight
Traction company, which, believe, ia
q very worthy concern, DESTROYS OF
minding It's W business and exploit
Ing It's own properties. | think my
self, viewing the situation impartial
ly. that you have been hardly dealt
with. | don't want to see the affair
advance any farther. for the credit
of the community. Suppose We
say FIVE hundred thousand dollara
for the connections and nothing more
to appear about 1t In the public
press?"
rs this" burst out Gormly
quickly. 'Is this 4 compromise yol
are ofering?"
II am offering nothing" returned
Kaldane lightly. almost i%ndiferently
II Am not in position to offer anything
Ae ! stated to you. ! am simply a citi
zen Who wants to see this unpleasant
matter removed from the papers
where such things are discussed b!
Incorporate writers without any rea
comprehension of the issues involve,
and | offer as the friend of my friends
and, II I may so call myself, as you
friend. TO bring o two together"
you are not empowered to max
such q proposition"
Certainly not" was the speciou
answer. Il simply take advantage c
the fortunate chance that gives me tn
privilege Of your acquaintance I d
what | conceive to be a most impol
tant public service"
And you have no personal interes
In the matter?"
II have already assured you az I
that"
II will not accept any such ore
II II should be made me by authorit,
l will not pay a single cent over an
above the actual cost of building II
switches and a proper and reasonab
amount for the privilege OF the co
nection."
"Of course. you must make yol
own decision. In that case, howeye
l fear you will never get the switches
Il am quite sure that before ! &
through ! shall have not only Il
switches. but
Gormly paused. and looked his col
panion hard and directly in the fac
But what?" said Haldane. rickil
I, the ashes from his cigar daintily, al
speculatively watching the blue Gu
OF smoke that ros languidly from 1