Rock Island Argus., 1911-07-26

/ for one year. renewable for ten years
Il your preliminary steps meet with
my approval"
ALLOW me 20 understand" said Rol-
Inns. In that year 1 am to be abso-
lutely without interference in any
| way?"
with two exceptions" replied
Breed. 'T want a private rebate on
all shipments of bread or cereal stuffs.
Next, here is a list Of names. These
men are not to be employed in any
capacity nor benefited in any way"
Rollins looked over the list and
smiled There isn't a man here
whom I would lift a finger to save
There is not a man in that list but has
had an interest IN car company, a
coupler company, a brake company, a
locomotive tire company or some other
manufacturing concern which furnish
ed supplies to his own railroad at
enormous prices. There is to be no
graft in the new construction"
Certainly not" agreed Breed.
These roads must be conducted for
legitimate profit and public safety. If
there is any graft I want it myself
and l am content to take dividends
for mine. For one year you are the
absolute dictator of the largest en-
pire In the world-the combined rail
roads Of the United States
From his desk he took a contract,
confined to one sheet Of paper, which
he handed to Rollins
That gentleman took the paper, read
it over and caught his breath. ''It is
a generous salary" he admitted. ''more
generous than should have dared to
ask for"
Huh, am saving money on it,"
declared Breed. It's only a portion
of a thousand fancy salaries that ! ex-
pect you to stop at once"
Rollins nodded his head IN cOmpre-
hension. 'T will take great pleasure
in stopping a few Of them"
Kelvin conducted Rollins to room.
next to his own. that had been fitted
with a commodious desk and all that
should go with it. Rollins sat upon
the desk and looked about him smil-
ingly.
'Looks fairly complete. doesn't it?
Did you have a hand in this?"
mo" said Kelvin. puzzled and
piqued as well. "It has been arrang-
ed for a long time, I think. Mr. Breed
has probably been planning to make
Forest Lakes the capital of New York
city"
Perhaps the capital of the United
States" retorted Rollins. smiling in
answer to the jest. ''Who knows?
He has a good start He has paid a
lot of attention TO detail too Every
thing is complete now except for a sec
retary." and idly he touched one of the
row Of buttons along the right hand
edge OF his desk, the one marked
Secretary"
Instantly the door of the adjoining
room opened, and a sober faced and
noncommittal looking young man. rud-
dy checked and clean eyed and tow
headed. walked in, notebook in hand.
"Hello" said Rollins. who are
you?"
Il am your secretary, sir. l came
last night NV name is Jens Nelson"
Swedish. eh?" guessed Rollins.
Yes. SIR" said Mr.. Nelson. 'T am
a graduate of the Minnesota Technical
college. founded by Mr.. Breed, and am
one OF his scholarship men" /
Rollins smiled over the naivete of !
this admission.
"All right, Mr.. Nelson" said he |
you have a telegraph operator here. |
/ believe, Mr.. Kelvin?"
Wireless" amended Phillip.
Rollins glanced al his row of buttons |
and nodded his head "Mr Nelson, |
you may take these marconigTams." :
and without any hesitation be began /
debating peremptory DISCHARGES to a .
long list Of railroad officials.
Thus set in the new empire-the en-
pire of the iron highway, an empire /
which held under its absolute control F..
the commercial destfnies of the ma
ton. an empire more powerful than any /
ever conceived by man. II was reign /
that began peacefully and quietly as
the stern Rollins, with e smile. dis
possessed half a thousand men from