Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-11-13

written to Ir. Garrett for his sigma
ture. While the railroad president
was signing the assignment, the attor-
ney answered for Randolph Mason, ex-
plsiring that the agreement should be
FLED with the trust company holding
the assignment, IN order that the
terms of the escrow could not be mis-
taken.
The powerful hand OF Thomas 3.
Wood. resting on his written resigna
ton. clenched. 81 will not consent TO
an escrow" he repeated
Randolph Mason thrust across the
table the paper which he had made
ont. Sign that" he said.
The man took the memorandum, AT.
ixed his signature and laid it on rae
letter Of resignation under his
clenched hand. His face darkened. Z
trust. he said. that my words are in
telligibie have twice said that ]
would not consent TO an escrow"
There shall be no escrow" said
Randolph Mason.
The attorney for John A. Garnatt
leaned forward in his chrhr How
them be said, SIS Mr. Wood to obt ain
this assignment"
Il shall give it to him." replied Ran.
dolph Mason. Then he picked up the
assignment and handed It to the Unit.
ed states marshal Take this, he
said, 'and leave on the table the pa,
pers under your hand"
The shadows in the resolute face
of Thomas B. Wood vanished. He GOT
up, put the assignment into his pocket,
buttoned his great coat, took up his
driving gloves from the table, bade us
good-eyening and went out of the
room, down the stairway to his horses.
| came back wonderingly to RAN
dolph Mason. His boast that he would
be here to prevent the ruin of Garrett
was idle. He rather had speeded that
ruin. The attorney regarded him with
cold serenity.
Have you in fact" he asked, "any
interest in the success of John A. Gar.
nett?"
Il have not" he said. Then he con-
tinued. like one explaining briefly 10
an annoying query. Il am interested
only in removing this man from his OF.
flee, in correcting thereby the wrong
of his appointment"
All" said the attorney. Il under.
stand, then, why you so readily cut
from under us the only possible foot.
hold against this man-that Of an es.
crow. With Wood once out of Office,
the delivery of this paper might have
been enjoined."
Sir" replied Mason, your purposed
fiimsy trick was patent even to Wood"
Perhaps" said the attorney, but
in a shipwreck no plank can be al
lowed to pass. You had no right to
come into this affair, If you had nc
regard for Mr. Garnett's peril"
Since l came into the affair" re.
piled Randolph Mason, "Mr. Garnett
has never been in peril"
This conversation with its last en-.
igmatic answer of Randolph Mason
was interrupted by the abrupt en-
trance of Margaret Garrett The
whole aspect of the woman was trans
formed es under some enchantment;
she seemed in some mysterious way
to be flooded with color-silver struck
into life, porcelain running beneath
its white glaze with blood. Her pose
was imperious, dominant, exulting.
She spoke to Randolph Mason, ig-
noring the rest of us as though We
were unfortunately distant.
you, even YOU she said, could
not defeat him. He got what he want
ed in spite of you"
Mason regarded her with a leisure
ly, ironic interest.
Thomas B. Wood" he replied. has
got nothing"
"Nothlng!" she repeated. do you
call a control of my fathers railroads
nothing? control of millions moth
ing? seat in the Urited States SEN
ate nothing? And what have you tax.
en- from MIN for it? indeed, what have
you taken! A paltry federal offce!"
Il have TAKEN" replied Randolph Ma
son, "the little that he had, and have
given nothing" Then he added as
though likewise in explanation to the
rest Of us, In the removal OF this
man from his Office it was not my in
tention that he should obtain any ben
eft from John A. Garrett"
Then" she cried, you have
failed"
Il have not failed" replied Ran.
dolph Mason, speaking with cold pre-
cision This assignment of stock
was delivered to Thomas B. Wood In
consideration of the resignation of his
office. Such contracts are void as
against public policy. The Consol.
idated Fuel Railroads will refuse to
recognize the validity of th;s agree
ment, and It cannot be enforced in
the courts. 1t cannot avail this man
that the paper is In legal form and
recites another and valid considera-
ton. when the moving consideration
was in fact the resignation OF fed
eral office"
Tbs atmosphere of victory rising
about John A. Garrett was less i'm
pressive than that atmosphere of dis
aster fallen thus swiftly on his daugh-
ter. The wondrous vitality or her fig
ure vanished; the light fed from the
silver, the blood from the porcelain
Then, as by some masterful effort,
going to the very springs of life. il
all splendidly returned. She looked
steadily at Randolph Mason, her eyes
TWO lines of light.
Il repeat it, she said slowly. you
have failed This man shall receive