The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-03

OF Barbarian armies. courageously
alone.
This romantic medieval fancy per-
sisted. 1t became for an instant even
more real when through an opening
OF the door l saw Margaret Garnett.
She was not listening. She carried
rather the air of one depending upon
some desperate hazard, the arrival of
some event, the sharp stroke of some
impending fortune. She went slowly
down the steps, her hands slipping
along the marble rail of the balusters.
The attorney seated at the table be
gan to read the protocol of treaty
which he had drawn, and came swift
ly back to the commonplace business
character OF the meeting The paper
was merely an assignment under tho
legal form OF a majority OF tho com
mon stock OF the Consolidated Fuel
Railroads to certain persons named by
Thomas B. Wood. The attorney ex.
planned that, in his opinion, no further
writing was necessary. This assign.
ment should BIO placed in escrow. CA
fully executed writing, but put into
the custody of some third person to
hold until the fulfillment of some con.
dition), and delivered to Mr.. Wood I'D.
on tho resignation OF his Office. It
would put voting control OF the rail
road into the hands OF his agents, who
would carry out his plan.
The strong. masterful face of the
United States marshal set In u cynical
smile. This assignment is. think
sufficient" he said; but v III hardly
take tho chance of legal battle over
an escrow, after my resignation shall
have been accepted"
The negotiation seemed on the in
slant to be conclusively blocked. Gar.
nett insisted upon the protection of
an escrow, and Wood upon the pos
session OF the paper before he irrevo-
cably resigned his office.
Randolph Mason came forward then,
sat down at the table, dipped pen in.
TO the ink pot and turned toward the
United States marshal.
I'm consideration OF the assignment
OF this stock to your trustees" he
said, you agree, 1 believe, to resign
your Office"
you have 1t correctly" replied the
man.
Randolph Mason drew q writing pad
over to his hand and wrote rapidly q
memorandum OF the same date as the
assignment, requesting the considera-
ton Tor the transfer of the stock. He
spoke then to the attorney. Give me
the assignment" he said. Then he add
ed q line at the bottom, showing 1t to
depend upon an agreement of the
same date. When he had finished he
again addressed the United States
marshal. Prepare your resignation, >"
he said.
Mr.. Wood sat down opposite Mason
at the table. He wrote out his resig.
nation OF the Office OF United States
marshall then he placed his hand on
the paper and spoke to Randolph Ma
son. Il do not see that we are any
further along" he said Il will not
consent to an escrow under any agree
ment, no matter how explicit"
Randolph Mason did not at once re,
ply. He presented the paper he had
written to Mr.. Garnett for his sigma.
ture. While the railroad president
was signing the assignment, the attor-
ney answered for Randolph Mason, ex-
planning that the agreement should be
filed 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 b.
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
out. Sign that" he said.
The man took the memorandum. af-
fixed his signature and laid Il on the
letter OF resignation under his
clenched hand. His face darkened. Il
trust" he said, that my words are in
telllgible. l have twice said that
would not consent to an escrow"
There shall be no escrow" said
Randolph Mason.
The attorney for John A. Garnett
leaned forward in his chair. How
NHoh' hV ooiu1 10 WI. w OOu 10 OBTAIN
this assignment"
II shall 20 It to him." replied Ran
dolph Mas D.. Then he picked up the
assignment and handed II to the Unit.
cd States marshal. Take this" he
said. 'and cave on the table the pa.
pers under your hand"
The she in the resolute face
OF Thomas B. Wood vanished lie got
up, put the assignment into his pocket.
buttoned his great coat, took up his
driving gloves from tho table. bado us
good-evening and went out OF the
room, down the stairway to his horses.
/ came bach wonderlngly TO Ran.
dolph Mason. His boast that he would
30 hero to prevent the ruin Of Garnett
was Idle. He .'ather had speeded that
ruin. The attorney regarded him with
cold serenity.
Have you in lact." ne asked, ANY
interest in The success Of John A. Car
nett?"
Il have hot," he said. Then he con.
tlnuod, Ike ono explaining briefly to
an annoying query. II am Interested
only In removing this man from his OF.
nee, In correcting thereby the wrong
OF his appointment.
All" said the attorney. 81 under.
stand, then, why you so readily cut
from under tlq tho univ ,osefh1a too