The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-11-15

The powerful hand o. SLomas B.
Wood, resting on his written rcsigna-
ton, clenched. II 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, az
fixed his signature and laid 1t on the
letter Of resignation under his
clenched hand. His face darkened. II
trust" he said, that my words are In
telligible. l have twice said that I
would not consent to an escrow"
There shall be no escrow" said
Randolph Mason.
The attorney for John A. Garrett
leaned forward in his chair How
then" he said, SIS Mr.. Wood to obtain
this assignment"
81 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, babe US
good-evening 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 Garne.t
was idle. He rather had speeded that
ruin. The attorney regarded him with
cold serenity.
Have you in lact," he asked, ANY
interest in the success Of John A. Gar.
nett?"
II have not" he said. Then he con.
tinued, ike one explaining briefly to
an annoying query. II am interested
only in removing this man from his Of
fee. in correcting thereby the wrong
OF his appointment.
"Ah," said the attorney. II 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 ONCE,
the delivery VI 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, IL you had no
regard for Mr.. Garnett's peril"
Since came into the affair" re-
piled Randolph Mason. "Mr. Garrett
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 Garnett.
She spoke to Randolph Mason, ig.
noring the rest of us as though we
were interminably distant
You, even you," she said, could
not defeat him. He got what he want
ed in spite of you"
Mason regarded her with leisure
ly, ironic interest.
Thomas B. Wood" he replied. has
got nothing"
Nothing" she repeated. do you
call control OF my fathers railroads
nothing? control Of millions moth
ing? seat In the United States SEN
ate nothing? And what have you TAX
en- from him for It? indeed, what have
you taken! A paltry federal office!"
II have taken" replied Randolph Ma.
son, 1.-THE little that he had, and l have
given nothing" Then he added as
though likewise in explanation to the
rest of us, I'm the removal OF this
man from his Office It was not my in
tention that he should obtain any ben
eft from John A. Garnet"
Then" she cried, you have
failed
II 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 this agree
ment. and 1t cannot be enforced in
the courts. II 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 a fed
eral Office"
The 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 OF 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, 1t
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
everything that he expected to re-
ceive-my fathers influence, the con.
trolling interest in this railroad and
seat In the United States senate"
The lips OF Randolph Mason parted
In cynical smile. II should be in
terested to learn" he said, by what