River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-11-07
Randolph Mason did NOT At onca "a.

randolph Mason did not at once re-
ply. He presented the paper he had
written to Mr.. Garrett 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.
Wood. resting on his written resigna
ton, clenched. Il win 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 said it on the
letter of resignation under his
clenched hand. His face darkened 81
trust" he said, that my words are in.
telligible. 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
then" he said, SIS Mr. Wood to obtainI
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,
driving gloves from the table, babe us
good-evening and went out of the
room, down the stairway to his horses.
l came back wonderingly to Ran
dolph Mason. His boast that he would
be here to prevent the ruin of Garnett
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 to
an annoying query. Il am interested
only in removing this man from his of.
fee, in correcting thereby the wrong
of his appointment"
"Ah," said the attorney. 81 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
f1imsy trick was patent even to Wood"
Perhaps" said the attorney, but
in shipwreck no plank can be al
lowed to pass. You had no right to
come into this affair, If you had no
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 Garnett. The
whole aspect of the woman was trans
formed as 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
We're 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? a 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 offlce!"
81 have TAKEN" replied Randolph Ma
son, 1.-The little that he had, and 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. Garnett."
Then" she cried, you have
failed
81 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 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"
The atmosphere OF victory rising
about John A. Garrett was less i'm
pressiye 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, it
all splendidly returned. She looked