The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-12-26


ing company OF fabulous capitallza
ton TO work the coal fields
One naoruing in mid July Warren
was as usual at his desk The day
had already become hot and stffiing.
The clerks sat the counter grln1bled
profaneiy at the rule. promulgated by
Warren. that forbade them to appear
coatless, ansi'glanced enviousIy through
the plate glass partition at the cashier,
very handsome and cool looking in his
light gray suit. socks and necktie to
match. He was reading. with slow
care that overlooked no syllable. the
papers on the desk When he had read
them he arranged them In two neat hit
tie piles. Which he labeled "Options
Granted" and ''Optons Refused
AS this task was completed Stephen
Hampden entered the bank, with q
pleasant nod In reply to the clerks re-
spectful greeting. He made his way
into the cashiers office
"Phewr' he whistled, drawing a
chair up to the desk IT'S hot day.
isn't it? Have you the options?"
Warren pushed the two piles of docu-
ments toward hiFn. At one Hampden
merely glanced: the other. "Options
Refused" he opened and read rapidly
Hmm! All Deer township proper
ties Why won't they signr'
They want cash. mot stock for their
ooai.'
ibid you point out TO them the pros
uoI linz ,.f
cessity of being all In one company to
prevent price cutting and the opportu-
nifty te improve the community by
opening up II new business?"
II did But we're not trying to i'm.
prove the community; we're trying to
make money for ourselves"
I'm afraid. Warren, you were the
wrong man to send after those op-
tions."
81 was" said Warren calmly "a
told you so at first I'm not a clever
talker"
IL don't want to tie up any more cash
In this than | have to How would IL
work to send John Dunmeade after
those options? We could make him at,t
torney for us and the company an1S
give him stock. What do you think?"
Warren took several minutes to con-
slider this suggestion. He can do 1t If
any one can," he said at last. HE Is
very popular among the farmers. Ev-
erybody likes him. like him. too.
though he is always laughing at me-"
"Eh? Why does he laugh at your"
Hampden inquired,
evenly. II shall ask him sometime.
Shall send for him?"
"Yes."
Warren opened the door and sent one
Of his clerks with the message Then
he sat down. staring thoughtfully at
the smoke from Hampden's cigar
Hampden took up pad and pencil and
began to make some calculations.
"He won't do It," Warren said sud
denly.
"Why notT Hampden looked up
from his penciling.
Hes honest"
Aren't we honest?" Hampden de-
manded sharply.
Were not-sentimental." Warren
answered calmly. "He is. We're try
ing to take advantage-legitima of
course-of the farmers in bargain
That's the thing he likes to fight"
mot at ALL" Hampden contradicted
coldly. "This is straight business
proposition, and guess he'll not be
fin,apfaI xuhar xua offar him
ten thousand-in stock. We can let
him have that much without losing
control"
"I don't think he'll take it." Warren
insisted without warmth. "And he
isn't fool. He doesn't need money.
He's the sort that people take TO. whe-
ther he has 1t or not. I'm not like that.
I've got to have money to get peoples
respect You're that kind too"
"Eh?" Hampden stared. half anus
ed, half angered by Warren's matter of
fact explanation. Warren was not in
the habit of talking Of himsef 'Turn-
ed philosopher, have you? You'd better
stick to banking. where you're at
home"
A few minutes later John entered the
bank. Hampden greeted him cordially.
Warren listened patiently while the
other men used up few minutes in
pleasant preliminaries. They came at
last to the purpose of Johns summons.
81 suppose you've heard of our coal
proposition?" Hampden suggested.
"Yes."
'There will be good deal of legal
work in connection with it."
In a few rapid, terse sentences
Hampden outlined his plan of organiza-
ton. Mindful of Warren's prediction
and seeing Johns face grow gravely
dubious he endeavored to make his ex-
PLANTATION quite matter of fact.
"Of course" he concluded. you're
familiar with the details. There is
nothing new in the plan"
"We don't know, much about high
finance in New Chelsea. But | read