The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-04-17
Tie MARYLAND
Company
There Was a Problem to Be
Solved In Its Affairs
By +. a. mitchell


The MARYLAND Manufacturing com
pany was running down. 1t had for
years been the pride Of centerville. and
the citizens were fearing that they
would lose the factory which employ
ed a thousand men and was besides a
good advertisement for their town.
The reason why the Markland com.
pany was going to ruin was that the
stock was owned by two different fam
lies, each of which was trying to Sc
cure the control 1t had been organ
lied and started by a MARYLAND. At
his death his partner, an osgood, had
taken the management Of it and built
it up. Atlhis death a Meeting OF stock
holders was called. and It was discov.
erred that exactly half the stock was
held by the MARYLAND and half by the
osgood interest. Naturally deadlock
was the result. Neither party would
give way to the other, each hoping to
secure few shares or even one that
would givea majority and consequent
control.
Months passed without either secur-
ing an advantage, and, there being no
bend to. the concern, It was losing
ground rapidly. when It seemed that
the fcud must be settled or the COM
pahy SO out of existence Edward Elem.
fng. the attorney for the Marklands.
resolved to unite the two factions by
stratagem. There were two persons in
each. yinton Markland and Alice 0s-
good. whose united stock would make
a minority OF the whole. Both were
voting, well educated aud attractive.
MARYLAND was rich outside his interest
IN the company that bore his name.
Miss 0sgood was dependent entirely
on the dividends declared on the Mark
land company's shares she owned.
Mr.. Fleming resolved to make a
match between the two, They had
never met. MARYLAND. who was an or
phan, had gone to n boarding school at
eleven years OF age. from there to col.
lege and from there abroad without
having once returned to hts home. Miss
osgoods life had been spent principal
ly at CenteryiIle Fleming called upon
her and after making II plain that IL
the affaits OF, the Maryland company
should remain in their present condi-
ton much longer she would be without
gu income secured her assent to a,meet-
ing With young Markland with view
TO nartlnse. He then wrote MARYLAND,
who wis in Europe. informing him Of
the condition OF his interests in the
MARYLAND company. and advising his
return Mt once TO look after them
Upon the young mans arrival the law
yer ,unfolded his matrimonial scheme
Marklnnd had no desire to cucumber
himself with wife and iiatly refused.
saying that rather tiIan make spch u
r1tirrlage he wouid,prefer;to lose all his
stock m the Marktuid company. New
erihelesS he had no Objection to meet
Ing the lady provided he should not be
placed in a position as refusing to make
her his wife.
Fleming. after an interview with Miss
osgood, assured him that no such con-
Struction should he put. on any act of
Ills and that tile young lady would re-
cetve him simply rs a visitor Flem-
Ing advised him to go ut time when
he would not be expected. that he
might lind the lady her usual self.
This put an idea into the young mans
head The osgood grounds adJoiued
his own. He would. witch for an op.
portunity 10 join the young lady with
ont making forlnaI.call or her know.
ing who he was
One bright winter morning. when the
snow gistened in the sun. he passed
through an opening in the hedge sepa-
rnting the two places, and sauntered
toward the osgood home. Coming
upon a conservatory, he saw through
the glass a young woman cutting some
flowers 1'bInking her 10 be the lady
Of his quest. he opened the door and
entered,
eI'eg pnrdon." he said. lis this the
MARYLAND place."
no: that is the MARYLAND place next
on the west This is the Osgood place"
"oh, thank you. hear Vint Mark
land has returned from Europe. He is
an old friend OF mine. aud am look
Ing him up. You are Miss osgood, /
presume"
NO; am the go7erness OF Miss Os-
goods little sister,"
.'Ipdeed. presumedlNIiss osgood was
an only child. Lam hoping to meet
Miss osgood. ! own little stock in
a tndnirfaetory in which she is inter.
estedi I understand that something
must be done about its management
and that there is to be meeting Of
shareholders for the purpose OF con-
certing plan"
xviii you permit mel' said the
young woman, advancing to place
flower in his buttonhole.
THANK you very much. Very kind
Of you. assure you"
Perhaps you would like to talk with
Miss osgood now about those shares
you speak of. think she is olsen
gagged"