Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-24


the citizens were fearing that they
would lose the factory, which employ
ed thousand men and was besides q
good advertisement for their town.
The reason why the MARYLAND COM
pany was going to ruin was that the
stock was owned by two different fam
lilies. each of which was trying to Sc
cure the control. 1t had been organ
lied and started by a MARYLAND. At
his death bis partner, an Osgood, had
taken the management Of it and built
II up. At his death a meeting OF stock
holders was called. and 1t was discov-
cred that exactly half the stock was
held by the MARYLAND and half by the
Osgood interest. Naturally a deadlock
was the result. Neither party would
give way to the other, each hoping to
secure a few shares or even one that
would give majority and consequent
/ control.
| Months passed without either secur-
| ing an advantage, and, there being no
! head to the concern, it was losing
! ground rapidly. When it seemed that
! the feud must be settled or the COM
pany go out Of existence Edward Flem-
ing, the attorney for the Marklands.
resolved to unite the two factions by
stratagem. There were two persons in
each. Vinton MARYLAND and Alice Os-
good. whose united stock would make
a majority Of the whole. Both were
young. we'll educated and attractive.
MARYLAND was rich outside his interest
In the company that bore his name.
Miss Osgood 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 a boarding school at
eleven years of age, from there to COL
lege and from there abroad without
having once returned to his home. Miss
Osgood's life had been spent principal
ly at Centerville. Fleming called upon
her and after making it plain that If
the affairs of the MARYLAND company
should remain in their present condi-
ton much longer she would be without
an income secured her assent to meet
ing with young MARYLAND with view
to marriage. He then wrote MARYLAND
who was in Europe. informing him OF
the condition of his interests in the
MARYLAND company and advising his
return at once to look after them
Upon the young mans arrival the law.
yer unfolded his matrimonial scheme
Markland had no desire to cucumber
himself with a wife and fatty refused
saying that rather than make such q
marriage he would prefer to lose all hi:
stock in the MARYLAND company. New
ertheless he had no objection to meet
ing the lady provided he should not bs
placed in position as refusing to make
her his wife.
Fleming after an interview with Miss
: Osgood, assured him that no such con
struction should be put on any act OF
his and that the young lady would re
ceive him simply as a visitor. Elem
ing advised him to go at a time wher
he would not be expected. that he
might find the lady her usual self
This put an idea into the young mans
head. The OsgoOd grounds adJoined
his own. He would watch for an op
portunity to join the young lady with
out making formal call or her know
; ing who he was.
One bright winter morning. when the
snow glistened in the sun. he passed
through an opening in the hedge sepa
! rating the two places and sauntereC
toward the Osgood home. Coming
upon conservatory, he saw through
the glass young woman cutting some
flowers Thinking her to be the lady
of his quest. he opened the door anC
entered.
Beg pardon" he said. us this tn,
MARYLAND place."
mo: that is the MARYLAND place mex
on the west. This is the Osgood place
. "Oh. thank you. ! hear Vlnt Mark
land has returned from Europe He 4
an old friend of mine. and / am look
ing him up. You are Miss Osgood.
presume"
No; l am the governess of Miss Os
1t goods little sister,
Indeed. | presumed Miss Osgood wa
an only child. | am hoping TO NEE
Miss Osgood. | own little stock Il
!. mandatory in which she is inter
ested ! understand that somethin
must be done about it's management
and that there is to be a meeting o
o shareholders for the purpose of cor
u certing a plan
Twill you permit me?" said tn
= young woman. advancing to place
ID flower in his buttOnhole.
THANK you very much. Very kin
of you. l assure you"
perhaps you would like to talk wit
, Miss Osgood now about those share
you speak Of. ! think she is dissi
,. gagged"
.. 81 dare say a conference might /
of some benefit"
The young lady led the way into ii
house and ushered Mr.. MARYLAND int
a very pretty room where a heart
fire biazed brightly and, leaving hill
there. went up stairs. presently r
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