Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
THE BOOMERS


historical document.
And what's that?7 demanded Burnah as
he dropped into a chair.
"Well, YOU see it's this wav,' said the
Colonel with great gravity. AT the mass
meeting when we organized | was unanl-
mously elected Mayor of Port Hatch. Quite
an honor Sir, to be the first Mayor OF this
CITY | appreciate to the full my respon-
sibilities Mine is an epoch-making term
of office; so | thought, don't you see, that
/ ought to make a sort of proclamation or
address, or something like that, the same
way Presidents do when they take office.
Only this is a Mayors message. MIR.
Pickett has kindly consented to run 1t on the
front page of The Banner and has sent to
Seattle to get a right big cut of an eagle with
screamin' wings, that will go clean across the
top of the page, for this momentous occa-
sion. Also | told him to have five thousand
extra copies printed so my message could
be sent away to those friends of mine that
might want to read it, and to file for sale to
the many folks that will be interested here
after, after | am gone, in my views and ut
teranceS.'
Burrnah sat staring at him In open
mouthed establishment, and suppressed
rising desire to laugh when he saw that the
Colonel actually took himself as seriously as
if the fate of nations depended on his views.
The proclamation of Caesar had no more
weight to the Colonel than that first adj
dress of his as Mayor of Port Hatch.
RURNIAH Strengthened himself with
- Jerk when he saw that the Colonel had
picked up the first sheet and threatened to
read the entire manuscript through.
I'D like to hear it, Colonel, he said,
@only that I've got a lot of things to talk
about
He reached in his pocket and drew out
closely folded slip of paper. His pudgy
hands unfolded it with quick motion, and
he threw it on the desk before the financier
from Chattanooga.
There" he said quietly, @is the banks
receipt for fifty thousand dollars placed to
your credit. | have taken fifty thousand
for myself.
Quite right, Burmah, quite right" said
the Colonel, and then, as it dawned on him
that he had fifty thousand dollars in cash
all at one time, "Most amazin! Most
amazin' what gentleman can do whep he
starts in to conquer the financial world"
Il got better terms than | thought l could
from Conover," Burmah went on. Him
and his pardners agree to pay us fifty thou
sand more at the end of six months, and an
other fifty at the end of the year"
The Colonel stared out of the window as
IL fascinated Dy SOME OBJECT III the ulSIdIiCc.
Also said Burrnah in the same quiet
voice, Il have decided that it's best for me
to be here all the time. I've brought my
trunk up with me. I've got the Seattle Office
runnin' like clockwork, and Billings is a
good man. Folks are goin' to come here
after this more than they are to Seattle. I'm
goin' to see it through right here, Colonel"
The Colonel did not appreciate the renun-
citation that was conveyed in the Kansan's
last words, for he had never suspected that
Burmah Jones had any other course in his
mind; yet that announcement had cost the
latter sleepless nights, and the uprooting of
old methods.
I'VE may not do all we expected to, and
we NAV fall down at the end of the race
continued Bur1nah; "but, Colonel, We'll run
it out, straight and fair, even if we drop dead
at the finishi7
Something in his tone attracted the Colo
nel's interest, and he looked question at
him; but Burmah's eyes did not waver
from their habitual steady stare.
And, Colonel Burmah went on in that
same controlled voice, Ave got just one
favor TO ask, because think I'm better able
to handle real estate than you are, and that
is that, no matter who comes to you, no mat
ter what person asks you to make a deal,
you will turn it over to me. If they ask you
when the railroad Is comm here | want YOU