The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-24
(continued)


 BlO11nt did not reach his office in the Capital until the afternoon of the sec sond day. His first care was to call up the Inter Mountain, and when the lclerk disappointed him by telling him that his father, Mrs. Blount and their guest had gone out to Wartrace Hall he counted it as one more opportunity missed and settled down to business. First in the memoranda on his desk was a stenographer's note asking him to make an appointment with one S. P. Hathaway, whose address was the Inter-Aountain hotel. Since the note was marked important he told the clerk to call up the hotel at once. and in due time the gentleman, who, the stenographer said, had called several times during the day, made his ap- pearance at the door of the private of Aee.
 It was a mutual shock BKoun< rec- ognazed instantly his companion Of the Onsha-Aretas Pullman smoking com partment and the man who had doubt <. less sent the three highbinders after him on the night Of mysteries and who had been the prime mover in the se- r1es of singular incidents ending in the midnight homecoming to Wartrace Hall
 On the other hand, the president saw before him the supposed agent of the forestry service.
 ssWeu, I'll be hangedi'' he ejaculat- ed. dropping into the neaRest chair.
 You needn't be- laughed B1ount : ensily 'Tn admit that it was partly my fault, Mir. Hathaway What can do for you. todayr'
 By this time the lumber king had re covered his breath and some measure of his composure
 "Great Scott!" he said. ssTf you had given me half a. hint that you were e Dave BIounts son, but you didn't, you z know, and now am handicapped just at the time when oughtn't to be. I have come to talk business with you } today, NH Blount. and you've got me going when ought to be coming I've been given to understand that you are handling the political end for the railroad company in this campaign, Mir. Blount Is that r1ghtT'
 ''It Is and 1t isn't,7 was the quick repfy. 'srhe railroad company is not in politics in this eampaign-as a po- lfticaI factor, mean: What we are trying to do-what we mean to do-As to lay the entire matter plainly and fairly before the people with a plea for square deal.'
 .sH'm, yes;1 said the trust president, who was evidently suffering from a fresh attack of embarrassment. "But there are certain little business mat ters which kave to enter into. every campaign, and your company, like my own, is obliged to take cognizance of them Two years ago the railroad people found it advisable and profit able to-er-make a little arrangemen with us which was to our mutual ad r aA IA not be made again."
 Blounf sat back in his chair, and tn conciliatory smile disappeared t'StAt the facts, If you please, MT. Haths way he said eurtly
 ssWeII, it was like this As you know we have a great many sawmil1s scat tered around in different places in tn . state,s and we employ a good man men While our employees are res dents of the state, they are not cit gems in the sense that they take an active interest in state politics. The may be here this year and up anon the Oregon redwOods next year an somewhere else the year following That being the case, when they vot at all they naturally ask US how V would like to have them vote"
 '4Go on,'' said Bleunt.
 well, as say, such being the cas- we are able to control at least fou and probably five of the 1egislativ districts in this state. The control worth something to your people, an in the last election that fact was re- -S ognized Since the Twin Buttes Lun Der company is practically the onI heavy lumber shipper in this region, was given a preferential rate on il products, not at ali as a qI1id pro qu, z you understand, but merely in fr4enC y recognition of our help in the 1aG election
 Really, it was, not such gree thing that was done for us, M Blount. If you are familiar with lun Der rates in this territory you wi Know that the special tariff made fc @s is all that enables us to live. Witt Out it we would go into bankruptc A Inside of a year.
 Blount had opened his penknffe an was absently sharpening a penci
 This spec4r1 rate you speak of, M z Hathaway he sAAd, speaking slowly @1 imagine 1t 19 not confined to tn state"
 'We1l-er-no,'' was the hesftatin reply. '-To meet competition it hs been made to apply also on throus shipments"
 And it is covered by rebates, SUI poser.
 @E-not exactly" was the reIuctaI Admission "The TrRpscont1nent