New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-01


. their indivduatcs ran. They were IN the MIDST oil
!, when the doorman entered and announced, MIR.
Lester Ford Gentlemen, and strange hush SUCCEEDED
their subducd camor.
Into the room. firmly, with stliy set head ana ,"S'
determined eyes came the man known to those 81 Port
Hatch as Lester.
~Grntlemcn.~ he said, bowling graycy from night to
left.
1.Uly one impulse they stood to their feet and The
rcloubtabe Thornton himself, grown almost "use-
oous rendered him chair by his side at the mead oil
the table.
81 was extremely sorry Ford said without wasting
words on greeting ~to cause YOU the inconvenience OF
,, here 10 seattle % hold this board meeting; but
deemed II best to 10 for certain reasons 81 my own
They bowed and waited for him rs II for KING.
IAN Of YOU know my distaste for directly interfering
with any Of my business affairs he went on, ana mat
unlike my father, have no special desire 20 PIE i''
ontop Of millions Nor have that desire now Let me
-,.-no months ago YOU decided 70 make Seattle the
terminus Of the road that l. with the assistance 81 one
or two others have been financing, the road that have
caused To- be continued because 1t was my father pet
hobby and his lite hope
THAT IS true Mr.. Ford, said Thornton quietly.
What did you think Of Port Hatch; abruptly de-
rnandcd Lester Ford, ewing him.
WELL we went up there and looked 1t over IepHeI
Thornton with unusual suavity.
so did L. asserted Lester with equal caIi1nc's.
Give lived there since 1t started
Strange we never heard Of your being there unused
Carleton, as II surprised
Not 50 strange retorted the tinancer. Il went
there I'D, nv health a~ f)r my own pleasure. ! told
them nv name was Lester, because didn't care 70 be
annoyed merely because was a millionaire. stayed
there bccause-wcll that's my personal affair When
Won, gentlemen believed was in Europe didn't hap
men 10 be there That is all. | know all about Port
Hatch 1t IS just what Burmah Jones declared 1t was
IN ideal terminus
CARLETON, Sprague, and Thornton sat up angrily
- Then YOU know Jones also, do YOU: demanded
Carleton.
Yes. and like, admire and believe in him, declared
Lester with pronounced and conclusive defiance in his
voice.
They started to speak but he held up his hand for
silence and they dared not protest.
Il know al about your last meeting said Lester sig
nifcantly. There happens to be on this board Of
directors one man who keeps informed privately OF
everything that takes place. Not that do not trust
vou You know that. Otherwise there would not at
this moment be a majority Of this board who vote my
proxies and are thereby elected TO it,
There was a moments stiffness, broken by Thornton
who said, as if stating accepted TACT That IS quite
true Mr.. Ford am one Of them
And by the way" said Lester. three OF You gen
,Icen here at some time victims OF this Burmah
oncs understand. There is need for you to apollo
ze for either Yourselves or for him. He IS very eXcep
,ional and plausible man. the most exceptional have
eyer known From what | can learn he has been worse
Than unscrupulous; but know absolutely absolutely,
Gcntlemen-that Mr. Jones regrets all that and IS at
this moment as noble as | ever care to meet. |
hope to win his esteem his loyalty his affection.
There is none other ike him that have ever known.
And SO eager am to serve him and his wishes that tell
you here, now, that will personally reimburse any
man 1T this table who can show the Of which he
dctraudcd by this same Burmah Jones and do so
the firm belief that Burmah, when he knows Of 1t,
and II he is ever able will reimburse me.
Al this brave championship so outspoken and sur
-..r.It l'fle E.y N.rtn