Evening star., 1914-01-11

Il believe Port Hatch owns its own waterworks and
electric light system, doesn't it?7 he asked
YES Sir, she does, proudly replied the Colonel.
"Has the city given out any streetcar franchises?
"No, Sir, it hasn't, the Colonel replied, wondering
nnocenty what bearing that could have the Atlantic
& Oriental
"Now about its waterfront land" calmly continued
Thornton, akng memorandum. "Does that also
belong to the city?'
NO Sir" replied the Colonel eagerly; 4most Of that
belongs to me-
"And that big fat up toward the head of the BAYS
that yours aso?' Thornton went on in the inn
perturbabe
3Most Of that's mine too,' the Colonel hastened to
answer.
"And you considerable more land back of the
city, don't you Coonel' Thornton pursued; although
the Colonel could scarcely understand why.
"Al of it, said the Colonel, with certain happy
infection of pride.
4Then,' interjected Carleton 4you would be the
to profit most by the rise in land values the railway
did come there, wouldn't you?'
The Colonel to the asonishent of the board looked
at the ceiling and stroked his goatee. "Yes, Sir, he
said slowly, Il reckon l would; but you that's
feature of Port Hatch that I've thought very
much. gentleman engaged in creating the most beau
tifu and model city in the world amt got time Sir to
think very much about sordd details like that"
The members of the board looked at another and
at him solicitously wondering he was quite mentally
competent. This fine old must be either insane
any they had hitherto met in the course Of their
tended negotiations. Most of t ose they had inter-
viewed thought only in dollars.
"Well, Colonel Hatch said Thornton dryly "it
seems certain that discussing the question with
the right man. This railway will go either Seattle
to Port Hatch and it will go where it thinks it gain
the most"
@What has Seattle oferedo' demanded the Colonel
hastily, if about to bid against its highest mark
"Candidly, not at liberty to answer that said
with its Chamber Of Commerce for some months.
Would it give you all the ground you want for
switcyards or whatever you call them? demanded the
Colonel, rising to the occasion
He might have been warned by the CLEAN in Thorn
tons eyes, and the pleasant look exchanged by other
members of the group of directors but not So
he plunged ahead.
I'll give you for nothing all the land you want for
your yards up there the head of the bay the Colonel
announced soberly "a pretty good Offer Gentlemen
He smiled around Importantly, and surprised to
see that else appeared to regard this final
settlement in favor of Port Hatch Indeed there seemed
to be nexpcable undercurren of thought running
round the roo and this made more apparent when
Thornton calmly took off his glasses, and seemed to be
hesitating idea all his He voiced it at
last and when he did the Colonel much taken back
at seems to me- Colonel he said, 4that we might
save time if allowed further conference with my
fellow board members Would you mind waiting few
in the reception until-until we can get
our heads together, as the saying is?'
For an instant the Colonel rather indignant at
this request. 1t savored of lack of confidence in him.
1t sounded almost like dismissal; but, remembering
that the ways Of the great dark and vain those
of the fabed @Chnee, he assented and said Certain
1y, Sr!'
LIE bowed with grave courtesy and stepped out into
= the other room, closing the door after him. He
walked resessy to and fro in the deeply carpeed
with his hands beneath his coattails, and frown of
worry distortng his bushy white eyebrows. 1t was be-
ginning creep fear through his mind that perhaps