Evening star., 1915-03-28
ay your objections before Mr.. Gorton, said

IAulilSOll plyuc loOkStl lldDDclSiStctl NO,
you WON'T" he cried suddenly. "Here,
strike my objections to the minutes from
your notes, he added, turning to the stem
ographer at the table.
| The latter obedienty crossed out his notes.
"I'm not going to have my shins barked,
grumbled Slyde. "I'm only real estate
owner, and Gorton's the greatest financier
in the world.
"'rhats as sure a card as ever won the
set,' observed the chairman, and smile
went the rounds of the table
81 have opened Offices continued Mil
ton, "for the Penn Railroad in the William
Wall Building, and filled all the tituar Of
fees with dummy officials. In fact, trans
ferred one of our stenographic departments
over there in its entirety, and those clerks
represent the company pro forma. | still
run the Penn Railroad. Everybody is salts
fed and now we may rest in peace"
THE door of the board room was flung
open at this moment, and a belated di-
rector entered, an evening newspaper in his
hand, his face betraying anger and dismay.
"Pardon me for interrupting the proceed
ings, he exclaimed, ,"but is it possible that you
gentlemen have countenanced such action
such extraordinary" words failed him, and
he spread the paper on the board table.
The other members gathered about him
and inspected the Sheet which bore the fol-
lowing headlines:
RAILROAD TRUST CAPITULATEs-
| TERROR OF WASHINGTON!
PENN RAILROAD COMEDIES EVERYTHING TO
| STRIKERS AT BLACK PIKE.
Reforms Promised in Important Interview
Between President Wheeler and Judge
Upton Representing the Strikers.
| Big Cut in Freight Rates Means Millions Saved
to the Country
"President Wheeler of the Penn Rail
road?" exclaimed Worthy. who is this
man? l never heard of him."
They all looked toward Milton, to whose
face the blood had rushed in an angry tor
rent. "Wheeler?' gasped the chairman,
"Wheeler-why he is one of the clerks put
in as titular president. He's brash kid.
He's apparently lost his senses-trying to
take himself seriously. happened to over
hear his speech with this Socialist, and I've
summoned him here to-
He was interrupted by the entrance of sec
retary, who leaned over and whispered to him.
"Show him in,' said the chairman. He
turned to his fellow directors. Here's
Wheeler now," he said.
The oardmembers all resumed their seats.
"The dummy president, chr" muttered
Worthy.
THE financiers of the Great Eastern Sys-
TEN all turned to regard President
Wheeler curiously as he entered the room.
Nobody asked him to be seated but the
visitor evidently didn't care.
"Mr. Milton he said, Il have brought
you the resolutions adopted at three of our
board meetings relative to the conditions
existing on our properties. These are our
| recommendations.
He placed several sheets on the table,
which the chairman brushed contemptu-
ously to the floor. "Compromses with
strikers, reductions in freight rates!" he
sneered. "Do you think we will approve
such ridiculous expedients?'
ooh, your approval is not necessary, re-
torted Wheeler easily. IL merely submit
them to you in the desire of maintaining
friendly understanding between our two
great properties.
"You!" exclaimed Milton in contemptu-
Gus tone. "You're an incompetent clerk,
who has proved himself unable to execute
the perfunctory duties assigned to him. |
placed you in a position of trust. Now l
discharge YOU. Send your books over to me
Immediately. You can have the consolation
of realizing that you have ruined what
might have been a useful career
The pleasant look vanished from Whcelers
face. His figure stiffened and he cast a
glance of anger at the chairman. you for
get, he returned coldly, that | am prcsi-
dent of the Penn Railroad, duly elected by