Middletown transcript., 1915-12-04

had been in construction, in creation.
whereas Allison's had been in combi-
nation;s and Dalrymple had gone into
the railroad business.
sDalrymple, I'm going to give you a
chance, said Allison briskly, Il want
the Gulf G Great Lakes Railroad sys-
tenn
Dalrymple had produced a cigar
while he waited for Allison, and now
he lit 1t. He sat on the corner of the
study table and surveyed Allison crit
ically.
Z don't doubt IT," he replied. THE
system is almost completed"
sf1l accept fair offer for your con-
trolling interest" went ON Allison.
"And If won't SELF"
'eThen I'll jump on you tomorrow in
the stock exchange, and take 1t away
from you"
Dalrymple smiled.
''You can't do 1t. own my con.
trolling interest outright, and no stock
gamblings on the board Of, trade can
affect either share of my stock or
the earning capacity Of my railroad.
When you drove me out of the trac-
ton field, took advantage of my ex-
perience and intrenched myself. Go
on and gamble"
Il wish you wouldn't take that atti.
tude," returned Allison, troubled. at
looks to you as if l were pursuing you
because of that old quarrel; but /
want you to know that I'm not vim
dictive."
Il don't think you are" replied Dal-
rymple, with infinite contempt.
You're just damned hog"
A hot flush swept over Allison s
face. but it was gone in an instant.
"It happens that need the new Gulf
& Great Lakes system" he went on, in
perfectly level voice; "and l prefer
to buy 1t from you at fair price,"
Dalrymple put on his hat.
ut isn't for SALE" he stated.
"Just minute, Dalrymple," inter
posed Allison, 81 want to show you
something. Look in here" and he
opened the library door.
Dalrymple stepped to the opening
and saw, not merely seven men, mid
dle-aged and past, sitting around a
library table, but practically all the
freightable necessities of the United
States and practically all it's money, a
power against which his many million
dollar railroad system was of no more
opposition than a Toy train.
e. the transportation department
to be governed by council composed
of the representatives of the various
other departments herein mentioned" )"
droned on the voice Of Babbitt.
The representatives of the various
other departments therein mentioned
were bent in concentrated attention
on every sentence, and phrase, and
word, and syllable of that important
document, not omitting to pay impor-
tant attention to the pauses which an
swered, for commas; and none looked
up. Dalrymple closed the door gently.
Now will you sell?" inquired Alli-
son.
For a moment the two men looked
into each others eyes, while the old
enmity, begun while they were still in
the womb of time, lay chill between
them. At one instant, Dalrymple,
whose jaw muscles were working con-
vulsively, half raised his hands, as If
he were minded to fall on Allison and
strangle him; and it was not the fact
that Allison was probably the strong
er man which restrained him, but a
bigger pride.
No." he said, again with that in
finite contempt in his tone. Break
me-"
"All right" accepted Allison cheer
fully, and even with relief; for his way
was now free to pursue its normal
course. He crossed to the door which
opened into the hall, and politely
bowed Dalrymple into the guidance of
old Ephraim.
"Dalrymple won't SELL" he reported,
when he rejoined his fellow members
of the International Transportation
company.
Joseph G. Clark looked up from a
set Of jotted memoranda which he had
been nonchalantly setting down dur
ing the reading.
well pick it up in the stock mar
ket," he carelessly suggested.
Cant" replied Allison, with equal
carelessness. Hes intrenched with
solid control, and l imagine he doesn't
owe a dollar"
Chisholm, with his fingers in his
! white mutton chops, was studying
clean-shaven old Clark's memoranda.
"A panic will be necessary. any
how" he observed. Wen acquire the
road then"