Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-11


grinned cheerfully and offered him a
cigar.
Fine weather" he observed
who give out the dope about ex.
tending the Ridgewood avenue line?'
Sledge gruffly wanted to know.
Il did" returned Marley calmly. 81
thought 1t might help the price Of my
stock. It's been going down of late
f'Who gave you the word?"
IL didn't need IT," Marley reminded
him. I'm still president Of the road
you know"
1--WE called it off," sledge informed
him. You got no franchise
81 beg your pardon" Marley smil.
ingly interrupted "The original fran.
chise granted line to the end OF
Grace street. When it was cut
through, to connect with Ridgewood
avenue, the authorization of the cut,
and all the condemnation proceedings,
were for an extension of Grace
street."
May tell Mr.. Sledge what We in
tend to do out there?" Molly pleasant.
ly inquired.
81 don't mind granted Mr.. Marley,
beaming upon his child.
I'VE plan to carry out the original
idea of building an amusement park
on the Person property and to drop
the Lincoln road project, if the stock
holders don't object at their meeting
tomorrow" she happily told him.
location. Shall you be at the meet
ing, Mr.. Sledge?"
In reply he chuckled at her.
You're corker!" he complimented
her
"You don't own much stock any
more, do you?" she went on, relighted
with her catechism.
Enough to stick around" he re.
minded her. Marley, are you figur-
ing to put something over at this
meeting?"
Are your" returned Marley bland
ly.
'Hunh!" Sledge half laughed.
Molly, my Bob is matched against
the champion forty-pound bull of Chi
cago tomorrow night. l can arrange
for you to see the scrap without these
rough-necks getting a peek at YOU
Thank you,' she replied. I'm
sure l can't come, however. I've new
er seen real dog fight and I don't
want to see one. But l do hope Bob
wins
Hell win," declared Sledge conf
IDENTIFY Hes never been licked yet"
Everybody gets it some time, don't
they?" Molly dimpled up at him.
"Uh-hunh'' he gruffly assented.
Full of thought, he went over to see
Bozzam. who now had an office IN the
newest palace of commerce.
Ready for the meeting tomorrow"
he inquired.
quite" replied Bozzam, who, when
with sledge, was sparing OF words.
"Is the slate fixed?"
Sure! Bozzam, got your record"
Eyes,? returned Bozzam carelessly.
"You served two bits before you
got educated. A one-year and two
stretch"
eyes" agreed Bozzam, still care
lessly.
"Well, if you try to pull anything
here, it'll be ten
{ Mr.. Bozzam laid down the pencil
with which he had been tapping light
Nv on his desk and leanej slightly for
ward.
Look here" you big slob," he gent
Nv observed. "You can't bully me, and
YOU can't blun me. When you get the
goods on ME is the time for you to
get busy, but, until then, you keep
your trap closed. I'm not one OF your
village pikers.
sledge regarded him fixedly for
you're in it, all right" he decided.
"Hunh!" and he walked out.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Stockholders Weld Their Mighty
Ballots.
If a slight feeling Of panic threat
ened Sledge when he stepped into the
meeting of the reorgan-
lied street railway company, nobody
knew it. for he sat off to one side OF
the presidents table, facing the gath
ering, as heavily Indifferent as ever,
his big face expressionless, and ms
small gray eyes gazing steaolly
ahead at nothing.
Marley was far more nervous than
he, waiting impatiently, gavel IN
hand, for Acting Secretary Hunt 10
finish his tedious job of clerical work.
Considerable stock had been brought
in to be entered on the books, and as
the certificates were displayed to him.
Hunt with lavender silk handker'
chief tucked in his cuff, looked occa'
across at Sledge, evidently
worried that he could not catch the
eye of the big chief.
Bert Glider was the last man IN line
at Hunts desk. and as he handed over
a large bundle Of certificates Hunt
glanced at the name on the back OF
the top one, and coughed loudly. He
scraped his chair He dropped his
corporate seal on the floor with loud
clatter. but Sledge looked straight
ahead. Whatever had happened to
him he would know in good time, but
in the meantime he was going to rest,
mind and body and nerves; and II the
big boss had one faculty which, more
than another, had helped him to sue
cess, this was this putty-like iner-
tia.
Marley, waiting, gaven In hand, and
pulling with rapid strokes at his goatee
watched this little tableau until. with
another perspiring glance at Sledge,
II,n+ bopdod ha clx tho hunch of GER