Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-19
The Best of Chester
a TALE OF RED ROSES
BY George Randolph Chester
Author of Get. Rich Quick Waiasford, Etc.
copyrshtsd, The Bobbs Merrill Company

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over a third of it, for he owns thirty
five per cent of the stock"
"unh-hunh!" said Sledge.
"He doesn't deserve it," protested
Bendix. you've made the company
paying one, and that surplus belongs
to you. BY giving Bozzam's phony
new company a blanket franchise for
the rest Of the city, we can resell that
franchise to the present company for
the full quarter of a million; and Boz
Fam slips me the hint that his crowd
will do the work for fifty thousand,
leaving the other two hundred thou
sand for you and the organization.
It's simple, it's easy, and it's legitl-
mate, and it can be dressed In such
way that the voters will eat it up
as big public Improvement
Mix" decided Sledge, looking indif-
ferently out of the window.
Just as you say reluctantly
agreed Bendix But there's big
difference, Chief, between hundred
and two hundred thousand dollars
Marley alone will tear off eighty-seVen
thousand Ave hundred"
"How?" asked Sledge. He looked
down at his red rose. 1t was begin
ming to droop. He threw it on the
floor and replaced it with fresh one
Say, Tom, have wad OF these
brought in every morning."
"All right" returned Bendix, max
ling a note Of it, and cast a wondering
look at the boss Sledge had only
recently turned down likely appli-
cant for the state legislature because
"hpyff OH
Johnny" "The best plan Of opera
ton see,' went on Bendix, is to
reorganize our half-million-dollar COM
pany for a million. We sell quarter
million of the new stock for improve
ments. and make present OF the 9TH
er quarter of million to the old STOCK
holders pro rata. They'll tnlnK
they're getting that undivided surplus
in stock in place of cash, and theyll
all be rich"
Sledge nodded his head and grunt-
ed in approval.
"The surplus will still be in the
bank, however, and we get it in the
transfer. Well have the old shares
turned over to US to exchange for the
new. and for about an hour Wen own
all the stock. In that hour Wen hold
a special stockholders meeting, OF us
choice owners, and declare an extra
dividend of fifty per cent"
Good DOPE" rumbled Sledge.
"There are objections to it, warn
cd Rendix. 1--WE can probably bury
the records, all right, so that the TWO
hundred and fifty thousand surplus
will fade away like soap bubble,
but if the Evening Blade ever gets
TO it. they'll carry it on the front page
for a year -
sledge's only reply to that dire
threat was a chuckle.
'The Blade hurts some, lhsls.eo
Bendix. They'll carry campaign
against us one of these days"
sledge shrugged his mighty shcui-
ders ever so slightly.
"We're due" he stated.
"A reform administration does no1
teach the town lesson, aomltleu
Rendix. "hut we're Lot ready for 1t yet.
Leaving the blade out OF 1t, though, !
don't like to waste this elghty-seVel.
thousand five hundred on Marley ana
he'd have to be IN on 1t.
81 want him to be in,' said Sledge.
Rendiy looked at him in surprise.
81 thought you were against Mar
ley"
Changed my mind" and Sledge,
leaning slightly forward, pushed the
especial button which had been IN
serted into the window ledge for his
convenience.
81 may as we'll send for Bozzam
and hand him timetable, then" de-
cided Bendix, with sigh of regret.
81 like that cuss, somehow. He's a
good business man. "Adolph,' this
to the solemn waiter with the smiling
mustache, tell the tall gentleman IN
the gray clothes to step in
Eyes. sir" acknowledged Adolph.
"Drinks?"
sledge nodded, and Adolph disap-
peared.
Mr.. Bozzam, though certain In his
soul of a lost cause, came In as cheer
fully as If he were to receive
Christmas present, accepted an intro
duction to Sledge with careful avoid
ance of over-enthusiasm, and display
ed his supreme knowledge Of men by
sitting down with a Theoretically seal
ed mouth. ~
"Well Bozzam." said Bendix, I'm
sorry to remark that you draw oeath
warrant"
Mr.. Bozzam spent solid moment
in studying the stony profile OF sledge.
"How's your Gas and Electric Com
pany?" he gently inquired.
Bendix grinned at him in delight.
you've picked a grand little oppor-
tunity." he confessed "but local tai
ent will operate. There's no use'
Bozzam. We're sorry you're gong
but the best of friends must part.
II can't bear it, affirmed Mr.. Boz
Fam, land you'll have to get out an
injunction to drive me away. NOW,
look here. gentlemen. What's the use
of wasting an absolutely perfect nigh
finance machine, such as I have weld
ed together? Where's there another
municipal improvement organization
which, besides it's expert promoters
and statesmen. can produce the living,
breathing body Of sure-enough MIL
lionaire?' ;,
"You certainly have a fine OUTFIT
.rr,,d Dandy eve shall miss you