Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-13
The Best of Chester
A TALE OF RED ROSES
BY George Randolph Chester
Author Of Got Rich Quick WsHasstord, tic
copyrtshtsd, Beside Msssaa Coapsay

city's street car business. We car
either increase our capitalization or Is
/ sue bonds to pay for our extensions
and, in the meantime, the moment We
conclude this deal our stock jumps
back to par"
Loud cries of Question" came from
all over the hall, and little Henry
Peters. after the demand had started
shouted louder than anybody.
Young Daniel B. Atkins wanted to
make speech, and was granted that
privilege.
He was more enthusiastic about pay
ing out that two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars than anybody. and
being professional whooper-up, he
used his clarion voice and silver tongue
to such good advantage that the
throng was with difficulty restrained
from rushing up to Bozzam and paying
him the money on the spot.
In defiance Of the madly expressed
wishes of the multitude however, Pres
ident Marley recognized Bert Glider.
Move to amend the resolution to
read fifty thousand in place of two hun
dred and fifty" he shouted.
Second the notion" yelled a big
mouthed young man sitting next to
him. =
"Mr. President" exclaimed Mr.. Boz
zam, rising to his feet. THAT amend
,ment is positively useless"
A frantic hubbub arose. The hall
was sea of open mouths. Little Hen
ry Peters held his mouth open wider
than any stockholder present. One
could see his tonsils perfectly. He was
helping to howl down Bert elders alb
surd amendment
President Marley tapped his gavel
energetically.
81 perceive that it is useless to
waste time on speeches against this
amendment" he announced Are
there any remarks to be made in fay.
or of it? The chair will permit five min
utes for such argument He waited
moment. No one arose. Attorney
Tucker stood up.
eff the chair please" he began.
Are you about to speak in favor Of
this amendment Interrupted the
chair.
NO replied Attorney Tucker.
1.-THE chair refuses to recognize the
gentleman announced the president
THE secretary will take roll call vote
on the amendment
They endured that as men do only
venting their emotions by the vehem-
ence of their Nos on the roll-call
vote. A scant few had the temerity to
vote Yes and were nearly mobbed
for their daring. The most Of them
kept their eyes on Bozzam, in fearful
anxiety lest. offended by this proceed
ing he might withdraw his generous
offer. and walk out, leaving them
doomed to extinction by his mighty
rivalry.
ALBERT T. Glider" called the secre-
tary; ''one thousand shares
Yes" voted Bert and curled both
sides of his mustache. looking across
at Sledge and grinning. He had the in
tense satisfaction Of seeing Sledge
turn, but was disappointed, after ALL
Sledge did not look at him, but at
Hunt
There followed another wilderness Of
Most voted by holders OF from five
to hundred shares each.
"B. Franklin Marley called Hunt,
and this time he caught Sledges eye.
-Four thousand and twenty shares"
"Yes!" voted Marley, with snarlin-
ly triumphant laugh at Sledge, a
laugh which showed his teeth. and
made his nose an acute triangle down
over them, like the point of pen.
Sledge walked across to the secre-
tary's desk, while the balance of the
rabble were shouting MOI and con-
ferred with Hunt moment: then he
went back to his chair, and gazed
steadily straight ahead. at nothing.
His small gray eyes had no more
CLEAN in them than dusty marble.
Hunt announced the net result of
the vote, but Sledge paid no attention
to the figures. The two votes Of Mar
ley and Bert Glider had been suffi cient
to carry the amendment against the
other two hundred stockholders.
1--WE will now vote on the original
motion as amended" observed Mar
ley, almost carelessly, with a glance
in the direction of Sledge, and he
forced that farce to be, carried, while
Sledge quietly thought things over.
THE motion carries" Marley
was pleased OF state, after the RACED
had shouted mo-" to F.,
their names. Gentlemen. 1t is useless
for us to waste time, except for the
matter of formal record. over such
matters as this. Heretofore I have
been helpless. but today, for the first
time in the history of this company,
[ control the majority of the stock,
and my vote is sufficient to carry or
defeat any question. TO begin with,
| refuse to be held up. I am willing
to pay fifty thousand dollars, for the
franchises are worth fifty thousand
dollars to us. but won't pay a cent
more. That's fiat"
Bozzam took the chair next to
Sledge.
ut looks like we're up against it,"
he stated. Il guess fifty thousands |
the best we can do"
"Hunh!' grunted Sledge.
"Mr. President" said Bozzam ris- |
Ing to his feet, "since the matter |