Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-08

'SThen I'd bank on It I'd believe
Parker IL l knew he was lying. If you
both agree I haven't the slightest
doubt"
This is a bigger proposition than
the North Pass, Mr.. Ills. You MADE
money out of that road, but this one
will make more" He swiftly outlined
the condition Of affairs, even to the at
titude assumed by the Heidlemanns,
and Ills. knowing the speaker as ne
did, had no doubt that he was hearing
the exact truth But that's not all,
continued O'NefI THE S. Z. and n. Ia
the club which will hammer your enc
mics into line. That's what L came
to see you about With voice in it
you can control the traffic of all central
Alaska and force the San Francisco
crowd to treat the n. +. and Y fairly
thereby saving half a million a year"
Its a big undertaking. I'm not
sure our crowd could swing it"
They don't have to. There's a quick
profit of $2,OOO,OO to be had by selling
to the trust next spring. You can dc
tate your own terms to those black
mailers tomorrow and then make a
turnover in nine months. 1t doesn't
matter who owns.the S. r. and N. aft
er it's completed. The steamboat men
VIII see their profits cut AS it is now,
they can make enough out of their own
territory to haul freight into yours for
nothing"
'I dare say you'n so to them if we
don't take you up, ehg
MY road has its strategic value
must have help. If you don't come to
my rescue it will mean war with your
line, dare say"
Mr.. Ills sat back, staring at the cell
ing for a long time. From the street
below came the whir and clatter OF
taxicabs as the midnight crowd came
and went. The city's nocturnal life
was at its height men had put aside
the worries of the day and were de-
voting themselves to the more serious
and exhausting pastimes of relaxation.
Still, the white haired Briton weighed
in his mind the matter of millions,
while the fortunes of Murray O'Neil
hung in the balance.
MY people won't buy the S. r. and
NJ" Ills finally announced But III
put it up to them"
Il can't delay action if there's a
chance of a refusal. I'll have to see
Blum and Capron,'' said O'Neil-
III cable full details within the hour.
Well have an answer by tomorrow
night"
And if they refuse?' O'NeiI lit
cigar with steady fingers.
"Oh, if they refuse III join you!
Wei go over the matter carefully in
the meantime. Two million you said.
didn't you?''
Yes. There's two million profit for
you in nine months" His voice was
husky and a bit uneven. for he had
been under a great strain
Good! You don't know how resent
full l feel toward Blum and his crowd
I'm downright angry. | am that"
Ills took the hand which his caller
extended with an eXpresSionIess face.
I'm glad l found You" confessed
O'NeiL Il was on my last legs. Her
man Heidlemann will pay our price
when the last bridge bolt is driven
home. and he'll pay with a smile on
his face. That's the sort of man he is"
He won't pay if he knows I'm in
terested. We're not exactly friendly
since l sold out my smelter interests.
But he needn't know. Nobody need
know"
Ills called his valet and instructed
him to rouse his secretary and ring
for some cable blanks.
Il think I'll cable. too" Murray told
him Il have some boys up there
who are working in the dark with their
teeth shut They're waiting for the
crash, and they'd like 10 hear the good
news
His fingers shook as he scrawled the
name of Dr.. Gray, but his eyes were
bright and youth was singing in his
heart once more.
Now les get down to business"
iaid Mr.. Ills. Wen have to talk
asst"
Wy.