The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-11-16


dian Northwest Timber company. He
made it clear that his people were on
| the eve of playing large part in the
paper pulp world. He wanted to ask
Randolph's advice about certain mat
| tiers and he wanted to get in touch
with some enterprising young man who
| knew the manufacturers. To such a
young man he might offer an envi-
able business opportunity. In the
meantime he would like copy Of the
membership list of the association.
1t developed that there was but one
such list in existence. It had to be dug
up from the associations safe and
copied. But the secretary was friend
ly to this one-time southerner, now of
the north woods; he was a young
man who knew the manufacturers, and
who would take look at business
opportunity; he had the note of in
struction, somewhat indefinite to be
sure, from the president of the as
sociation.
Gard secured his list of members.
AS fast as a taxicab could carry him,
he was away to his Office, from which
requests for prices of paper were dis
patched, in the name of the New York
publisher who was helping the govern
ment, to every firm on the list.
That night the special agent dined
with President Van Dorm and other
men high in the counsels Of the Pulp
e. Paper Manufacturers association.
His position was explained and re-
grets were generally expressed that
he might not be present at the meet
ings. Only the constitution stood in
the way. There was no other reason
why one so vitality interested in the
welfare of the manufacturers should
not be a member. Information OF a
most exhaustive nature should be CIV
en- him. Even the minutes of the
meeting and copies Of addresses should
be put at his disposal. He should
meet all present.
So Agent Gard loafed about the
Waldorf for four days. He was re-
garded, not merely as master OF
finance who was the equal of any OF
the manufacturers attending the con-
vention, but as the man Of them all
who held the whip hand. Morning
and night he cultivated these men,
talked business with them, asked
them questions. They told him all
that went on in the convention, al
lowed him to read it's minutes. He
was the most courted man at the hotel
when the word got well circulated that
he was the pulp king Of the Canadian
northwest.
Gard, Of course, had an average
number of acquaintances scattered
about the country and many of these
knew Of his association with the de-
partment of justice. In a New York
hotel there is always chance OF meet
ing friends from any place in the
world. Gard was therefore not sur
prised when, on the evening of the
manufacturers banquet which brought
the convention to close, to pass in
a corridor two old-time friends, men
whom he had known in college. They
hailed him vociferously as Gard, old
man." It was against just such an
emergency that he had used his own
name.
The special agent was at the time
going in to dinner with Randolph, the
secretary, and member from Buffalo.
Nothing would have come of this
chance greeting had it not been that
a paper manufacturer was standing be-
side the two friends of Gard when
the latter passed. One of these young
men turned to the other and asked:
"What is Gard doing now? haven't
seen him since I left college,"
"He is with the department of JUS
tice," said the second friend. "He is
a special agent, a detective working
on big trust investigations"
And the manufacturer heard it all.
He Immediately communicated his in
formation to President Van Dorm.
That official lost his urbane equani-
nifty and futtered about in much cen
fusion, consulting with others in au-
thority. He did not approach Gard,
and that young man was all unsusp1cl-
Gus that anything had gone wrong un-
til the time came for after-dinner
speeches.
Before we proceed with the tcasts
on the program" said President Van
Dorm who was master Of ceremonies, i
would like to call the attention CT the
members present to one matter not
regularly scheduled. We have all met,
during the week, Mr.. Gard, Of the Ca
madam northwest Mr.. Gard has fur
nished many Of us with facts that
seemed to be vital to the interests or
wood pulp business. We, in exchange,
have given to Mr.. Gard much informa-
ton with relation to the pulp and pa
per business. would like to present
MI. Gard to this gathering, If may.
President Van Dorm paused and
looked expectantly in the direction OF
the young man in question. The STU
alton was such that Gard was required
| to arise and receive the introduction