The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-06-23

went on with the steady assurance Of
one who sees his way clearly.
"That brings us down to business,
Broutllard, | don't mind admitting
that had an object in asking you to
dine with me this evening. It's this;
we feel that in the reorganization of
the power company the government,
which will always be the largest con.
sumer, should be represented in some
effective way; that its interests should
be carefully safeguarded. 1t is not SO
easy as it might seem. We can't ex.
actly make the government a stock.
holder"
NO." said BrouilIard mechanically
The underdepths were stirring, heav.
ing as IL from a mighty ground,
swell that threatened tidal wave Of
overturnings.
1--WE are going to make you the gov
eminent director, with full power to
investigate and to act. And we're not
going to be mean about it, either. The
capital stock of the company is ten
millions, with shares Of par value
OF one hundred dollars each, full paid
and nonassessable. Don't gasp; wen
cut nice little melon on that capital.
zation every thirty days, or my name
isn't Cartwright"
But / have no money to invest"
was the only form the younger mans
protest took.
I'VE don't need your money" cut In
the financier with curt good nature.
What we do need is consulting en-.
gineer, man who, while he is one Of
us and identified with US, will see to
it that we're not tempted to gouge our
good Uncle Samuel"
Brouillard smoked in silence Cor a
full minute before he said: "You know
as we'll as do, Mr.. Cartwright, that
it is an unwritten law of the service
that civilian employee of the govern
ment shall not engage in any other
business"
mo, l DON'T" was the blunt reply,
"Supposing your father had left you a
hundred thousand dollars to invest In
stead of debt Of that amount-you
see, ! know what load your keen
sense of honor is making you carry
suppose you had this money to invest,
would your position In the reclamation
service compel you to lock 1t up in q
safety Vault?"
Certainly not, but If the department
should learn that / am stakeholder
in a company from which it buys its
power"
There wouldn't be word said-not
one single word. They know you In
Washington, Brouillard, better, per
haps, than you think they do. They
know you would exact a square dea
for the department even II it cost yor
personal money. It's your duty anC
part of your job as chief Of construc
ton. And wen leave tie money con
sideration entirely out of 1t if you like
You'll get stock certificate, which
you may keep or tear up or throw int
the wastebasket. just as you please. /
you keep it and want to realize on 1
at any time before you begin to pu
the finishing forms on the dam, I'll d.
this: I'll agree to market it for 20,
at par. Now let's quit and go and fnt
Gene. She'll think we've tippled oul
selves under the table,"
"Qne moment" said Brouillard. Z"
couldn't serve as your engineer, MI
Cartwright, not even in a consulting
capacity. Call it prejudice or anythin
else you please, but I simply couldn'
do business in an associate relatiol
with your man Hosford."
Cartwright had risen, and he too
his guest conddentially by the buttor
hole.
do you know, Brouillard, Hosfor
I gets on my nerves, too? Don't let tha
! influence you. Well let Hosford g
We needed him at first to sort Of knoc
things into shape; 1t takes man {
| his caliber in the early stages of
| project like ours, you know. But b
+. has outlived his usefulness and we
y drop him. Let's go upstairs"
y Late in the evening Brouillar
passed out through the cafe Of til
It Metropole On his way to his quarter
o There were q few late diners at Ii
:" tables, and Bongras, SNUG and compl
t. cent In evening regalia, was waddlir
about among them like Q glorife
!" head waiter.
n Holding the engineer for a momel
le at the street door, 'I'll been wantir
III to h.ask YOU" whispered the Frenc
n. man with Quick-fung glance for Il
IL diners at the nearest Of the table
70 "doze flood--when she Is comm
N M'sieu' Brouillnrd?"
when we get the dam completed
ii You'll bet money hon dat7--h-s
Ell de money you got?"
"Why should you doubt 1T"
Moi, don't doubt nottings; I NAL
is de grass to be cut vile de sun Is shir
ID But I'll been hearing somebody 6;
of dat maybe-so dis town she grow so "a
and 80 beeg dat de government is n
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