The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-03-16


{ had penetrated to the nerve-center OF
r the Metropolitan activities in the Metro
r pole suite and the two stenographers
: had been curtly dismissed. Have
you heard the talk of the street, There
} is a rumor that the railroad grading
has been stopped"
Brouillard. busy with the work of
setting the third series of forms on
his great wall. had heard nothing.
I've noticed that they haven't been
blasting for two or three days. But
that may mean nothing more than a
delayed shipment of dynamite" was
his rejoinder.
at looks bad-devilish bad" The
promoter was planted heavily in his
pivot chair, and the sandy-gray eyes
against 1t, that's all. Read that" and
the promoter handed a telegram
across the desk.
The wire was from Chicago. was
signed Alderman" and was still
damp from the receiving operators
copying press. II read:
Work on p. S-W.'s Buckskin ex-
tension has been suspended for the
present. Reason assigned. shrinkage
in securities and uncertainty of bust
ness outlook in Niquoia"
Mr.. Cortwright's frown figured as q
fieshly mask of irritability. Let Il
once get out that the railroad people
don't believe in the future of Mirapo-
lis and we're DONE"
Brouillard's retort was the expires.
sion of an upfiash of sanity.
"Mirapolis has no future; 1t has
only an exceedingly precarious pres.
emit"
For moment the sandy-gray eyes
became inscrutable. Then the mask
OF irritation slid aside. revealing the
face which Mr.. ]. Wesley Cartwright
ordinarily presented to his world
the face of imperturbable good nature
you're right, Brouillard; Mirapolis
is only good joke, after all. Some
times l get bamfoozled into the idea
that IL isn't-that it's the real thing
That's bad for the nerves. But about
this railroad fzzle; 1 don't relish the
notion OF having our little joke sprung
on US before we're ready to laugh, do
you? What do you think?"
TT is not my turn to think. Mr.. Cort.
wright"
"Oh, yes, it is; very pointedly. You're
one of us, to certain extent; and II
you were not you would still be inter.
ested. A smash just now would ham.
per the reclamation service like the
mischief; the entire works shut down /;
no cement, no. lumber, no power;
everything tied up in the courts until
the last creditor quits taking appeals
Oh, no, Brouillard; you don't want 70
see the end Of the world come before
it's due"
1t was the consulting engineer OF
the power company rather than the
reclamation service chief who rose
and went to the window to look down
upon the morning briskness OF Chi
gringo avenue. And It was the man
who saw one hundred thousand dol
lars. the price of freedom, slipping
away from him who turned after &
minute or two OF the absent street gaz
ing and said: What do you want me
to do, Mr.. Cartwright? did put my
shoulder TO the wheel when Ford was
here. told him If were in his place
ia take the long chance and build the
extension"
did you-and before you had {
stake in the game? That was a white
mans boost right Think you coult
manage to get Ford on the wire anC
encourage him little more7"
ct isn't Ford; It is the New Yorl
bankers. You can read that between
the lines in your man Ackerman's tele
gram"
The stock gentleman in the pivo
r chair thrust out his Jaw and tilted hii
l freshly-lighted cigar to the aggressive
angle
Say, Brouillard. we've got to throw
a fresh piece of bait into the cage
something that will make the railroad
2 crowd sit up and take notice. b.
] George, II those gold hunters up OF
1 Jacks mountain would only stumble
] across something big enough to adver
q tise--"
= Brouillard started as II the wishfu
magic had been a blow. Like a no
B wave from a furnace mouth It swep
i over him-the sudden realization tina
3 the means. the one all-powerful, earth
j. moving lever the promoter was 8
o anxiously seeking, lay in his hands.
o "The Buckskin people, yes" he said
Z making talk as the riheman digs pi
to hold his own on the firing line. u
y they should happen 10 uncover gol
4 reef just now II would simplify ma
9 ters immensely for Mirapolis, wouldn
n it? The railroad would come on, theI
a without a shadow OF doubt. All tn
d bankers in New York couldn't hold
9 back"
IT Now came Mr.. Cortwright's turn {
e get up and walk 10 one OF the VIII
e dows.
Is Come here" he called curtly, wit
r quick finger crook for the enginee
I. and when Brouillard Joined him
4, "Can you size up that little caucu
over yOndcr?'
. The caucus" was a knot Of excite
y men blocking tho sidewalk I'm front {
= Gamers real estate Office on the ol
/, p0slto side OF the street The purpos
- of the excited ones was not difficult {
I divine They we're all trying TO crow
= into the Kansas City mans place {
business at once.
s-'-'-'-s-s.'-'-'-'-'-s- -s+s-'.s..