Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-08
Copyright. 1913, by Harper & Brothers


itat. Fine time to buy stocks, Misser
O'Neu" Bulker assumed an express
sion of great wisdom. Like to have
tip? No? Good. You're Il wise man.
They fired me from the North Pass
Wha'd you know about that? Fired
me for drinking! Greatest injustice
ever heard Of but / hit running, like
turkey. That wasn't the reason they
let me go, though Not on your life"
He winked portentousiy and, strangely
enough. his eyelid failed to resume its
normal position. 1t continued to droop,
giving the appearance OF a waggish
leer. Il knew too mush! Isn't healthy
to know too mush, is'itT'
I've never had a chance to find out"
smiled Murray
"Oh, don't be an ingenue; you saw
Wed more than anybody on the job
I'll admit took nip now and then,
but 1 never got picked Say! Who
d'you spose l saw today? Old man
Illis!'
O'Nein became suddenly intent He
had been trying to get in touch with
Poultney Ills for more than fort
! night, but his cables to London had
brought no response.
When did he arrfveT'
"Just lately. He's a game old roost-
er, amt he? Gee, he's sorer'
sore about what?"
Bulker winked again. with the same
lack of muscular control.
About that North Pass deal, OF
course. He was blackmafled cut Of a
| cold million. The agreements about
up now, and figure he's over here to
renew It"
You're talking Creek said O'Neil.
but his eagerness was manifest
II s'posed you knew. The North
Pass has been paying blackman to the
Yukon steamboat companies for three
years. When you built the line it prac-
| ticaIly put 'em out of the Dawson mar
ket, understands
''Of course
Now that Mr.. Bulker's mind was
| running along well worn grooves his
| intoxication became less apparent
| Those Frisco steam boat men got to-
gether and started rate war against
| the railroad. They hauled freight to
| Dawson by way of st. Michaeis at a
/ loss. OF course Ills and his crowd
/ had to meet competition, and it nearly
| broke EN- the first two seasons. Gee,
| they were the mad ones. Finally they
! fixed up an agreement-had to or &C
| husband of course the Native Sons
| put it over our English cousins. They
| agreed to restore the old rate, and
| each side promised to pay the other a
| royalty of SO a ton on all the freight
| 1t hauled to Dawson and up river
! points. You can guess the result, can't
! you? The steamboat companies let
| Ills haul all the freight and sat back
on their launches and took their prof
: it For every ton he hauled he slipped
! 'em ten round American dollars. stamp
| ed with the Goddess of Liberty Oh. it
| was soft! When they had him fairly
! tied up they drydocked their steam
! boats, to save wear and tear. He
! paid 'em a thousand dollars day for
! three years. If that amt blackmail
it's a first cousin to it by marriage"
/ Didn't the interstate commerce COM
mission get wiser
{ Certainly not. 1t looks wise, but it
never gets wise. Oh, believe me, Poult-
! ney Ills is hopping mad! / s'pose he's
! over here now to renew the arrange
! ment for another three years on behalf
! of his stockholders. Let's have a
! dram" Bulker sat back and stared
as through a mist at his companion.
/ enjoyihas the effect Of his disclosure
! O'Neil was indeed impressed, more
/ deeply than his informant dreamed.
/ Out of the lips of a drunken man had
/ come a hint which set his nerves to
! tiQglinQ He knew IIliS we'll he know
| the caliber Of the EngliShman, and a
! plan was already leaping in his brain
whereby he might save the S. r. and n
| 1t lacked an hour of midnight when
| ONeil escaped from BuIker and reach