The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-11-16

clION Ills lht tllN'N " hAo
O'Neil was indeed impressed, more
deeply than his informant dreamed.
ont Of the lips Of a drunken man had
come a hint which set his nerves to
tingllng. He knew Ills well. he knew
the caliber Of the E~nglishman, and a
plan was already leaping in his brain
whereby he might save the S. X. and y.
1t lacked an hour Of midnight when
O'Neil escaped from Bulker ana reach
ed his room. once inside he seized the
telephone and rang up hotel after no
tel, iuquirlng for the English capital
ist, but without result. After a mo
mcnt's consideration he took his hat
and gloves and went out. The matter
did not permit Of delay. Not only were
his own needs imperative, but If POult-
ney His had come from London to
confer with his rivals there was little
time to spare.
Remembering the E~nglishman's hab
It's, O'Neu turned up the avenue to
another fashionable hotel, where he
asked for the manager, whom he well
knew.
yes, Mr.. Ills Is here he was in
formed. but he's registered under a
different name. No doubt he'll be glad
to see you, however"
A moment later Murray recognized
the voice Of His valet over the wire
and greeted him by name. Another
brief delay and the capitalist himself
was ut the phone.
Come right up" be said, and O'NeiI
replaced the receiver with a sigh Of re
lief.
His greeted him warmly, for their
relations had been close.
Lucky you found me-" he said. I'm
going back on the next sailing"
Have you signed up with the Arc
tie Navigation company" Murray In.
CURED, and the other started.
Bless me! What do you mean?"
His caller laughed. Il see you haven't.
l don't think you will, either, after
you've talked with me-"
Without the tremor OF an eyelash
His exclaimed:
MY word! What are you driving
att"
THAT agreement over freight rates.
Of course"
The Briton eyed him for a moment,
then carefully closed the door leading
from his sitting room and, seating him
self, lit a cigar.
What do you know about that mat
ter he asked quietly.
About all there IS to know-enough
at least TO appreciate your feelings"
Il battered myself that my affairs
were private. Where did you get your
infOrmatiOnE'
I'll tell YOU if you insist, although
I'd rather not. There's no danger Of
its becoming public"
His showed his relief. I'm glad.
You gave me a start. Awful fix for a
man to be In. Why, I'm here under an
assumed name! Fancy. But He
waved his hand in a gesture which
showed his acceptance Of the ~inevita.
bic.
you haven't made your new agree
ment?'
I'm to meet Blum and Capron to
morrow"
why didn't you take the S. r. and
n. when l cabled you last month";"
81 couldn't. But what has that to do
with the matter?"
Don't you see? It's so plain to me
that l can't understand how you failed
to realize the ~value-the necessity Of
buying my road"
Explain, please"
GLADLY. The North Pass and Yukon
Is paying a fabulous blackmail to the
river lines to escape a ruinous rate
war;
Right! It's blackmail. as you say"
Under the present agreement you
handle the Dawson freight and keep
out of the lower river. They take the
whole Tanana valley and lower Yu-
kon."
Correct"
"Didn't it occur to you that the s. r.
and N, which starts 400 miles west of
the North Pass and taps the Tanana
valley, a be used to put the river
steamers OF that section ont OF bust
ness?'
Lets have n look at the map" Mr.
Ills hurried into an adjoining room
and returned with a huge chart. which
he unrolled upon the table. ITO tell
you the truth. | never looked at the
proposition from that angle. Our peo-
pie were afraid of those glaciers and
the competition Of the copper trust.
They're Disguised. too. with our treat
ment."
1.-THE trust is eliminated. Kyak har-
Dor is wiped Off the map. and I'm alone
in the field"
"How about this fellow Gordonr'
He'll be broke in a year. Incidental
", that's my trouble"
"But I'm told you can't pass the gla.
ciers."
II can. Parker says he'll have the
bridge done by spring"
"Then I'd bank on it. I'd believe
Parker If / knew he IA lying. II you
both agree l haven't the slightes,
doubt"
CTO BE CONTINUED
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