Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-02-17

unravel the personal, political and
commercial relationships of all YOU
Fellows. Frankly. l have believed un.
III now that YOU were in ca the game"
Game" repeated Marley.
i mean that | thought YOU were to
benefit by the formation of this new
company exclaimed BoZzam with an
apparent trace of confusion.
Benefit" exploded Marley. "Why
1t mas all but broke me. Do YOU think
It's any benefit to n man to have his
only valuable holdings reduced from
par to thirty-five:"
"fN George. I'm shockcd,," sympa.
thlHed Fam. why. l thought Won
ana Sled@c We're in perfect understand.
ing"
II don't know where YOU acquired
that absurd impressions. but it is on
'lrely wrong" asserted Mr.. Marley,
With much vchcmence. "NIr. Slcdcc
would 10 everything in his power 10
hurt me-"
And presume that you would do
him a like favor if you had the op-
portunity.' Grinncd BoZzam.
II would not saw that" hastily rn-
turned Marley, feeling that he had
enough trouble on his hands.
u thinking it. though laugh
ed BoZzam.
Mr.. Marley flushed slightly, but kept
discreetly silent.
Il thought So" BozZam chuckled
NH. Marley, how much of the stock
OF the r~eorsanized company do you
own"
1.-Two thousand six hundred and
twenty-five SharcS."
"A little over a fourth" commented
Bozzam and drew a sheet of writing
paper toward him. on which he figured
for Il moment. To gain control YOU
would need 2,376 shares additional"
he announced. How many OF the
stockholders would vote with YOU in an
emergency"
Not very many confessed Marley.
Naturally a share of our trouble is
blamed to me, and | am not very pop
ular at present."
certainly not" agreed BoZZam.
"Fussing with pikcrs isn't safe, any
how. You'd better buy the stock"
Buy it," protested Marley. Great
Scott. man, what do | want with
more of it,"
Would you like to win out on this
little game of Slcdge's?"
"Show me how" demanded Marley.
How active are you willing to be-"
inquired Bozzam. Are You willing to
jump through a hoop?"
"TIl do anything hat is lawful"
Then you'll go the limit" smiled
Bozzam. Your first step will be to
buy those two thousand odd shares at
thirty-five. Let's see" He figured it
$S3,0OO."
II haven't the money" confessed
Marley. "Sledge has cleaned me out
Of both cash and credit"
Borrow it on your stock"
81 can't borrow over twenty on it. |
> couldn't raise enough on my total I'M
encountered stock"
BoZZnm walked to the window and
looked down into the street for some
little time. during which Marley watch
ed him in silent wonder, struggling
against his rising hope.
II think l can raise a loan for you
at twenty" Bozzam reported as the
result of his elaboration. IF that is
not enough l might have it arranged
to buy the balance needed and vote it
with you
But what is the plan?' demanded
Marley. Il don't see what good con-
troll of a ruined company is going to do
me nor why L should break myself
buying worthless stock"
Because Sledge isn't liberal enough
with me" returned Bozzam. why,
Marley. don't you see that this COM
pany Of ours is a fake?'
You don't mean it,. gasped Marley.
Did Slcdgc have you start this COM
pany in order to break me?"
ooh, hush" scorned Bozzam. HE
did it to sell the old company our fran
chises, for the nice little quarter OF a
million dollars the public has just put
up for stock in your reorganized com
pany. Our stock is phony, strictly.
The public has been allowed to buy
fifty thousand of it, we get two hun
dred thousand and Sledge seven hun
dred and fifty. The public is the only
person who has put up any money, and
he gets his back. The only business
We'll do is to sell our franchises and
disband, with a % per cent dividend.
! The public gets twelve and a half
thousand, we get fifty. and Sledge gets
the balance of your quarter of a mil
lion"
He paused to let all the beauty of
that logical little plan sink into Mr..
Marley's inner being.
Great Scott" murmurcd Mr.. Mar
ley and wiped his brow. But how can
We stop him."
Get control Of the company. Call a
special meeting. When we offer to
sell you u franchises stand pat and