Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-01-11
CHAPTER x.
The Rocket and the Stick.

The Rocket and the Stick.
For a full fortnight after the pre-
limlnary visit to the Brewster City
National bank Smith was easily the
busiest man in Timanyoni county. Es-
tabllshing himself in the Hophra
House, and dl~scarding the working
khaki only because he was shrewd
enough to dress the new part becom-
lngly, he flung himself into what
| Colonel Baldwin called the miracle
working" campaign with a Zest that
knew no tagging moment.
Within the fourteen-day period new
town offices were occupied OF the sec
ond floor Of the Brewster City Ma
tional building; Stillings, most efficient
Of corporation c%Ounsels, had secured
the new charter; and the stock-books
Of Timanyoni High Line had been
opened, with the Brewster City Ma
tional named as the company's deposi-
tory and official iduciary agent.
At the dam the building activities
had been generously doubled. An cleo
trio light plant had been installed, and
Williams was working day and night
shifts both In the Quarries and on the
forms. Past this, the new financial
manager, himself broadening rapidly
as his field broadened, was branching
out In other directions. After a brief
conference with a few Of his principal
stockholders he had instructed Stllings
to include the words Power and Light
In the c~atalogulng Of the new com
pany's possible and probable charter
activities, and by the end Of the fort
night the foundations Of a powerhouse
were going In below the dam, and ne
gotlations were already on foot with
the Brewster city council looking to-
ward the sale Of electric current to the
city for lighting and other purposes.
Smith had made the planting of his
financial anchor securely to windward
his first care. Furnished with q select
ed list by Colonel Baldwin, he had
made a thorough canvas Of possible in
v%estors, and by the time the new stock
was printed and ready for delivery
through Klnzie's bank, an ironclad pool
Of the majority of the original Timan'
yonl Ditch stock had been organized
and Smith had sold to Maxwell, Star.
buck, and other local capitalists a suf.
nclent amount Of the new treasury
stock to give him a fighting chance
this, with a promise Of more If II
should be needed.
Not to Maxwell or to any Of the new
investors had Smith revealed the full
dimensions Of the prize for which Tim
nnyOni High Line was entering the
race. Colonel Baldwin and one VIII
liam Starbuck, Maxwell's brother-in
law, by courtesy, and his partner II
the Little Alice mine. alone knew thu
wheel within the wheel how the grea.
eastern utility corporation represented
by Stanton had spent a million Of
more In the acquisition Of the Esca
lRnte grant, which would be practical
ly worthless as agricultural land with
out the water which could be obtained
only by means Of the Timanyonl dan
and canal system.
With oil these strenuous STRINGS II
: the business field, II may say Itself tina
Smith found little time for social in
d%ulgences during the crowded fort
night. Day after day the colonel begge,
him to take a night OFF at the ranch
and II was ever more difficult TO refus
the pronered hospitality at the week
/ end. But Smith did refuse 1t.
! It was not until after Miss Corona
driving TO town with her father, as sh
frequently did-had thrice visited tn
? new Offices that Smith began to con
, , graduate himself, rather bitterly, &
( be sure, upon his wisdom in stayin.
away from Hillcrest. For n thing
D he was learning that Corona Baldwin
, was able to make him see ~rOse-colOret
E When she was not with him, he was
g man in daily peril Of meeting tn
[ sheriff. But when she was present
+ calm sanity had a way Of losing 1t
grip.
Miss COrona's fourth visit to tn
! handsome suite Of Offices over tn
Brewster City National Glanced I
e fall upon a Saturday. Her fatheI
president Of the new company. as h
r had been OF the old, had a private OF
fee OF his own. but Miss Corona 500
+ drifted out to the railed-O6 end Of tn
larger room, where the financial sec
D rotary had his desk.