Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-02-28
CHAPTER VI.
Red Tlpe.

CHAPTER VI.
Red Tape.
AT ten O'Clock the next morning Har-
din, entering the office. again the gen.
eral managers, found there before him
George MacLean, the new director, and
Percy Babcock, the treasurer, who had
been put in by the Overland Pacific
when the old company was reOrgan-
lied. They had just come in from Los
Angeles, the trip made in MacLean's
private car, to attend directors meet
ing.
Rickard entered few minutes later,
Estrada behind him. Ogilvie followed
Richard TO his desk.
'Well?" inquired the new manager.
Ogilvie explained lengthily that he
had the minutes of the last meeting.
Leave them here" Rickard waved
him toward Estrada, who held out his
hand for the papers.
Reluctantly the accountant relin-
Quished the papers. His retreating
coattails looked ludicrously whipped
but no one laughed. Hardin's scowl
deepened.
Showing his power" he thought.
Hes going to call for a new pack. P"
Estrada pushed the minutes through
with but q few unimportant Interrupt
tions. He was sitting at the same desk
with Rickard. Hardin, sensitive and
sullen, thought he saw the meeting
managed between them.
Several times he attempted to bring
the tangled affairs of the water eom-
panies before the directors. Rickard
MES.
Because he's not posted! He's be-
ginning TO see what he's up against
ran Hardin's stormy thoughts.
He was on his feet the next minute
with motion to complete the Hardin
headgate. Violently he declaimed tC
BabcOck and MacLean his wrongs, the
injustice that had been done him. Mar
shall had let that fellow Maitland con
vince him that the gate was not prac
ticable; had it not been for him the
gate would be in place now; all this
time and money saved. And the Matt
Land dam, built instead! Where was
it? Where was the money, the time
put in that little toy? Sickening! His
| face purpled over the memory. Why
was he allowed to begin again witt
the gate? answer me that. Why
was l allowed to begin again? It's al
child's play, that's what it is. Ant
when l am in it again up to my necl
he pulls me off !"
This was the real Hardin, the un
couth, averaged Lawrence student
The new manner was just veneer
Richard had been expecting it to weal
thin.
Il think" interjected Rickard, "tha
we all agree with Mr.. Marshall, Mr.
! Hardin, that wooden headgate on sill
| foundation could never be more thai
a makeshift. l understood that tn,
first day he visited the river with yol
he had the idea to put the ultimate
gate, the gate which would control tn,
water supply of the valley, up at til,
Crossing on rock foundation. Mr.. Mar
shall does not expect to finish that il
time to be of first use. He hopes TIL
wooden gate will solve the immedlat
problem. 1t was Il case of any port il
storm. He has asked me to repor
my opinion"
"Why doesn't he give me a chanc
to go ahead then?" growled the de
posed manager. Instead of lettin
possibility to confine the river ther
at all?"
$50 you do think that it will be a
impOssiblity to complete the gate a
planned?"
Hardin had run too fast. 81 didn'
mean that" he stammered. 81 mea
it will be difficult if we are delaye
much longer"
Have you the force to re-begi
work at once?' demanded Rickard.
II had it," evaded Hardin. II ha
everything ready to go on-men, IN:
terial - when we stopped the las
time"
Answer my question, please"
Il should have to assemble thel
again." admitted Hardin sulkily.
Rickard consulted his notebook. :
think we've covered everything. No
want to propose the laying of spu
track from Hamlin's Junction to IL
; Heading" His manner cleared Il
stage of supernumeraries this W.
the climax. Hardin looked ready I
spring.
"And in connection with that the
: velopment of quarry in the grani
hills back of Hamlin's," continued Ric
ard, not looking at Hardin.
Instantly Hardin was on his fee
His fist thundered on the table.
. shall oppose that" he flared. "It is a
solutely unnecessary. We can't affo
y it. Do you know what that Will CO.
a gcntlemen?
: "One hundred thousand dollars
= Rickard interrupted him. 81 want
# appropriation this morning for th
amount. 1t is, in my opinion, abs
J. lutely necessary if we are to save t
f valley. We cannot afford not to do
Il Mr.. Hardin ~
If Hardin glazed at the other men f
q support; he found MacLean's face
o blank WALL Estrada looked unco
n Portable. Babcock had pricked up |
IS ears at the sound of the desired app
q. priation; his head on one side,
le looked like an inquisitive terrier.
r. Hardin spread out his hands in he
y less desperation. you'll ruin u.s."
said. IT'S your money, the o. P