The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-08-05

|
Cantrell looked as if he didn't more
| than half believe it.
Being newspaper man, I'm nat
urally suspicious" he put in. "There
| are big doings down underneath all
this that l can smell, but can't dig
up. Everything about this strike is too
blamed good-natured. I've talked with
| half dozen of the leaders, and with
any number of the rank and file. They
all grin and give me the wink, as If
1t were the best joke that was ever
pulled off"
Again Mr.. Norcross smiled hand
somely. ST you push me to it, Can't
rell, may say that this is exactly
their attitude toward mew
WELL" said the editor, getting up
to go; its doing one thing to you,
good and proper. Your railroad stock
is tumbling downstairs so fast that it
can't keep up with ITSELF"
II hope it will tumble still MORE"
said the boss, pleasantly, with another
sort of enigmatic smile; and with that
Mr.. Cantrell had to be content.
AS the editor went out, Fred May
brought in the bunch of forenoon tele-
grams and laid them on the desk. They
were quickly glanced at and tossed
over to me as fast as they were read.
Most Of them were plaintive little yips
from strike-stricken lot of people
along the Short Line who seemed to
think that the world had come to an
end, but there were three bearing the
New York date line and signed Dun
ton" The earliest had been sent short
ly after the opening Of the Stock ex-
change, and it ran thus:
Morning papers announce strike
and complete tie-up on P. S. L. Why
no report from you of labor troubles
threatening? Compromise at any cost
and wire emphatic denial of strike.
Answer quick"
The second Of the series had been
filed for transmission an hour later
and it was still more saw-toothed.
Later reports confirm newspaper
story. Your failure to compromise in
stantly with employees will break
stock market and subject you to in
vestigation for. criminal incompetency.
Answer"
The third message had been sent
still later.
"Your continued silence is inexcus-
able. If no favorable report from you
by six o'clock you may consider your
self discharged from the company's
service and criminal proceedings on
charge of conspiracy will be instituted
at once"
thought things were beginning to
look pretty serious for us if Mr.. Dun
ton was going to try to drag us into
the courts, but Mr.. Norcross' was still
Smiling when he handed me the last
and latest telegram in the bunch. 1t
was from Mr.. Chadwick, and was good
naturally laconic.
ITO G. Norcross, G. NJ,
Portal City.
"Just returned from trip to Seattle.
What's doing ON the Short Line?
Chadwick"
"a couple of kilograms, Jimmie" said
the chief as he passed this last wire
over, and I got my notebook ready.
ITO B. Dunton, New York. Strike is
sympathetic and not subject to conn
promise. Mails moving regularly, but
all other traffic suspended indefinitely.
My office closes today, and my resig-
nation, effective at once, goes to you
on Fast Mail tonight
"Now one to Mr.. Chadwick, and you
may send 1t in CODE" he directed
crisply. Then he Dictated.
''See newspapers for account strike.
Hatch and eight of his associates were
killed last night in railroad wreck.
Dunton has demanded my resignation
and have given it. Have plan for
complete reorganization along lines
discussed in beginning, and need your
help. At market opening tomorrow
sell P. S. L. large blocks and repur-
chase in driblets as price goes down.
Repeat until l tell you to stop. Wire
quick if you are with u.s."
Just as I was taking the last sen
tence, Mr.. Ripley and Billoughby came
in, and Mr.. Norcross took them both
into the third room of the suite and
shut the door. An hour later when
the door opened and they came out,
the boss was summing up the new or
ders to Billoughby: "There's a lot to
do, and you have my authority to hire
all the help you need. See the bank
ers yourself, personally, and get them
tc interest other local buyers along the
line, the more of them, and the smaller
they are, the better. I'll take care of
Portal City, myself. I've had Van
Britt on the wire and he is taking care
of the employees-yes. that goes as 1t
lies, and is part of the original plan;
every man who works for p S. L. is
going to own bit of stock, if we have
to carry him for it and let him pay
dollar a week. More than that, they
shall have representation on the board