The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-02
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde



pocket syndicate may have acquired
voting control IN {. :. a w. and
they may be willing now 20 patch up
an alliance with Hatch. nut In that
case the new monopoly will stili lack
the one vital ingredient; the power
20 fix prices. III there Is a new com.
hlne. and II tries to make the pro
ducers and merchants pay more than
the agreed percentages for storage
and handling"
IL know" the major cut In ''you.
all will rise up In tho majesty Of
youth wrath and put II out OF bust
ness by terminating the leases.
hope you may; snttinlv do hone
you may. hut youll recoilect that
didn't advise you ON that point. sub,
You took Mlstch i,iniey's opinion.
Maybe the cou'ts will held with you,
but candidly. Graham. l doubt it,
doubt II risht much.-
The boss didn't seem 10 be much
scared up over the doubt lie just
smiled and said we'd be likely Co find
out what was In the wind. and that
before very long. Then he spoke OF
Hatch's afternoon call ~ our office.
and mentioned the fact that the Red
Tower president would probably try
again, later In the evening.
The major let the business mat.
ter drop, and he was working hts
way patiently thru the salad course
when he looked up 10 sayt
WAS there anything In ycuh
trip 20 strathcona 20 warrant
sheiia's little Geographic dangeh
signal. Graham"
Nothing worth mentioning. said
the boss. without turning hair:
doing Il. as l made sure, because
he didn't want Mrs. Shcila 90 be
MIXED up In the plotting business.
even by Implication.
The major didn't press the In.
aairy any farther. and when he
different matter.
Away along In the beginning.
somebody think IL was John
chad~ick of You a@ a man
with q sawt Of raw.head and bloody.
bone. tempeh. Graham: what have
you done with that tsmpsh in these
heah iatteh daysf"
This time the boss smile was a
sood-natured grin.
Temper il not always matter
Of temperament. Major. Sometimes
Ilt IL only a means TO an end. Much
|of my experience has been In the
construction camps. where ! have
had 10 deal with men In the raw.
Just the same. there have been mo.
ments within the past six months
when have been sorsiy tempted
TO burn the wires with a few choice
words of the short and ugly variety
and throw 40 my job
Which. as you may say. brings
us around to President Dunton.-
put in the old lawyer shrswdiy.
~He IL stIil opposing youh policies
up TO a few weeks ago be was
stili bounding me to do something
that would boost the stock. regard.
less OF what tho something should
bA or OF It's effect upon the perrna
rent vaiue Of the property
Again the major held his peace.
a. II he we're DEBATING some knot
ty point with hlmseif--she table
clearing givinx him his chance.
ibid understand you - ay
that these--ah--suggsss from
Danton had rtoppedy- he inquired.
after tho little coffess had bean
served.
temporarily. AZ least haven't
heard anything from New York
mot lately
Then Duuton's nephew hasn't
made himself known to your
In Mr.. Howis Coilingwood's set
which IL one OF the things I have
to be thankful for. But this Il
news. diaa't know he Was out
here"
The news.giver bent his head
Rrsvsiy In confirmation Of the fact.
lies h~ah. I'm sorry to say. Ora
ham. He has been heah quite some
| lltft. time. vibrsfin' round with the
Cfigsbys and the Oannons and a 10;
mo OF the new.r.ch people up at
the capital
II was the boss' turn 20 90 silent.
and could guess pretty well what
he was thinking. The presence OF
President Dunton's nephew In the
West might mean much or nothing.
But could imagine the boss was
thinking that his own single exper.
isnce with ColIIngwood was enough
10 make him wish that the nephew
| Of Big Money would stay whore he
belonged among the hizh-roliers
and spenders Of his own set In the
effete East.
81 can't quite get the proper
slant on men OF tina CoIilngwood
type" he remarked, after the pause
The only time ] ever saw him was
on the night before the directors
meeting last spring. He was here
with hls unols's party In the special
train, and that night At the Billiard
he had been drinking too much and
made a. bfaying ass OF himself. |