New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-07-29
CHAPTER xIIl-Continued.

IL
l shut my eyes and held my breath,
Nj. Hornack hadn't the slightest idea
what thin ice he was skating over,
or how this easy mention of Mr.. Van
Britt might be just like rubbing salt
into a fresh cut. by this time it was
growing dark. and We were running
into Portal city, and | was mighty
glad that il couldn't last much longer.
The boss didn't speak again until the
yard switches were clanking under
she car. and then he said:
"Upton is well able to take care of
himself. Hornack. and | don't think
W." need worry about him" and then
over his shoulder to me Jimmie. it's
time 10 wake up. We're pulling in
A, he always did on a return trip,
hr. NorcrnsS ran up to his office to
see II there was anything pressing,
before he did anything else. May
was still mt his desk, and in answer
- the boss question he shook his
head.
No; nobody that couldn't wait" he
said, referring Ia the days callers.
"Mr. Hatch was up with a couple of
men tlfat | didn't know, but he only
wanted Ia inquire if you would be
I'm the office this evening after dinner.
7 told him I'd find out when YOU came,
ard let him know by phone"
! thought, after all that had hap
pcrrd Hatch certainly had his nerve
u want to come and make n talk
with the man his hired aSSassins We're
trying Ia murder. But If Mr.. N%orcroSs
n, On the contrary. he told Fred II
would he all right 10 telephone Hatch I;
thai he WAS coming down after din
nrf and the office would be open. as
usual.
| slipped out and went to Mr.. Van
Britt's office ut the other end Of the
hall. Bobby Kelso was there, holding
the office down, and | asked him where
] could find Tarbell. Luckily. he was
able to tell me that Tnrbell was ut
that moment down in the station res
taurant. eating his supper; so down
] went and butted in with my story
Of the Hatch call. and how il MAS TO
bc repeated a little later on.
'I1l he there" said Tarbell and
with that load off nay mind, | mogged
or uptown To the club to get my own
dinner.
When | broke into the grill -room Mt
the rallroad club, | found that Mr.. Nor
cross had beaten me to II by a few
minutes; that he had already ordered
his dinner at a table with Major Ken
drick. | suppose, by good rights. I
ought ia have gone off into Il corner
hy myself. hut | saw that the boss had
tipped n chair at the end Of the table
where | usually sat, 50 | just went
AHEAD and took it,.
Coming I'm late, that way. I didn't
that the boss had been saying some
thing about his rare good luck in hav-
ing the major for II table-mate two
days in succession.
"Tle honoh is mine. my dcah boy"
the genial old Kentucklan was telling
iim aS | sat down. II was by way
of picking up n bit Of information
late this afternoon that | thought
ought 10 be passed on to you without
n great delay"
The boss looked up quickly. what
Is II. major?" he inquired. Are you
going to tell me that something new
has broken lo0,af"
81 wish ! might be that hc'pfully
definite de- 50. Graham. But | can't.
It's mr'uhly 4 blt Of street talk. They're
club. that Hatch and John Marshall
you know him-that Sedgwick stock
iohbeh who IA, been 50 active in this
Citizens Storage * Warehouse bust
ncss-have finally come tOgetheh."
"In a cuisines, way. you mcanf"
The major gave a right and left
twist ia his big mustaches and
shrugged one shoulder.
"1hey are most probably calling ii
business" he rrjoined.
The boss nodded. Il know what has
In spite of the fact that
the local people know that their eco
salvation depends upon a wide
and even distribution OF their e. =.
< ". stock. there has been a good
biz Of buying and selling and swap
ping around | remember you proph-
that IN u little while we'd have
another trust in the hands of a few
men. You may recollect that I didn't
your prediction. ! merely said
HAT our ground leases-the fact that
III Of the &. :. & W. plants and build
give Us the whlplhand over any new
monopoly that might be formed"
"Yes. sub I remember you said
the major allowed.
"very good. Marshall nnG his pocket
syndicaie may have acquired a voting
IN g. * & W. and they may
% Hing now 10 patch up an alliance
slih Hatch. But IN that case the new
monopoly will still lack the n vital
the power 10 fix prices.
n there Is - new combine. and il tries
10 make the producers and merchants
my more than the agreed percentages
-or storage and handling-r
IL know" the major cut in. "You-all
sfil rise up in the majesty Of youh
and put il ~ of business by
terminating the leases. ] hope you
I sutt'iniy do hope you may.
you'll ~recollect that I didn't advise
ron on that point. sub. You took
Ripiey's opinion. Maybe the
y. Graham. I doubt it-doubt IL right