The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-07-28


then. pretty soon. everybody took
hold; after which the only trouble was
to keep people-our Own rank and hle
among them-from buying z. $. l..
Common so fast that the New York
ers would catch on and run the price
up.
They didn't catch on-not until after
II was too late: and the minute Mr..
Chadwick wired us from Chicago that
We were safe. the strike went on, as
you might say. between two minutes,
and Mr. Sorcross called a meeting OF
stockholders, the same TO be held
bless your heart lin Portal City. the
thriving metropolis OF the region in
which, counting Mr.. Chadwick In as
one Of us. a good, solid voting major
ity OF the stock was now held. The
Mountalneer printed the call. and IL
spoke Of the railroad as "our railroad
company
The meeting was held in due time,
and Mr. Chadwick was there to pre-
side. He made a cracking good chair
man. and the way he dllated on the
fact that now the country-and the
employees-had a railroad of their
own. and that the whole nation would
be looking to see how we would de-
monstrate the problem we had taken
over. actually brought cheers-think
Of II; cheers in a railroad stockhold-
ers' meeting
Following Mr.. Chadwick's talk there
was the usual routine business; re-
ports were read and IL was shown that
the Short Line, notwithstanding all the
steallngs and mIsmanagements, was
still a good going proposition at the
price at which 1t had been bought in.
A new board of directors was chosen,
and as soon as the new board got to-
gether. Mr.. Norcross went back TO his
office In the headquarters, not as gen.
eral manager. this time-not on your
life but as the newly elected presi-
dent OF Pioneer Short Line. And by
the same token, the first official cir
cular that came out-a copy OF which
I sent, tied up with blue ribbon, to
Maisie Ann-read like this:
ITO all Employees:
Effective this day. Mr.. James f.
Dodds is appointed assistant to the
president with headquarters in Portal
City.
&c. Norcross, President"
That's all; all but little talk be-
tween the boss and Mr.. Upton Van
Britt that took place in our Office on
the day after Mr.. Van Britt, still kick
ing about the hard work that the boss
was always pillng upon him. had been
appointed general manager.
you've made the rifle, Graham
just as l said you would" said our
own and only millionaire; after he had
got through abusing the fates that
wouldn't let him go back east and play
with his coupon shears and his yachts
and polo ponies. you're going to
be the biggest man this side of the
mountains. some day; and the. day isn'e
so very far Off, either"
Ii was Just here that the boss got
out of his chair and walked to the
other end of the room. When he came
back II was to say:
"You think l have won out, Up
ton. and so does everybody else. I
suppose II looks that way to the man
in the street. But haven't, you know.
l have lost the one thing for which
l would gladly give all the business
success | have ever made or hope to
make"
Mr.. Van Brltt's smile was more than
half a grin.
ut isn't lost, Graham: it's only gone
before. Can't you walt decent lit
tie while?"
"If should wait all my life Il
wouldn't be long enough, Upton" was
the reply. What you said to me-
that time when we first spoke of Col
lingwood-was true. You said she
loved the other man-and so she did"
This time Mr.. Van Britts smile was
whole grin.
IL said 1t, and I'll say 1t again. She
didn't realize II or admit 1t, even to
herself, you know; she's too good and
clean-hearted for anything like that.
But could see 1t plainly enough, and
so could everybody else except the
two people most nearly concerned. I
didn't mean Howie Collingwood: you
were the other man, Graham"
At this the boss whirled short
around and tramped to the other end
OF the room again, standing for quite
a little while with one foot on the
low window-sill and making out like
he was looking down at the traffic
clattering along In Nevada avenue.
But I'll bet a quarter he never saw
a single wheel Of II. When he came
back our way his eyes were shining
and he put his hand on Mr.. Van Britt's
shoulder.
"It ought TO have been you, Uppy."
he said. dropping back to the old COL
sege nickname. You're by long odds
the better man. When-when do YOU
think ! might venture to take a little
run across TO New York"
At that, Mr.. Van Britt laughed out