The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-06-09


taineer. I'm trying to believe that
the men higher up in your railroad
councils haven't fathered this Hatch
scheme of consolidation-which is
more than some of the other pencil
pushers will do for you, I'm afraid.
Thanks to your publicity measures
everybody believes that you still hold
the whip-hand over the combination
with your ground leases. Tn not ask
ing what you propose to do; / am
merely taking 1t for granted that you
are going to stick to your policy. and
hoping that you will come and tell me
about 1t when you are ready to talk"
Il shall do just that" 1.-The boss prem
ised; and guess he would have been
glad to let the matter drop at this,
only Cantrell wouldn't.
Il lost three good hours sleep this
morning on the chance of catching you
here at table," the editor went on.
"a little whisper leaked in over the
wires last night. or. rather, early this
morning, that set me to thinking. You
haven't been having any trouble with
your own employees lately, have you,
NorcrossT
mot bit in the world. Why?"
There Is some little excitement,
with the public taking a hand in 1t.
There were Indignation meetings held
last night in number of the towns
along your lines. and resolutions were
passed protesting against the action
OF the new combination in cutting
wages, and asserting that public senti-
ment would be with the C. S. & w.
employees If they are forced to carry
out their threat of striking at noon
today. The whisper that l spoke of
intimated that the protest might ex-
tend to the railroad employees"
'There's nothing in it," said the boss
decisively. Il suppose you mean in
the way of sympathetic strike, and
that is entirely improbable. l imagine
very few of the c. s. & w. employees
belong to any of the labor unions"
"a strike on the railroad would hit
you pretty hard just now. wouldn't
it?" Cantrell asked.
Mr.. Norcross lodged the question.
Were not going to have strike.
he averred; and since we had finished
our breakfast, he made a business ex-
cuse and we slid out.
When we reached the office we found
Mr.. Van Britt, ON hand, reading the
morning paper.
You don't get around as early as
you might was the little millionaire's
comment when the boss walked in and
opened up his desk. "Tve been wait
ing nearly half-hour for you to show
| m Seen the nanarc
The boss nodded.
Il don't mean the strike business;
mean the market quotations"
mo; didn't look at them"
"They are interesting. P. S. L,
Common went up another three points
yesterday. 1t closed at 3S and a frac-
tion. You know what that means
Graham. 1t means that Uncle Breck-
enridge and his crowd are already
joyfully discounting your coming resig-
nation. Somebody has given them n
wire tip that you are as good as down
and out, and unless miracle of some
sort can be pulled off, / guess the tip
| Is a straight one. Strong as he is.
Chadwick can't carry you alone"
drop it." snapped the boss irritably.
me that you have reconsidered that
fool letter you wrote me last night 2"
mot in a million years." returned the
escaped captive airily. II am here
this morning as a paying patron of
the Pioneer Short Line. want to
hire a special train to go-well, any
where ! please on your jerkwater rail-
road. The Eight-Fifteen will do, with
Buck Chandler to run it."
"Pshaw! take your own car and any
crew you please. We are not selling
transportation to you"
"Yes, you are; I'm going to pay for
that train, and what's more, l want
your written receipt for the money. 1
need 1t In my business. Then, If
Chandler should happen to get gay and
dump me into the ditch somewhere,
can sue you for damages"
"All right; If you will persist in
joking with me it's going to cost you
something. How far do you want your
train TO rum?
"Oh. don't know; anywhere the
notion prods me-say to the west end
and back, with as many stops as /
see fit to make. and perhaps a run
over the branches"
] saw the boss make a few figures
on pad under his hand.
ut would cost anybody clse rough
iy, something like five hundred dol
lars. On account of your little joke
it's going to cost you cold thou
sand"
Mr.. Van Britt took out his check
book and fountain pen and solemn
ly made out the check.
Here you are" he said, Tipping the
check over to the boss desk 'Now
shell out that receipt. SO that I'll have
it to show II anybody wants to know
how much you've gouged me. Since
you're making the accommodation cost
me a dollar a minute. how long have