The Ordway new era., 1921-08-05
CHAPTER XVII
The beginning Of the End

However mucn tne hatcn people
may have wanted to avoid publicity
regarding the change of ownership
and policies in the Storage & Ware
house reorganization, the prompt an
nouncement of n general strike OF the
employees was enough to make every
newspaper In the state sit up and take
notice.
We had the Mountnineer at the
breakfast-tablc In the club grill-room
on the morning of the day when the
strike was advertised to go into effect.
There was n news story. with big
headlines In red ink. and also an
editorial Cantrell didn't say anything
against the railroad company. His
comments were those of an observer
who wished TO be straightforward and
fair TO all concerned. but his edi-
torul did not spare the silly local
stockholders whose swapping and sell
ing had made the coup possible.
Cnntrell, himself. mild-eyed and look
ing as If he'd got out of bed about
three hours too early, drifted into the
grill-room and took n seat at our table
before we were through.
IL wanted to be decent about 1t.
NOrcross,' he said. forestalling any
thing that the boss might be going to
say about the editorial In the Noun
taineer. I'm trying to believe that
the men higher up in your railroad
councils haven't fathered this Hatch
scheme Of consoidation-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. I'm not ask
Ing what you propose to do: am
merely taking II for granted that you
are going TO stick to your policy. and
hoping that you viii come and tell me
about 1t when you are ready to talk"
~ shall do just that" the boss prom
ised; and l guess he would have been
glad TO let the matter drop Mt this.
only Cantrell wouldn't.
~ lost three good hours sleep this
morning on the chance of catching you
here nt 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.
| Norcross?'
mot bit in the world. Why?"
"There is some little excitement,
with the public taking 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
or the new combination in cutting
wages. and asserting that public senti-
ment would he 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
infimated 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 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.
We're not going to have strike"
ne averred; and since we had finished
our breakfast, he made business ex-
cuse and we slid out.
When we reached the Office we found
Mr.. Van Britt on hand, reading the
morning paper.
on don't get around as early us
you might was the little millionaire's
comment when the boss walked In and
opened up his desk. "rve been wait-
Ing nearly a half-hour for you to show
up. Seen the papersT
The boss nodded.
Il don't mean the strike business
l mean the market quotations."
NO; l didn't look at them"
They nre interesting. p. 9. l.
Common went up another three points
Yesterday. 1t closed at 3S and frac-
lloh. You know what that means.
'raham. 1t means that Uncle Breck-
enridge and his crowd are already
)oyiully discounting your coming resig-
ha'ioh. Somebody has given them q
wire tip that you are as good as down
ana out, ana unless miracle OF some
sort can be pulled off. guess the tin
straight one. Strong as he is
Cnadwick can't carry you alone"
. Drop It," snapped the boss irrItabIy
ana then: Have you come to tell
me that you have reconsidered that
, fool letter you wrote me last night p
NOT In million years." returned the
escaped captive airily. II am here
.n's morning as paying patron OF
.ne fioneer Short Line. 1 want to
hire special train to go-well, any.