Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-03-24
ut is; but luckily 1 can build rail-

ut is; but luckily I can build rail-
roads as well as operate them; and
there are other countries besides the
United States of America. I'm on my
way home to Illinois for a little visit
with my mother and sisters and after
that 1 think l shall close with an
offer I've had from n of the Ca
madam companies"
Good boy!" chuckled the Chicago
magnate. "In due time we might
hope to be reading your name in the
newspapers-'Sir Graham Norcross,
D.S.O,' or something of that sort"
Then, with a sharp return to the sort
of gritting seriousness: you've been
riding owe the Pioneer Short Line
since early this morning, Graham:
what do you think of it?"
1 couldn't see the &oss' smile, but I
could figure it pretty we'll when he
said: There may be worse managed.
worse neglected pieces Of railroad
track in some of the great transcon-
tinental lines, but if there are I
haven't happened to notice them.
l suppose it is capitalized to death,
like many Of the others
"Fictitious values doubtless have
something to do with it at the pres
ent stage of the game" Mr.. Chad
wick admitted. "It has always been
a good earning property, being largely,
even yet, without much local COM
petition. But from the day it was
completed its securities have figured
in the market only for their specu-
lative values. The property itself has
v been considered, save as a
means to an end; the end being to
enable one bunch of the Wall Street
gamesterS you speak of to make a
killing and unload ON another
bunch"
1.-The old story" said Mr.. Norcross.
"We are humping over the net re-
suit, right now,' Mr.. Chadwick went
on. pioneer Short Line is practical
ly in the last ditch. The stock has
slumped to forty and worse; Shaffer.
the general manager and the only
able man we have had for years, has
resigned in disgust; and if something
isn't done tomorrow morning in Portal
City, l know of at least n minority
stakeholder who is going to throw the
whole mess into the courts and try
for a receivership."
Mr.. Norcross looked up quickly.
"Are you the minority stakeholder,
Uncle John?" he asked, letting him.
self use the name by which MI. Chad
wick was best known in the wheat pit.
Il am-more's the pity. I had a
little lapse of sanity one fine morning
a few years ago and bought in for an
investment. I've done everything ]
could think of, Graham, to persuade
Brock Dunton and his Wall Street &C.
completes to spend Just one dollar in
ten Of their reorganization and re.
capitalization steGl;ngs on the road
itself, but it's no good. Dunton has
been making an inspection trip over
the system with a dozen Or so of his
New York cronies. It's a junketine
excursion. pure and simple. but while
they're here they'll get together and
go through the form of picking out
a new general manager. I'm on the
board and they had to send me notice,
though it's an even bet they hoped
I'd stay away"
"Are you really going to spring the
receivership Oh the Dunton people to-
morrow"
I'm going to give Dunton his
chance. He car appoint the man 1
want appointed as general manager,
with full power to act, and ratify a
little plan I've got up my sleeve for
providing a bit of working capital for
the road. or-he can turn me down.
And if he does turn you DOWN.
"Then, by George, I'll see if I can't
persuade the courts to put the prop
erty into bankruptcy and install my
man as receiver!"
II don't envy your man his job,
either way around; not the least little
morsel in the world" said the boss
quietly. And then: "Who is he
Uncle John?"
The wheat king gave a great laugh
Don't tell me you haven't guessed