The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-05-13

And then to Billoughby: go on
"The main graft of course, Is In
the grain elevators. the fruit pack
cries, the coal and lumber yards and
the stock yards and handling corrals.-
In these public, or quasl-public, uttl-
tiles the railroad has given them-in>
fee simple, II seems-all the yard
room. switches, track facilities, and
the like. Wherever local competition
has tried to break in, the railroad
company has given 1t the cold should
er and 1t has been either forced out
or frozen out" >.
Exactly" said the boss. "Now tell
me how far you have gone In the
other field"
1--WE are pretty well shaped up and
are about ready to begin business.
Juneman has done splendid work, and
so has Ripley. We have succeeded,
in measure, though the opposition
has been keeping up steady lombard
ment. Hatch and his people haven't
been idle. They own or control a
dozen or more prominent newspapers
In the state. and, as you know, they
are making an open fight on you and
your management through these pa
pers. The net result so far has been
merely to keep the people stirred up
and doubtful. They say that the rail
road has never played fair-and l
guess it hasn't, In the past"
"Not within thousand miles," was
the boss curt comment. "But go on
with your story"
1--WE pulled the new deal Off yester-
day, simultaneously in eleven of the
principal towns along the line. Meet
ings Of the bankers and local capital
lists were held. and we had a man at
each one of them to explain our plan
and to pledge the backing Of the rail-
road. Notwithstanding all the doubt
and dust that's been kicked up by the
Hatch people, It went like wild-fire."
"With money!" queried the boss.
"Yes; with real money. Citizens
Storage & Warehouse was launched.
as you might say, on the spot. and
enough capital was subscribed to make
1t going concern. or course, there
were some doubters, and some few
greedy ones. The greedy ones pro
tested against the fixed dividend
scheme; they didn't see why the new
company shouldn't be allowed to cut
melon now and then IL 1t should be
fortunate enough to groM one"
Mr.. Norcross smiled. "That is
pran;SaIu xx,haf tba Hatch rannIa hoya
been doing, all along. and 1t is the
chief grievance of these same people
who now want chance to outbid their
nelghbors. The lease condition was
fully explained to them, wasn't it?"
"Oh, yes; Ripley saw to that. and
copies of the lease were in the ex-
hibits. The new company Is to have
railroad ground to build on. and ample
track facilities In perpetuity, condi-
toned strictly upon the limited div
idend. If the dividend Is increased,
the leases terminate automatically"
The boss drew long breath.
you've done well, and better than
well, Biloughby," he said. "Now we
are ready to fire the blast. How was
the proposal to take over the Red
Tower properties at q fair valuation
receivedY
There was some opposition. Les
terburg, and three Of the other larger
towns, want to build their own plants.
But they agreed to abide by major
ity vote of the stock on that point,
and my wire reports this morning say
that lump-sum offer will be made
for the Red Tower plants today"
Mr.. Norcross sat back In his chair
and blew a cloud of cigar smoke to-
ward the ceiling.
"Hatch won't SELL" he predicted.
"He1l be up here before night with
blood In his eye. I'm rather glad 1t
has come down to the actual give and
take. don't play the waiting game
very successfully, Billoughby. Keep
In touch. and keep me In touch. And
tell Ripley to keep on pushing on the
reins. The sooner we get at 1t, the
sooner 1t will be over"
After Billoughby had gone, Mr.. Nor
! cross came at me on a little matter
that had been allowed to sleep ever
since the day, now some time back.
when I had given him Mrs. Sheila's
hint about the identity of the two
gmen who Ind sat and smoked In the
auto that Sunday night at Sand Creek
siding, and about the talk between
the same two that had overheard
the following morning
"we are going to have sharp trouble
with gentleman by the name Of
Hatch before very long, Jimmie" was
the way he began. "You remember
what you told me about that Monday
morning talk between Hatch and.
Henckel In the Billiard lobby. Would
you be willing to go into court as q
witness and swear to what you
heardT
"Sure would" said.
sAIl right. may have to pull that
little Incident on Mr.. Hatch before !
get through with him. The train hold
up was criminal act, and you are
the witness who can convict the pair
Of them. OF course. well leave Mrs.
Macrae and the little girl entirely
out OF It. Nobody knows that they
were there with u. and nobody need
know." ~ Y