The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-06-23

dollar week. More than that, they
shall have representation on the board
If they want 1t. And While you're
knocking about, take time to show
these G. s. & W. folks how they can
climb back into the saddle. Red Tower
is down and out. now, and they can
keep 1t out If they want to-"
/ suppose l might rattle this old
type-machine of mine indefinitely and
tell the story of the financial fight that
filled the next few days; of how the
boss and Mr.. Ripley and BilIoughby
got the bankers and practically every
body together all along the Short Line
and sprung the big plan upon them,
which was nothing less than the snap
ping up, on tumbling stock market,
OF the opportunity now presented to
them of owning-actually owning in
fee simple-their own railroad. ihe
buying to be done quietly through Mr.
Chadwick's brokers in Chicago and
New York.
There was some opposition and
jangling and see-sawing back and
forth, of course. but the newspapers.
led by the Mountaineer, took hold. and
then. pretty soon, everybody took
hold; after which the only trouble was
to keep people-our own rank and file
among them-from buying p. S. 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
1t vas too late; and the minute Mr.
Chadwick wired us from Chicago that
we were safe. the strike went off. as
you might say, between two minutes,
and Mr.. Norcross called q 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 us
one of us, good. solid voting major
ity of the stock was now held. The
Mountajneer printed the call, and 1t
spoke of the railroad as "our railroad
company"l
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 dilated on the
fact that now the country-and' the
employees-hnd Il 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-thnll
of 1t; cheers in railroad stoclho.d-
ers' meeting.
Following Mr.. Chadwick's talk there
was the usual routine business; re
ports were read and it was shown that
the Short Line. Notwithstanding all the
stealings and nismanagements. was
still a good going proposition at the
price Mt which it had been bought in.
new board of directors was chosen,
and MS soon as the new board got to-
gether, Mr.. Norcross went back to-his
Office In the headquarters, not as gen
eral manager. this tine-not on your
life but as the newly elected presl-
dent of Pioneer Short Line. And by
the same token. the first official cir
culcr that came out-a copy OF which
sent. tied up with blue ribbon, to
Maisic Ann-read like this:
"To all Employees:
effective this day. Mr.. James r.
Dodds Is appointed assistant TO the
president with headquarters in Portal
City.
&c. Norcross. President"
That's all all hut little talk be
tween the boss and sIr. Upton Van
Britt that took place in our office on
the day after Mr.. Van Britt, still~kic'S-
ing about ihe hard work that the hosS
was always piling upon him. had been
appointed general manager.
you've made the rifle. Grahnm-
just as / said You would" said our
own and only millionaire. after lie had
got through abusing the fates that
wouldn't let him 20 back east and play
with his coupon shears and his yachts
and polo ponies. N"You're going to
he the biggest man this side of the
mountains. some day: and the day isn't
so very far off. either"
1t was just here that the boss got
Jul VI 'tidii anu NNitth W iAA'
other end of the room. When he came
back it was to say:
"You think have won out. Up
ton. and so does everybody else. J
suppose 1t looks that way to the man
in the street. But haven't. you know
| have lost the one thing for which
| 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.
at isn't lost, Graham; it's only gone
before. Can't you wait a decent lit
tie while?"
"If | should wait all my life II
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