Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-03-11

comes nit the cOmmiddec room out.
| 90 up to the ovviCc,'
When was left alone in the row OF
lobby chairs with the Snappy one
was scared stiff for fear, now that he
didn't have anything else to think Of,
he'd catch on the fact that | might
have overheard. But apart from Civ
ing me one long stare that made my
blood run cold, he didn't seem 10 no.
tiCe me much, and after little he
got up and went to sit on the other
side Of the big rotunda whore he could
watch the elevators going and coming,
| guess he had lots Of patience, for
had TO have. had been sitting in
my corner for two full hours when
| saw the boss coming down the broad
marble stair with Mr.. Chadwick.
Mr. NGrcrosS held mp finger for
me, and when | jumped up he gave
me n sheet Of paper; a Pioneer Short
Line presidents letter-head with
few lines written on II with pen and
sort OF Crazy-looIiing signature under
them.
Take that 10 the Mountainecr Job
office and have five hundred of them
printed was the boss order. Then
make copy and take il to Mr.. Cant.
reli, the editor, and ask him 10 run il
In tomorroWS paper as an item OF
news, if he feels ike II. When You
az
wCk's car"
Since the thing WAS going 10 he
published, and | was going TO marc
a copy of it, didn't Scruple 10 read
It as hurried out to begin Il hunt for
tho Mouutaineer office. It was the
printers copy for an official circular,
dated at Portal City and addressed to
all officers and employees of the
Pioneer Short Line. 1t read:
EFFECTIVE at once, Mr., Graham Nor
cross is appointed general manager OF
the Pioneer Short Line system, with
headquarters at Portal City, and his
orders will be respected accordingly.
breckenridge Dunton,
"President."
We had got our jolt, all right; and
leaving the ladder and the Friday start
out Of the question, | grinned and told
myself that the one other thing that
counted for most was the fact that
Mrs, Sheila Macrae was a widow.
| chased like the dickens on the
printing job. because, apart from
wanting to absorb all the dope | could
rs | went along on the new lob,
knew | would be needed every minute
right at Mr.. NorcroSs' elbow. now that
the actual work was beginning.
Luncheon was served in the Alexa,
and they kept the business talk 60
j ing like a house atire while they were
eating, the hurry being that Mr.. Chad
| wick wanted to start back for Chi.
ago the minute he could find out If
/ or connecting line east would run
hin special
COW for a few unofficial things,
GRAHAM, and We'll call it a 60" he
%a'h' You are to have an absolutely
Tree hall in the management and the
operating. What YOU say goes as it
lieS' ana linton has promised me that
th're Sha' no appeal, not even to
him"
II imagine didn't say that will
ing'y,' the bosSput in. which was the
nrSt ln'llna''"h had had that he
wasn't present at he directors meet.
ing in the hotel
"No, indeed; nothi7 was done will.
ingly. | had TO swil. the big stick
and swing it hard. b. 7 had thnm
where they couldn't wis,e. You are
to set your own pace. an, Won are 70
have some money for Ltternarts
offered to float new loanon s.ort.
time notes with the Chicago bans
and the board authorized it,
The bose pushed that part Of Y
aside abruptly, as he always doe,
when he has got hold Of the gst of t
thing.
"Now, about my stan he said. "lf'
open gossip all over the West that thu
+. s. l.. is ofiicered by lot of dun
mics and pIaCe-hunterS and relatives
I'll have to clean house.
eco to it, that is a part of YOU
free hand. Have you the materia
to draw from
II know few good men, if ca
get them" said the boss thoughtfuIll
The one man | can't place at sight |
good corporation counsel I'm OF
liged to have good lawyer, tncI
John"
II have the man for you, if you
take him on my say so; young fe
low named Ripley who has done som
| corking good work for me IN ChiCag'
| I'll wire him. if you like. Now wor
| or two about this local graft W
I touched upon last night | don't kno'
| the ns and outs of ii, but people her
! will tell You that sort of holdln
h corporation, called Red Tower Coz
y Solidated, has strange grip IN IN
: entire region. It's subsidiary con
4 panieS control the grain elevators. Il
fruit packeries. the coal mines an
, distributing yards, the timber supp
ami the lumber yards. and even ha'
d, u finger on the S1-called independcl