The Ordway new era., 1921-05-27

"The main graft, of course, is IN
the grain elevators, the fruit pack
cries, the coal and lumber yards ana
the stock yards and handling corrais.
In these public, or quasi-pubiic, utll-
itics the railroad has given them-ih
fee simple, it seems-all the yard
room, switches, track facilities, ana
the like Wherever local competition
has tried to break in. the railroad
company has given 1t the cold should
er and it has been either forced out
or frozen out"
Exactly" said the boss. Now tell
me how far you have gone in the
other field
I'VE 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 a measure. though the opposition
has been Keeping up steady lombard
ment Hatch and his people haven't
been idle. They own or control
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
]
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 a thousand miles" was
the boss curt comment. But go on
with your story"
I'VE 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 We're held, and we had 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 Il Warehouse was launched.
rs you might say, on the spot. and
enough capital was subscribed to make
1t going concern. OF 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
melon now and then if it should be
fortunate enough to grow one"
Mr.. Norcross smiled. THAT Is
precisely what the Hatch people have
been doing, all along. and it Is the
chief grievance of these same people
who now want chance to outbid their
neighbors. 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 a long breath.
You've done well, and better than
WE'LL Billoughby," he said. Now we
are ready to fire the blast. How was
the proposal to take over the Red
Tower properties at a fair valuation
received"
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 cloud of cigar smoke to-
ward the ceiling.
Hatch won't SELL" he predicted.
Hell be up here before night with
blood in his eye. I'm rather glad it
has come down to the actual give and
take. don't play the waiting game
very successfully. Bllloughby Keep
In touch. and keep me in touch. And
tell Ripley to keep on pushing on the
reins. The sooner we get at it, the
sooner it 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 l had given him Mrs. Sheila's
hint about the identity of fhe two
men who had sat and smoked I'm 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 a 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 Bullard lobby. Would
you be willing to 60 into court as a
witness and swear to what You
heard?"
!. Sure would" i said.
All right. may have to pull that
little incident on Mr.. Hatch before i
get through with him. The train hold.