Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1921-11-03

what thin Ice he was skating over
or how this easy mention Of Mfr. Var
Britt might be Just like rubbing salt
into a fresh cut. BY this time II was
growing dark. and we were running
into Portal City,-and | vas mighty
glad that It couldn't last much longer
The boss didn't speak again until the
yard switches were cIanking under
the car. and then he said:
Upton is well able to take care of
himself, Hornack, and I don't think
we need worry about him." and then
over his shoulder to me Jimmie, it's
time to wake up. We're pulling In"
As he always did on a return trip.
Mfr. Norcross ran up to his Office to
see II there was anything pressing.
before he did anything else. May
was still at his desk. and In answer
to the boss question he shook his
head.
mo; nobody that couldn't walt" he
said, referring to the days callers.
MIR. Hatch was up with Il couple of
men TINT | didn't know. but he only
wanted To Inquire II you would be
In the office this evening after dinner.
I told him I'd find out when you came.
and let him know by phone.
| thought. after oil that had hap
pened. Hatch certainly had his nerve
to want to come and make a talk
with the man his hired assassins were
trying to murder. hut II Mr.. Norcross
took that view OF It. he didn't show
It.. On the contrary, he told Fred. 1t
would be all right to telephone Hutch
that he was coming down after dim
Der and the Office would he open. as
usual.
| slipped out and Went 10 Mr.. Van
Britt's Office at the other end OF the
hall. Bobby Kelso was there, holding
the office down. aud | asked him where
| could find Tarbell. Luckily. he was
able TO tell me that Tarbelf was at
that moment down In the station res
taurant. eating his supper; &c down
I went and butted In with my story
of the Hatch call, and how II was 70
be repeated a little later ON.
'IIl be there said Tarbell: and
with that load of my mind, mogged
OF uptown 10 the club TO get my own
dinner.
When l broke Into the grlll-room at
the railroad club. I found that Mr.. Nor.
cross had beaten me TO Il by a few
minutes that he had already ordered
his dinner ut Il table with Major Ken.
tfrick. ! suppose. by good rights. i
ought TO have gone on into n corner
by myself, but | saw hat the boss had
tipped n chair ut the end Of the table
where | usually sat. 50 lust went
ahead and took II.
Coming In lnte, that way. | didn't
get the first OF the talk. but | took II
that the boss had heel saying some
thing about his rare good luck In hay.
ing the major for Il tuhle-mate two
days In succession.
THE honoh Is mine. my deah hoy
the genial old ketfttickinn- WIS telling
him as l sat down, II was by why
of picking up a bit OF Information
late this afternoon that I thought
ought TO be passed N 10 you without
any great delay"
The boss looked up quickly. what
is II, majorY" he inquired. Are you
going TO tell me that something new
has broken looseYy
II wish I might he that he'pfuny
Definite do so. Graham But 7 can't.
me'ufiy a bit OF street talk. They're
II, oven at the Commercial
club, that Hatch and John Marshall
you know him-that Sedgwick stock
who has been so active In this
Citizens Storage 4 Warehouse busi-
fnalfy1come togetheh. -"
@In a business way, you meant"
The major gave q right n left
-wist TO his big mustaches and
shrugged one sasUutdeF.
'They ore most probably calling IT
business" he rejoined.
The boss nodded. II know what has
happened. In spite of the fact that
he local people know that their eco
l0mie salvation depends upon a wide +
md ever distribution of their G. s. r
/ w. stock, there has been a good
of buying and selling and swap
ling around. ! remember you proph.
that i'm a little while we'd have
mother trust in the hands of a few
men. You may recolfect that ! didn't
your prediction. | merely said
our ground ~leases--the fact that
II of the G. s.. & w. plants and build
ngs are on railroad land-would still Il
i've us the whip-hand over any new
monopoly that might be formed"
"Yes, sub I remember you said
the major allowed.
Every good. Marshall and his pocket
indicate may have acquired a voting
ontrol In e. s. & w. and they may
willing now TO patch mp an alliance
nth Hatch. But In that case the new
monopoly will still lack the one vital
Ingredient the power 10 fix prices.
I there Ia a new combine. and 1t tries
0. make the producers and merchants
mors than the agreed percentages