The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-06-23
kS:AiH3;21s5ssa:SAa?l eSk3:3aIasI5S5E, Sons


Il can, indeed" was the smiling an
swer.
Cantrell looked as If he didn't more
than half believe 1t.
"Being newspaper man, I'm nat
urally suspicious" he put in. "There
are big doings down underneath all
this that l can smell, but can't dig
up. Everything about this strike Is too
blamed good-natured. I've talked with
half dozen of the leaders, and with
any number of the rank and file. They
all grin and give me the wink, as if
it were the best joke that was ever
pulled Off"
Again Mr.. Norcross smiled hand
somely. "If you push me to it, Cant
rell, l may say that this is exactly
their attitude toward mel"
"Well," said the editcr. getting un
to go; its doing one thing to you,
good and proper. Your railroad stock
is tumbling downstairs SO fast that it
can't keep up with ITSELF
Il hope it will tumble still more"
said the boss, pleasantly, with another
sort of enigmatic smile; and with that
MI. 0iutItu lidu W bS tOhteut
AS the editor went out, Fred May
brought in the bunch of forenoon tele-
grams and laid them on the desk. They
were quickly glanced at and tossed
over to me as fast as they were read.
Most of them were plaintive little yips
from strike-stricken lot of people
along the Short Line who seemed to
think that the world had come to an
end, but there were three bearing the
New York date line and signed Dun
ton" The earliest had been sent short
ly after the opening of the Stock ex-
change, and it ran thus:
Morning papers announce strike
and complete tie-up on P. S. L. Why
no report from you of labor troubles
threatening? Compromise at any cost
and wire emphatic denial of strike.
Answer quick"
The second of the series had been
filed for transmission an hour later
and it was still more saw-toothed.
Later reports confirm newspaper
story. Your failure to compromise in
stantly with employees will break
stock market and subject you to in
vestigation for criminal incompetency.
Answer
The third message had been sent
still later.
"Your continued silence is inexcus-
able. If no favorable report from you
by six o'clock you may consider your
self discharged from the eompany's
service and criminal proceedings on
charge of conspiracy win be instituted
at once"
thought things We're beginning to
look pretty serious for us If Mr.. Dun
ton was going to try to drag us into
the courts but Mr.. Norcross was still
smiling when he handed me the last
and latest telegram in the bunch. 1t
was from Mr. Chadwick, and was good
naturedly laconic.
'To G. Norcross. q. NJ.
''Portal City.
"Just returned from trip to Seattle.
What's doing on the Short Line?
Chadwick"
"a couple of kilograms, Jimmie" said
the chief. as he passed this last wire
over, and got my notebook ready.
i2- i'uiittil. 4NcW L 1oTk. CIllke is
sympathetic and not subject to COM
promise. Mails moving regularly. but
all other traffic suspended indefinitely
My office closes today, and my resig-
nation. effective at once. goes to you
on Fast Mail tonight
"Now one to Mr.. Chadwick. and you
may send 1t in code" he directed
crisply. Then he dictated:
"See newspapers for account strike
Hatch and eight of his associates were
killed last night in railroad wreck
Dunton has demanded my resignation
and have given it. Have plan for
complete reorganization along lines
discussed in beginning. and need your
help. At market opening tomorrow
sell =. S. l.. large blocks and repur-
chase in driblets rs price goes down
Repeat until tell you to stop. Wire
quick If you are with us"
Just as was taking the last SEN
tence, Mr.. Ripley and Billoughby came
in. and Mr.. Norcross took them both
into the third room of the suite and
shut the door. An hour later when
| the door opened and they came out.
| the boss was summing up the new or
| ders to Billoughby: "There's lot to
do and you have my authority to hire
! all the help you need. See the bank
ers yourself, personally, and get them
to interest other local buyers along the
| line. the more of them, and the smaller
they are. the better. I'll take care Of
Portal City, myself. I've had Van
Britt on the wire and lie is taking care
of the employees-yes. that goes as 1t
lies, and is part Of the original plan;
every man who works for p. S. l.. is
| going to own bit Of stock. If we have
to carry him for It and let him pay q