The Lamar register., 1922-07-19

work-that Is at stake, and I've got
to he ut the shareholders meeting on
Monday morning. You see. it's this
way hr went GU to explain.
We laid OUT our route To cross Big
Muskcg al this point. and miles have
hren completed But our surveyors
were either too optimistic or had been
bought by Bowyer. We found. when
IL was too late TO change our plans,
tlnI Big Muskeg WAS harder propo.
siti"h Than anyone had suspected
There's forty feet and more OF quick
mud where We "eyieved bedrock To
exist II lew feet down. The records
He'd. And you can't lay a permanent
way upon mud.
The shareholders are frightened.
and rhnyre, OF the Bank OF New
North Manitoba, who Is an influential
one, and represents Bowyer, has had
the tip from him to make trouble
Bowyer didn't want the line till the
transcontinentai route was shifted
northward. Now he does, partly be-
cause we shall ultimately link up with
II and become a valuable property.
And think he suspects that there's
something in our territory worth the
developing.
The plan Is to refer the situation
la commission OF engineers who. of
course, would be largely In Bowyer's
pay, and who would report that the
present route Is not feasible. That
would mean Increasing our capital.
ana the issue of new stock would give
Bowyer and Phayre the controlling
interest. As things stand. Joe con
trolls the company. although he hasn't
actually majority of the shares.
Joe would take most chances, but
he wouldn't gamble with the fortunes
Of those who trusted him. even to
fight Bowyer. He wanted to have rea-
sonable hopes that the line could be
pushed through. He gave me his
power of attorney to vote for him, In
case OF accident. And | have II here.
That's why | must be at the meeting,
Molly. Otherwise that motion for an
engineers commission goes through.
To have the line. But Kitty'll fight
him. Joe made no mistake when he
took her for partner"
she was as true as steel to joe"
said Molly. Kitty and Joe were very
good to me when | was In Winnipeg
last winter. But what do you think
Mr.. Bowyer meant by his suggestion
about coal on your lnndsg"
There Is no coal" said Wilton
Molly. dear I'll tell you what our Sc
cret Is. was pledged to Joe-but
rho gfaaFAgss NINA I faIf
you. II isn't coal-it's clay"
"Clay. Wlltonf"
CLAY. It's more valuable than coal
or gold. It's clay land that the wheat
grows On. or rather In the rich tOpsoll
"f lnam, with the clay subsoil TO seal
and preserve the rainfall. yet easily
drained with Il little labor.
Il discovered II when | was pros
pecting up this way four years ago.
It's probably an extension Of the New
ontario clay belt. and. II 50. II runs
for hundreds OF miles through this
part Of northern Manitoba. II means
Lee inrrea sed by thousands OF square
miles. IL means homes and prosper
it, for thousands who are now strug-
cling for bare living In our cities.
That appealed to Joe. He was
man. IL ever there was one lie saw
the money In II. and the value OF the
line. but he saw further than that. He
was looking ahead. years after he was
gone. He wanted TO do good In his
own way. He'd had hard time when |
he WAS young man. And because peo-
pie believed In Joe. though he dared |
moi tell them his secret, they lent him |
the capital. and took up his shares. |
That was Joe's dream-and it's mine. |
Molly"
She listened breathlessly as he re- |
Vcnled his dream to her. and yet. per i
hhps. womanlike. she WIS happy rath- |
er In the revelation OF himself than |
In the altruism OF the dead man.
That's what the Missatibi meant to |
joe said Wilton That's why we /
mean TO fight TO keep II out OF Bow
yer's hands. Molly. dear. when | !
realized that Joe was dead everything |
seemed ended for the line. couldn't |
see how We were going to carry on !