Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-15
WlNM Observation-Disclosures
The. B Town Roundup
81 By William Macleod Rain. =
Copyright BY william Macleod Raine 80 % q

copyright BY william MacLeod raj,

to do" . E,
But" H2s
Hes got hts reasons" 81,
when 10 the election?"
A three o'clock"
Where ?''.
"At the company Offices"
Perhaps II I talked with Brom-
whitford laughed shortly. It'd talk
an arm OF him If it could do any
good. But it won't. He's out for, re-
venge."
Gays! eyes alighted swiftly on the
older -. They asked gravely 2
his heart singing. Beatrice had bro
ken her engagement with Brom6eld.
1t was a little after eleven o'clock
next morning when the cattleman
walked into an apartment house for
bachelors, took the elevator and rang
the bell at Bromaeld's door.
Clarendon, fresh from the hands Of
his valet, said he vas glad to see
Lindsay, but did not look it. He
and selected for himself a dry mar
tint. Cigars and cigarettes were with
In reach on . tabouret.
Clay discovered that one difficulty
he had expected to meet did not COM
plicate the problem. The valet had
LETT to select the goods for some Gus
tom-made shirts, Brom1eld explained
apologeticalry. apropos of the lack Of
service, He would not return till late
in the afternoon.
i've come to see about that Bird
Cage business, Nj. Bromfeld," his Wis
itor explained. 1--WE. been millin' it
over in my mind, and I thought I'd
put the proposition up to you the way
it looks to me-"
Bromheld's eyebrows lifted. His
face asked with supercilious polite
ness what the devil business 1t was Of
Mr.. whitford has put in twenty
years of his life building up the Bird
Cage into q good property. It's a
one-man mine. He made it out Of
a hole In the ground, developed it,
expanded it, gave it a market value.
He's always, protected the stockhold-
ers and played the game square with
them. Don't it look like he ought to
stay in control of it,"
did he send you here to tell me
that"
mo, he didn't. But he's gettin'
along in years, Bromfeld. 1t don't
look hardly right to me for you to
step in add throw him out. What do
you think about it yourself" I'D
The clubman flushed with anger.
II think that it's DID impertinent Of
you to come here medding in my
business. I might have expected it.
You've always been an impertinent
"Mebbeso," agreed Clay s~erenely,
showing no surprise at this explosion.
But I'm here. And 1 put q question.
Shall I ask it again."
No need. I'm going to take what
the law allows me-what I and my
friends have bought and paid for in
the open market. The more it hurts
Whitford the better I'll be pleased"
answered Bromfield, his Of
cynical indifference swept. away by
gathering rage. The interference Of
sion of impotent hate.
rs that quite correct? Did you
buy control in the market? In point
of fact. aren't you holdin' a bunch
of proxies because Whitford wrote
and asked the stockholders to sign
them for you to vote? What you in
tend doing is a~moral fraud, no mat
ter what its legal aspect it. You'd
be swindling the. very stockholders
abusing the confidence Of whitford.''
What o think isn't of the least
importance to me. Mr.. Lindsay. If
you're here merely to offer me your
advice. I suppose I shall now have
regretfully to say good-day." The
New Yorker rose. a thin lip smile
scarcely yelling his anger at this in
truder who had brought his hopes to
; nothing.
IT reckon I'll not hurry of, Mr..
Bromfield.' Clay replied easily. "You
might think I, was mad at you. I'll
stick around awhile and talk this
| over" taN -.
Unfortunately I have an engage
ment," retorted the other icily.
"When?"
IT really think, Mr.. Lindzay, thai is
my business" ~
I'm maxim it mine" said Clay
CURLY. f. r 3
Bromneld stared. II beg you par
don?"
IT said it was mine too. You see,
I bought a coupla shares of Bird Cage
stock yesterday. I'd hate to see
Whitford ousted from. control. I've
got confidence in him"
ITS your privilege ito vote that
stock this Afternoon. At least it
would be If it had been transferred
to you on the books. I'll vote my
stock according to my own views"
II wonder" murmured Clay aloud.
What's that?' snapped Bromheld.
II was Just ngurtn' on what would
happen If 0 got sick and couldn't
attend that annual meeting this after
noon,' drawied the westerner. II
reckon mebbe some of the stockhold-
ers you've got lined up would break
away and join Whitford."
The New Yorker felt e :v1gue alarm.
What idea did this fellow have in the
Continued on page 81
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