Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-01-05


than half believe IL.
Being a newspaper man. I'm nat
urally suspicious" he put In. Their
are big doings down underneath al
this that I can smell. but can't dill
up. Everything about this strike Is to-
blamed g~ood-natured. I've talked with
half q dozen Of the leaders, and with
any number of the rank and file. They
all grin and give me the wink, as II
IL were the best joke that was ever
pulled or"
Again Mr.. Norcross smiled hand.
someIy. III o push me TO IL. Cant.
rell, / may say that this La exactly
their attitude toward me
We'll" said the editor. getting up
good and proper. Your railroad stock
is tumbling downstairs so fast that It
can't keep up with itself"
II hope IT will tumble still more"
said the boss. pleasantly. with another
sort OF enigmatic smile: and with that
Mr.. Cantrell had to be content.
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 p~laintive little yips
from a strike-stricken lot Of people
along the Short Line who seemed to
think that the world had come to an
end. but there we're three bearing the
New York date line and signed dun
ton" The earliest had beer sent short
ly after the opening of the Stock ex-
change. and IL ran thus:
Morning papers strike
n complete tie-up on z. S. l.. Why
no report from you OF labor troubles
threatening7 Compromise at any cost
and wire emphatic denial of strike.
Answer quick"
The second OF the series had been
flied for transmission an hour later
and 1t was still more saw-toothed.
Later reports confirm newspape
story. Your failure TO compromise In
stanty with employees will break
stock market and subject you to In
vestigstion for criminal incompetency.
Answer
The third message had been sem
still later.
"Your continued silence is inexcus-
able. II no favorable report from you
by six o'clock you may consider your
self discharged from the company's
service and criminal proceedings on
charge Of conspiracy will be Instituted
at once"
thought things were beginning TO
look pretty serious for us If Mr.. Dun
MAS going 10 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.
ITO G.. Norcross, q. n,
Portal City.
Just returned from trip 10 Seattle.
doing on the Short Line?
Chadwick"
"A couple OF kilograms. Jimmie" said
the chief. as he passed this last wire
over. and got nay notebook ready.
A
ITO b. Dunton. New York. Strike Is
sympathetic and not subject TO COM
promise. Nails moving regularly, but
Ill other traffic suspended indefinitely.
Ny office closes today. and my resig
iation, effective at once. goes to you
IN Fast Mail tonight"
"Now one to Mr.. Chadwick. and you
CQn1 ~ In o,do H.. 1fN.~4.l
Then he dictated:
See newspapers for account strike. {,
Hatch and eight Of his associates were
Tiled last night In railroad wreck. /,
has demanded my resignation
nd ! have given IT. Have plan for |
'omplete reorganization along lines
discussed In beginning. and need your /,
Ielp@.At- market opening Tomorrow
ell L. $. L. large blocks and repur- I
In driblets as price goes down. ,
until ] tell YOU TO stop. Wire :
uick II you are with US" /
Just as | was taking the last SEN $
ence, Mr.. Ripley and BilIoughby came t
q, and Mr.. Norcross took them both d
nto b third room Of the suite and y
hut the door. An hour later when
door opened and they came out, a
boss WAS summing up the new or q
ers to ~Billoughby There's a lot to a
o. and you have my authority to hire !,
II the help you need. See the bank h
RS yourself, personally, and get them g
interest other local buyers along the r
ne, the more of them. and the smaller a
ley are. the better. I'll Jake care OF b
oFtal City. myself. I've had Van a
rift on the wire and he is taking care s.
{ the employees-yes, that goes as II
es, and is a part OF the original plan h
very man who works for Y. 3. +. is n
Ding TO own a bit OF stock. II We have "a
!, carry him for Ii and let him pay a ii
ollar a week. More than that, they r,
lall have representation on the board
they want il. And while you're ID
hooking about. take time TO show
lese C. S. x w. folks how they can o.
limb back into the saddle. Red Tower Of
down and ont noyTAa and fheV-aoA