Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-02-23

Colony legislature, who could make It
very hard for any external interests
that did get a footing on the fields"
Il see" said Winton. He liked the
judge much better unmasked; at least,
he disliked him considerably less.
"You threaten, then, that If l seek
outside capital, the syndicate viii use
every means Of thwarting the develop
ment Of the claimT' he asked.
"Yes, my friend. Not in our indI-
viduaI capacities, but purely in the
business sense"
Suppose / came to you for a loan,
offering the security Of the diamond?"
The judge waved the suggestion
aside as incredibly trifilng.
"The diamond means nothing at all
to u.s." he answered.
at has a monetary value"
"We are not in need of small profits
Mr. Garrett"
Pardon me, but II you are so pros
porous and influential, what is the pur-
pose Of your resolve to get the control
Of the Big Malopo by means outside
the ordinary run OF business?"
The judge smiled, looked thoughtful,
and then, to Winton's surprise, showed
third phase Of his nsture-ab soluts
frankness.
THE purpose Of our resolye?' he
asked. 81 suppose to gain power, Mr..
Garrett. To please the stockholders
and to gain power. There, sir. we
touch upon the fringe of philosophy.
What is the driving motive of human
life: Each Of us has some secret. rul-
ing passion that he holds secure from
the eyes of his fellow men,
His voice shook as he spoke, but this
time it was not the quaver of hypocrisy.
Judge Davis seemed on the verge Of
some intimate disclosure. Then the
mood passed, the eyes grew hard again
1.-The syndicate viii assist you to the
full extent of the company's needs. in
so far as these have a legitimate ex-
istence," he said 'It viii guarantee
its cooperation. But it must be as
sured that no competitive interest shall
be brought into Malopo, or admitted
from Malopo. Therefore the terms
are these: you will transfer thirty
three shares to me in blank, on which
the syndicate will advance you four
fifths of their par value for three
months. At the end of that term, If the
money is repaid, you resume possession
of your shares. If. on the other hand,
the claim has not proved remuneratiYe,
the syndicate viii reimburse to you
personally all portion of this money
spent on development, and the shares
will become its property. In the latter
event you win hold forty-seven shares,
which will make the independent share
holders the decisive voters, and all in
terests will be protected. In the former
event you will continue to hold your
eighty shares. And l think, Mr.. Gar
rett, that no fairer offer could be
made. 1t gives you an opportunity to
make success of the company, and II
you fail, protects US against external
interests taking up the control to our
detriment"
Winton thought hurriedly over the
proposal. If he agreed, he would still
hold forty-seyen shares al worst. while
the syndicate and its men would hold
an equivalent amount. The balance Of
power would lie with the Independent
shareholders; but these. of COURSE,
were in Davis power If the claim
proved to be what he and Ned Burns
believed 1t was, the repayment within
the period would be a mere trifle.
But why should he consider the pro
posal when he could realize working
capital on the sale of the diamond?
at seems to me-" said Winton, that
l am not compelled TO face the problem
you raise. The diamond can be legiti-
mately sold in the interests of the corn-
pany. When the time comes for con-
sidering your proposition l may come
to you, or l may go elsewhere, accord
ing to where l can get the best terms
in the interests of the company"
Judge Davis whistled softly and
gathered in the reins; then he turned
TO Winton.
my dear friend" he said, "in these
days capital cannot be raised, except
in America, upon diamond claim that
has only produced a single diamond.
AS for the sale of the De Witt stone"
Hardly an appropriate name.' said
Winton holly.
"The Garrett stone, l mean" purred
Judge Davis "Of course so long as
you retain your controlling interest,
you are at liberty to sell It. You mis-
understand me, my young friend. 1
did not come here to discuss your
ability to avoid fraternal cooperation
with US, but to offer you the choice be-
tween that cooperation, with frater-
nifty, and the syndlcate's hostility-of
course in a purely business sense. Till
your decision Is made, that fraternity
must be withheld. Give faith and trust.
dear sir, and they shall return TO you
a hundredfold. Give enmity, and
he leaned out of the buggy-"we'u
smash you, YOU damned young fool, and
you'll richly deserve It."