The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-03-21

across the court. The Chamber OF
Commerce was situated at the south
east corner of the market square. De
had seen Ii on the preceding day,
handsome block. one of the finest build
ings in Malopo. II might take him ten
minutes to reach it. Ii was question
able whether he would arrive in time.
He ran on, painting, choosing the
shortest way which fortunately did not
lead past the Continental, where he
would almost certainly have been rec
ognized. On he raced. through the
narrower streets, alive with fruit ped.
dlers and old-clothes men, who stopped
and stared in wonder at the sight OF
the Withholding man with blood or
his face and dusty clothing, and
screamed in shrill abuse as he hurled
their carts right and left and cleared
passage down the middle of the road.
The market square lay before him,
tangie Of transport wagons and oxen.
Winton lodged here and there, thread
ing the mazes. painted across, and saw
the Chamber of Commerce building In
front of him.
He heard men shouting behind him.
A crowd was collecting. following him
He looked like a mailman. unless he
was the bearer OF desperate news of
some rising In the outlying districts.
A policeman tried to intercept him.
Winton hurled the man aside. dashed
into the building and ran with sure
Instinct up the cement steps TO the
second story. Upon a door in front
of him he saw the name of the Big
Malopo, painted in small lettering
among the names Of twenty other com
panies, yet staring at him as If he
alone were there
A man rushed at Winton from some
where in the passage and collared him.
Winton thought he recognized him as
one of the coach passengers. There
was no doubt that De Witt had placed
him there on guard He was larger
than Winton and powerfully built, but
Winton got the door partly open and
wedged himself there.
He saw number of men, who had
been seated about a table inside the
room, leap to their feet. At the head
was tall, lean old man with short.
square white beard. Near him was De
Witt, still carrying on his face the |
bruises of the fight. The others were
obviously nonentities.
q WintOn saw what was happening, and |
his fury lent him new strength. He
struggled madly in the grasp of his as
sailanI, and the chief shareholder in |
the Big Malopo company. entangled |
with De Wits spy, rolled INTO the
room at the feet of the astonished
small shareholders.
De Witt, who had been speaking
his fist down on the table.
Throw that lunatic out, and let's
put this business through !" he yelled.
"The proposition is that this company
go into voluntary liquidation for the
purpose of reconstruction and the issue
Of preferred stock. | declare the mo-
ton"
Il oppose tP' shouted Winton, leap
ing to his feet and fighting Off De
Wits man. II am Winton Garrett,
owning so per cent of the stock. My
He tried to get his hand into his
pocket, but his assailant was dragging
him toward the door. There came a
;cuffle of feet in the passage, and the
policeman, heading the mob, burst into
he room.
In another moment Winton would
lave been flung down the stairs, and
he control of the Big Malopo would
lave passed into the syndicates hands,
ither forever, or pending complicated
egal processes But a sudden diver
ion completely changed the situation.
Out of the crowd stepped Ned Burns,
white-bearded, waving
lis arms furiously.
you let Mr.. Garrett go r' he shouted.
y know him, and / know you, Mr. De
=. Discharge me, will you, after
We worked eight years for your"
Bravo, Nedr" shouted the crowd.
Go 1t, old cockl"
"The motion is garfield" shouted
,e Witt.
THAT don't make no difference"
aid Ned, planting himself before him. {
Maybe you think because l was fool
nough to work for You eight years
nat / don't know the law, Mr.. De
yittl You may be purser, but the law
f the Colony requires that all proposals ,
,r liquidation must have the assent Of I
majority. Mr.. Garrett owns the ma
,rity. and he hasn't voted YET
"Well done. Ned % cried the mob. {
"Colony law don't run in Malopo!" r
louted De Witt "This Is q native
rotectorate. You think because I've
ut you out of your job for ineffi
ency that you'll come here and inter-
re with this meeting. do your"
ST cts hear Mr. Garrett ~ cried the