The Boss of Wind River

by it; but he found himself in a false position, and he greatly disliked to witness the open attentions of numerous young men, to which h

forthcoming in plenty-but no cars. Complaints of delayed shipments from indignant purchasers poured down on Kent in a daily deluge. He and Wright besieged the manager, the traffic

s, with whom they already had a large delivery contract, calling for almost double the quantity of lumber whi

t get cars," said Joe regretfully w

er, and if we can ever get anything to ship it in, we can sell it to them." And he wr

due, and though there was no objection to renewing those which Crook

collateral. The security is as g

of middle age, inclined to a solemnity of speech which partially cloaked an innate stupidity, and he held his position mainly beca

on't think I can run t

irectors, in their wisdom, foresee a-er-a financial storm. We must shor

e. To do that I'll have to borrow money, and I don't feel inclined to leave my account where I can't g

ry antipodes of Hagel, who hated him. He was young, popula

ount was a very valuable one. "You have other accommodati

eople are trying to keep the cream and make me hustle to sell skim milk. If you force me to hunt accommodation elsewhere not anoth

ectors had made unpleasant remarks. Although he was merely carrying out their instructions in this instan

ut your views before my board, and I think it very l

on't think I'm getting a square deal, and if I have

g, had just rung for his stenographer when Wright burst in upon him in consid

nal railway-" He swore venomously, and Joe's stenographer, with a glance at

hade your language a little. Not that I mind,

cried Wright. "A readjustment! An

reight rates that on lumber was boosted sky-high. But he did not at once grasp the full significance of it. He saw that the result would be to incr

enough. Looks like a case for the Transportat

right with bitter contempt. "Meanwhile where do we get off

see-" J

I don't see it all myself-yet. But look wha

a system of selling yards in twenty towns. By the terms of an agreement made by his father, which had more than a year to run, Kent was bound to supply them with lu

rouble. Therefore the price of the lumber per thousand feet was based on a calculation in which the then existing freight rate was an important factor. Thus an unforeseen and su

lowly, "it means a dead loss to us o

hey'll boost their price with the rest of

losing money and they're making two kinds

ls for." He stopped suddenly. "And only a couple of weeks ago they wanted us to e

nformation of the c

otherwise we'd have closed with them. Now our only cha

t he didn't quite like Wright's suggestion. "We made this contract with our eyes open,"

hing's square with people like them. I'd rob their safe if I could. Didn't

heard they were good bu

ome. I wish I had half their business ability. They're a pair of cold-blooded, dirty-tongued, sewer-rat devils, with the knack of making money han

said Joe proudly. "Maybe, after

right, ungrammatic

rom Clancy Brothers ordering a large consignm

e of them to want it rushed. Rushed! I'll see them in b

cative of results. Some days a

re. "It is? Well, this is Finn Clancy, talkin'-Finn Clancy of Clancy Brot

oe replied.

ut?" interrupted Clancy

e admitte

. I know better. That gag don't work no more. I'll have yeez people to understand

rn. "If you think you've got a kick, come up to the office and m

ice. He stood over six feet; he was broad, deep-chested, and red-bearded, with a pair of bright blue eyes hard as p

r. Kent,"

stared at Joe

alkin' to?" growled Fi

zing the advisability of holding his t

Finn heavily; J

e've been delayed one way and another

ontracts to fill, an' we got a contrac

sign a new one for double the amount, not so very long ago. I suppose it

Clancy chuckled dryly, as if it

that we'd 'a' mad

king enough as it is. We lose money o

outh tucked in a little more. He shot an unders

ncreased price of lumber. In view of that it occurred to us that y

big man. There was a sneer in his voic

Finn," said J

'd be satisfied with an even break. Your profits will be big enough to allow us

e; we contract to buy it at that price. If it goes down we lose; if it goes up you lose.

d we have came whinin to ye to let us off our contract? We wud not

d to make as much money as you do I'd see that t

o be holdin' up our order, thinkin' to bluff us into amen

re was just a little

rush it for you. And if you'll allow me to give you a pointer, Clancy,

to ye, young felly. Ye'll keep that contract to the letter, or

we'll dispense with profanity. I do all the necessary swearing here mys

ed Clancy. "Why,

hand on the desk and vaulted it, alighting poised on his toes in fron

with a queer little shake in his voice; "and then, y

hesitation, for he was quite devoid of physical fear and a scrapper to his fingers' tips. But to have a quiet, brown

oscillation of the tensed forearms, and the poise of the body on the gripping feet; and he knew that if his tongue uttered the

ad mastered the difficult art of starting a punch from wherever his

ancy in

An' you, Kent, 'tis wan punch ye'd have, an' then he'd kill ye." He pushed roughly between the

I think iv him. An' if he makes a pass a

ne, an' a lawyer to pay, an' all," said his brother bitterl

whichever way it goes." His blood was dancing in his veins and he laughed nastily in the surge of his anger.

fools," he announced dispassionately. "Can't ye talk over a business matter widout scrappin'

wn. I'll get him another time. Mind ye, now," he cried to Kent, "we mane to have every foot of timber the contract call

ith the contract, even at a loss," he said. "Now, I tell you straight that

y. "If our lawyers is bum we want to know it, so we can change 'em. Nicholas

copy of the agreement out of

said, "if this agreem

glanced at

my advice," he said. "Hold water? It would hold g

just the trouble. I want to know if there's a way out of this for

o you want to dodge out of an agreement with

ust that, though in the heat of his anger

doubt they're too crooked to lie straight in a ditch, bu

cs of the case, too. They made me so mad I forgot that side of it. Of course they kne

tand for it," said Locke, grimly. "T