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Updated: May 17, 2025
"What you calculate I'm wuth visible prop'ty?" "I'd say a million and a half to two millions." "Backin' enough to suit you, Mr. McKettrick?" asked Scattergood. McKettrick wore a dazed look. Scattergood did not look like two millions; he did not look like ten thousand. His bearing became more respectful. "I'll listen to any proposition you wish to make," he said.
I don't want to burn you, and I calc'late the figger you're payin' is clost to bein' fair. I'm satisfied. Write a check." Castle drew out his check book, and in a moment passed the valuable slip across to Scattergood. "Thankee," said Baines, "and good day.... Another time, McKettrick, don't look sneerin' at white woolen socks." He walked out of the room, followed by Johnnie Bones.
"These are the references to the records," said Johnnie Bones, laying a memorandum on the table. "You'll find them correct." "Knowing Baines as I do," said President Castle, "I'm satisfied." McKettrick and his attorney were conversing in hoarse whispers. McKettrick looked like a man who had come out of a warm bath into a cold-storage room. He was speechless, but his lawyer spoke for him.
This was the beginning of some weeks of negotiations, during which Scattergood became convinced that McKettrick was wishful of using him so long as he proved useful; then, when the day arrived for a showing of profit on the profit sheet, the same McKettrick was planning to see that no profit would be there and that Scattergood Baines should be eliminated from consideration to McKettrick's profit in the sum of whatever amount Scattergood invested in the construction of the railroad.
"If McKettrick had come up here wearin' better manners," said Scattergood to Johnnie, "and if he hadn't got himself all rigged out as little Red Ridin' Hood's grandmother figgerin' I'd qualify for little Red Ridin' Hood without the eyesight for big ears and big teeth that little girl had why, I might 'a' give him a reg'lar business deal.
"You win," he said, succinctly. "Always calc'late to when I kin," said Scattergood. "Now, don't hurry, gentlemen. I got another leetle matter to call to your attention. McKettrick there's got forty-nine per cent of the stock in the railroad that's built where it ought to be, and Castle's got another forty-nine per cent.
"McKettrick of the Seaboard Box and Paper Company, biggest concern of the kind in America. Calc'late they'll be makin' pulp here to ship to their paper mills. Calculate I'll give 'em a commodity rate of around seven cents to the G. and B. Johnnie, our orchard's goin' to begin givin' a crop. That'll give us sixteen dollars and eighty cents for haulin' a minimum car of twenty-four thousand.
"And pulp mills hain't got no right of eminent domain like railroads." "All substantial businesses ought to have it," said McKettrick. "You know these folks. I wish you'd see what you can do." "Glad to," Scattergood promised, and two days later he reported that all four landowners might be brought to terms.
"Come over to Johnnie Bones's," said Scattergood. In a moment they were sitting in Johnnie's office, and McKettrick and Johnnie were acquainted. "Here's my proposition," said Scattergood. "I'll build and equip a loggin' road accordin' to your surveys. You furnish right of way and enough money to give you forty-nine per cent of the stock in the company we'll form.
Scattergood opened his eyes and peered over his dumpling cheeks at McKettrick, but said nothing. "And how you found it out." "I've been figgerin' over your case," said Scattergood. "I'll give you a sidetrack into your yards pervidin' you pay the cost of bridgin' and layin' the track, me to furnish ties and rails.
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