登陆注册
15324100000022

第22章

"Good-morning, sir," he observed, and waited for S.Behrman's further speech.

"Well, Mr.Derrick," continued S.Behrman, wiping the back of his neck with his handkerchief, "I saw in the city papers yesterday that our case had gone against you.""I guess it wasn't any great news to YOU," commented Harran, his face scarlet."I guess you knew which way Ulsteen was going to jump after your very first interview with him.You don't like to be surprised in this sort of thing, S.Behrman.""Now, you know better than that, Harran," remonstrated S.Behrman blandly."I know what you mean to imply, but I ain't going to let it make me get mad.I wanted to say to your Governor--Iwanted to say to you, Mr.Derrick--as one man to another--letting alone for the minute that we were on opposite sides of the case--that I'm sorry you didn't win.Your side made a good fight, but it was in a mistaken cause.That's the whole trouble.Why, you could have figured out before you ever went into the case that such rates are confiscation of property.You must allow us--must allow the railroad--a fair interest on the investment.You don't want us to go into the receiver's hands, do you now, Mr.

Derrick?"

"The Board of Railroad Commissioners was bought," remarked Magnus sharply, a keen, brisk flash glinting in his eye.

"It was part of the game," put in Harran, "for the Railroad Commission to cut rates to a ridiculous figure, far below a REASONABLE figure, just so that it WOULD be confiscation.

Whether Ulsteen is a tool of yours or not, he had to put the rates back to what they were originally.""If you enforced those rates, Mr.Harran," returned S.Behrman calmly, "we wouldn't be able to earn sufficient money to meet operating expenses or fixed charges, to say nothing of a surplus left over to pay dividends----""Tell me when the P.and S.W.ever paid dividends.""The lowest rates," continued S.Behrman, "that the legislature can establish must be such as will secure us a fair interest on our investment.""Well, what's your standard? Come, let's hear it.Who is to say what's a fair rate? The railroad has its own notions of fairness sometimes.""The laws of the State," returned S.Behrman, "fix the rate of interest at seven per cent.That's a good enough standard for us.There is no reason, Mr.Harran, why a dollar invested in a railroad should not earn as much as a dollar represented by a promissory note--seven per cent.By applying your schedule of rates we would not earn a cent; we would be bankrupt.""Interest on your investment!" cried Harran, furious."It's fine to talk about fair interest.I know and you know that the total earnings of the P.and S.W.--their main, branch and leased lines for last year--was between nineteen and twenty millions of dollars.Do you mean to say that twenty million dollars is seven per cent.of the original cost of the road?"S.Behrman spread out his hands, smiling.

"That was the gross, not the net figure--and how can you tell what was the original cost of the road?""Ah, that's just it," shouted Harran, emphasising each word with a blow of his fist upon his knee, his eyes sparkling, "you take cursed good care that we don't know anything about the original cost of the road.But we know you are bonded for treble your value; and we know this: that the road COULD have been built for fifty-four thousand dollars per mile and that you SAY it cost you eighty-seven thousand.It makes a difference, S.Behrman, on which of these two figures you are basing your seven per cent.""That all may show obstinacy, Harran," observed S.Behrman vaguely, "but it don't show common sense.""We are threshing out old straw, I believe, gentlemen," remarked Magnus."The question was thoroughly sifted in the courts.""Quite right," assented S.Behrman."The best way is that the railroad and the farmer understand each other and get along peaceably.We are both dependent on each other.Your ploughs, Ibelieve, Mr.Derrick." S.Behrman nodded toward the flat cars.

"They are consigned to me," admitted Magnus.

"It looks a trifle like rain," observed S.Behrman, easing his neck and jowl in his limp collar."I suppose you will want to begin ploughing next week.""Possibly," said Magnus.

"I'll see that your ploughs are hurried through for you then, Mr.

Derrick.We will route them by fast freight for you and it won't cost you anything extra.""What do you mean?" demanded Harran."The ploughs are here.We have nothing more to do with the railroad.I am going to have my wagons down here this afternoon.""I am sorry," answered S.Behrman, "but the cars are going north, not, as you thought, coming FROM the north.They have not been to San Francisco yet."Magnus made a slight movement of the head as one who remembers a fact hitherto forgotten.But Harran was as yet unenlightened.

"To San Francisco!" he answered, "we want them here--what are you talking about?""Well, you know, of course, the regulations," answered S.Behrman."Freight of this kind coming from the Eastern points into the State must go first to one of our common points and be reshipped from there."Harran did remember now, but never before had the matter so struck home.He leaned back in his seat in dumb amazement for the instant.Even Magnus had turned a little pale.Then, abruptly, Harran broke out violent and raging.

"What next? My God, why don't you break into our houses at night? Why don't you steal the watch out of my pocket, steal the horses out of the harness, hold us up with a shot-gun; yes, 'stand and deliver; your money or your life.' Here we bring our ploughs from the East over your lines, but you're not content with your long-haul rate between Eastern points and Bonneville.

同类推荐
  • Tales of the Klondyke

    Tales of the Klondyke

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 千金裘

    千金裘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Dark Flower

    The Dark Flower

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 遯斋闲览

    遯斋闲览

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 斗南暐禅师语录

    斗南暐禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 雁总裁是恋的人

    雁总裁是恋的人

    她他是死对头。她喜欢Aangle,他爱乐儿。不知何时她他相恋。蓝可乐的心机,让他错杀她。带着上世记忆,在人群中寻找她;从误会,欺骗,恐惧,迷茫,爆发成忧郁症的她。在他面前坠海。他望着婴儿,心思白转千回,眼中压制着激动,苦涩;。“恋儿,再也不会发生以前的事了,我会保护好你;”婴儿睁开漂亮的大眼睛。
  • 遗落在时光里的爱.

    遗落在时光里的爱.

    那一年,她8岁有着无比显赫的家世还有别人所羡慕的一切,还有自己喜欢的人,可是一切来得太快又去得太快在一场车祸中父亲为了保护她去世了而她也受到了巨大的打击,失去了8岁前的记忆,与母亲去了英国她不知道吗?其实他也很喜欢她啊!八年之约,期限已到.世界上最幸福的事情大概就是喜欢的人也喜欢着自己吧......这一次,他不会再放手......
  • 高冷长官:宠妻无度

    高冷长官:宠妻无度

    编辑推荐:他们一个痞子一个兵,就算是娃娃亲也拯救不了职业属性天生的相克相杀好吗!求放过!内容简介:她曾撞破过他和老帮老大情妇的JQ,还曾被他拿枪指过脑袋,更曾多次被他在犯案现场当成嫌犯给“乒乒乓”了。最要命的是,他们一个痞子一个兵,就算是娃娃亲也拯救不了职业属性天生的相克相杀好吗!求放过!陆小曼:我要拒婚!秦瀚宇:理由?陆小曼:我不想出去打个架,还没出门,就被你穿着防爆服用枪堵家里了。秦瀚宇:哦,你可以不答应,但是我现在就会拿枪把你堵在家里。陆小曼:卧槽,你敢,我妈不会放过你的!秦瀚宇:岳母已经同意,你看,她还给我准备了麻绳。
  • TFBOYS之我爱上了你

    TFBOYS之我爱上了你

    作者鼓起勇气写的文文,希望大家喜欢,不喜勿喷,作者只想得到一丢丢鼓励。
  • 剑御山河

    剑御山河

    一个穿越者的逆天之路......新人作品,不喜勿喷!
  • 十一号入口遇见你,易烊千玺

    十一号入口遇见你,易烊千玺

    当叶晗浠第一次见到喜欢了10年的他,他在万众瞩目的大舞台上,她却在舞台下的座位席上注视着那个她爱了整个青春少年,一个是高冷慢热的梨涡少年,一个是可爱单纯的酒窝少女,属于他们的故事就这样拉开了序幕。。。。。
  • 境界:广东亚视演艺职业学院十周年文集

    境界:广东亚视演艺职业学院十周年文集

    艺术教学有很强的互动性。一个角色的塑造、一首歌曲的演绎、一幅作品的构图、一个画面的捕捉等,往往都需要师生共同完成。经过十年的摸爬滚打,有过踌躇,有过烦恼。更有过欢乐,有过向往。学院教师对艺术教育的认识在不断深化。本书所收文章便是教师们朴实无华的肺腑之言,是建院十年教学工作最生动的佐证。
  • 极品权二代

    极品权二代

    从国外归来的沈辰,为报女友被杀之仇,一步步走上了不归之路……
  • 节操无下限:大神,求放过

    节操无下限:大神,求放过

    神马?!让窝和一个不认识的男生同居?!为毛线这种出现在小说里的情节会降临在窝身上?!此时接到无良老妈电话的顾晓晓内心是崩溃的!(现实)哎哟我去,大神,不就一不小心在打怪的时候砍到你么?用得着追着窝不放么?(游戏)当游戏伪人妖遇上腹黑游戏大神,会擦出神马爱(基)情的火花捏?(PS:本人学生党一枚,特懒,会更的慢求原谅。此为处女作。)(PSPS:1v1,绝对宠文,男女主身心干净,请放心入坑)
  • 兄弟缘之二

    兄弟缘之二

    伤已无痕,血洗红尘,只恨长天!