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
  • 皇清书史

    皇清书史

    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。
  • 南宗抉秘

    南宗抉秘

    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。
  • 迦叶结经

    迦叶结经

    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。
  • 李太白全集

    李太白全集

    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。
  • 金刚秘密善门陀罗尼咒经

    金刚秘密善门陀罗尼咒经

    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
  • 染指天下:倾君策之

    染指天下:倾君策之

    她,是一位天才杀手。因为被男友逼上绝路,同归于尽。没想到就穿越到古代,还是史记上没有的朝代。13岁的叶家傻女,一朝重生!坐拥万能神鼎,身怀灵植空间,她不再是人见人欺的废材弃女!药毒无双,神医也要靠边站;灵兽求契约,不好意思,兽神都喊咱老大;渣爹,敢抛妻弃女,她就让他家破人亡;世人,敢欺她辱她,她必百倍还之;再世为人,她王者归来,岂料惹上了邪魅嗜血的他。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 极限武路

    极限武路

    看一名天生奇脉少年,一杆战戟,在经历八年的孤独历练后怎样追逐千年前的武道神话,怎样在武道之路上一步步走向传说中的极限之境。
  • 雪妃惊天:相公一起祸害天下

    雪妃惊天:相公一起祸害天下

    她,是二十一世纪的顶级特工,在任务中损落,死前她听到这样的话.“我的儿,回归本界。”…她是琥珀大陆的天才大小姐!身份神秘,十岁前的回忆没了,十岁后的记忆是被府中下人欺辱着过活。再次睁眼!强魂回归!看她如何素手翻飞惊天下!他是琥珀大陆的‘王’,身份神秘,初见时“丫头,你可真有意思。”“……”他宠她入骨时“娘子,我许你一生一世一双人,永恒不变。”她倾城一笑“相公,我们一起去祸害天下可好?”“好。”
  • 异界封魔录

    异界封魔录

    在中原腹地有一个叫做楚家庄的村落,一个七岁的小男孩将要出庄闯荡,跟着叔叔去修炼。然而这时,却遇上了一场诡异的火灾……只有他,逃了出来。若干年后,被称为鬼才无情剑的楚行天,背着他的那柄名剑走在路上,这时,他遇上了一位貌若天仙的女子……
  • 夏的暗恋

    夏的暗恋

    [花雨授权]美女?她不是!大姐头,更称不上!她得好好发扬她的爱心,将他改造成一个勇敢的人!哈?原来真的是无风不起浪,他原来真的喜欢她!可、可,他们不是哥儿们吗?
  • 这世上有鬼

    这世上有鬼

    十八自从在HHB参加工作以来身边诡异的事情发生的越来越多,这让他相信世上有鬼的传说。自己用过的充气娃娃变成的女人又对自己起了什么心?这一切十八无从知晓
  • 你还欠我三个字

    你还欠我三个字

    一件事情,一段不可思议的回忆,勾起什么样子的事件。
  • 灵渊魔主

    灵渊魔主

    星空之大,无奇不有,未知的界域,存在着许多强大的生灵。未曾有人涉足的秘境,诡异的传送通道竟有时空虫,落入混乱的雷狱空间,又会传送到何处。得到能够自由穿梭位面的能力,就能得到更多传承?得到更多天材地宝?-----------一个刚形成的灵渊世界,寻找新的主人,选择了杨浩。但他在玄武大陆,一个要探索浩瀚无垠的神秘灵渊,另一个则是在玄武大陆获取机缘,增强自身的实力,最后虽修为暴涨,却不小心落入渊灵创建的玄门的雷狱之中...
  • 那时,你不来,我不老

    那时,你不来,我不老

    他在危难当头时,救下了她。她在明亮灯光下。喜欢上他。他走进她的世界,她也走进他的世界。可最后,他头也不回的走出她的心,而她,还在原地茫然的看着他渐渐远去。