HOW SOMETHING CAME TO AN END.
The mica-mine management appeared to be thoroughly in earnest about this
extension of the telegraph line. As soon as the assent of the Board of
Managers to the scheme had been communicated to them, they sent a note
to Harry suggesting that he should, in the name of his company, get the
written consent of owners of the lands over which the line would pass to
the construction of said line on their property. This business was soon
settled, for none of the owners of the farms between the mines and
Hetertown, all of whom were well acquainted with Mr. Loudon (and no man
in that part of the country was held in higher estimation by his
neighbors), had the slightest objection to the boys putting up their
telegraph line on their lands.
When Harry had secured the necessary promises, the construction of the
line was commenced forthwith. The boys had very little trouble with it.
Mr. Martin got together a gang of men, with an experienced man to direct
them, and came down with them to Akeville, where Harry hired them; and
finding that the foreman understood the business, he told him to go to
work and put up the line. When paydays came around, Harry gave each man
an order for his money on the Mica Mine Company, and their wages were
paid them by Mr. Martin.
It was not very long before the line was constructed and the instruments
were in working order in Hetertown and at the mica mines. There was a
person at the latter place who understood telegraphy, and he attended to
the business at that end of the line, while Mr. Lyons worked the
instruments at the Hetertown station, which was in the same building
with the regular telegraph line.
It was agreed that the Mica Company should keep an account of all
messages sent by them over the line, and should credit the Crooked Creek
Telegraph Company with the amount due in payment, after deducting
necessary expenses, hire of operators', and six per cent. on the capital
advanced.
Everything having been arranged on this basis, the extended line went
into operation, without regard to the amount of water in the creek, and
old Miles carried no more telegrams to Hetertown.
The telegraph business, however, became much less interesting to Kate
and the boys. It seemed to them as if it had been taken entirely out of
their hands, which was, indeed, the true state of the case. They were
the nominal owners and directors of the line, but they had nothing to
direct, and very vague ideas about the value of the property they owned.
"I don't know," said Tom Selden, as he sat one afternoon in Mr. Loudon's
yard, with Harry and Kate, "whether we've made much by this business or
not. Those mica people keep all the accounts and do all the charging,
and if they want to cheat us, I don't see what's to hinder them."
"But you know," said Harry, "that we can examine their accounts; and,
besides, Mr. Lyons will keep a tally of all the messages sent, and I
don't believe that he would cheat us."
"No; I don't suppose he would," said Tom; "but I liked the old way best.
There was more fun in it."
"Yes, there was," said Kate; "and then we helped old Lewston and Aunt
Judy. I expect they'll miss the money they got for rent."
"Certainly," said Harry. "They'll have to deny themselves many a luxury
in consequence of the loss of that dollar a month."
"Now you're making fun," said Kate; "but twelve dollars a year is a good
deal to those poor people."
"I suppose it is," said Harry. "In fifty years, it would be six hundred
dollars, if they saved it all up, and that is a good deal of money, even
to us rich folks."
"Rich!" said Kate. "We're so dreadfully rich that I have only forty-two
cents left of Aunt Matilda's money, and I must have some very soon."
The consequence of this conversation was that Harry had to ride over to
the mica mines and get a small advance on the payment due at the end of
the month.
The end of the month arrived, and the settlement was made. When the
interest on the money advanced to put up the line, hire of operators,
and other expenses, had been deducted from the amount due the Crooked
Creek Company, there was only two dollars and a quarter to be paid to
it!
Harry was astounded. He took the money, rode back to Akeville, and
hastened to have a consultation with Kate. For the first time since he
became a guardian, he was in despair. This money was not enough for Aunt
Matilda's needs, and if it had been, there were stockholders who were
expecting great things from the recent extension of the line. What was
to be said to them?
Harry did not know, and Kate could suggest nothing. It appeared to be
quite plain that they had made a very bad business of this telegraphic
affair. A meeting of the Board was called, and when each member had had
his say, matters appeared worse than ever.
It was a very blue time for our friends.
As for Kate, she cried a good deal that afternoon.
The time had at last come when she felt they would have to give up Aunt
Matilda. She was sure, if they had never started this telegraphic
company, they might have struggled through the winter, but now there
were stockholders and creditors and she did not know what all. She only
knew that it was too much for them.
Three days after this, Harry received a note from Mr. Martin. When he
read it, he gave a shout that brought everybody out of the house--Kate
first. When she read the note, which she took from Harry as he was
waving it around his head, she stood bewildered. She could not
comprehend it.
And yet it simply contained a proposition from the Mica Mine Company to
buy the Crooked Creek Telegraph Line, with all its rights and
privileges, assuming all debts and liabilities, and to pay therefor the
sum of three hundred and fifty dollars in cash!
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Two days afterward, the line was formally sold to the Mica Company, and
the Crooked Creek Telegraph Company came to an end.
When accounts were settled, Aunt Matilda's share of the proceeds of the
sale were found to amount to two hundred and sixty-two dollars and fifty
cents, which Kate deposited with Mr. Darby for safe keeping.
It was only the sky that now looked blue to Harry and Kate.
The Akeville people were a good deal surprised at this apparently
singular transaction on the part of the Mica Company, but before long,
their reasons for helping the boys to put up their line and then buying
it, became plain enough.
The Mica Company had invested a large capital in mines and lands, and
the business required telegraphic communication with the North. The
managers knew that they might have a good deal of trouble to get
permission to put up their line on the lands between the mines and
Hetertown, and so they wisely helped the boys to put up the line, and
then bought it of them, with all their rights and privileges.
There was probably some sharp practice in this transaction, but our
young friends and Aunt Matilda profited by it.