the chief cause of
dissatisfaction." Upon this point the colonel did not feel competent to
reply; consequently the feeling of the meeting became decidedly hostile
to the present manager, and a resolution was offered demanding his
resignation. It was also agreed that the board of directors should
consider the advisability of withdrawing altogether from British
Columbia, inasmuch as the future of that country seemed to be very
uncertain. Thereupon Colonel Thorp rose and begged leave to withdraw his
name from the directorate of the company. He thought it was unwise to
abandon a country where they had spent large sums of money, without a
thorough investigation of the situation, and he further desired to enter
his protest against the injustice of making their manager suffer for a
failure for which he had in no way been shown to be responsible. But the
share-holders refused to even consider Colonel Thorp's request, and both
the president and secretary exhausted their eloquence in eulogizing his
value to the company. As a compromise it was finally decided to continue
operations in British Columbia for another season. Colonel Thorp
declared that the reforms and reorganization schemes inaugurated by
Ranald would result in great reductions in the cost of production, and
that Ranald should be given opportunity to demonstrate the success or
failure of his plans; and further, the political situation doubtless
would be more settled. The wisdom of this decision was manifested later.

The spirit of unrest and dissatisfaction appeared again at the next
annual meeting, for while conditions were improving, dividends were
not yet forthcoming. Once again Colonel Thorp successfully championed
Ranald's cause, this time insisting that a further test of two seasons
be made, prophesying that not only would the present deficit disappear,
but that their patience and confidence would be amply rewarded.

Yielding to pressure, and desiring to acquaint himself with actual
conditions from personal observation, Colonel Thorp concluded to visit
British Columbia the autumn preceding the annual meeting which was to
succeed Ranald's period of probation.

Therefore it was that Colonel Thorp found himself on the coast steamship
Oregon approaching the city of Victoria. He had not enjoyed his voyage,
and was, consequently, in no mood to receive the note which was handed
him by a brisk young man at the landing.

"Who's this from, Pat," said the colonel, taki