Im sure I couldnt tell you.
What do you think?
I dont know, Miss Corning, and I wish I did. There are some things going on there that bother me very much. Im not in the auditing department. I simply type up statements and
You ran an adding machine?
Oh, yes.
All right, go on. You type up statements and then what?
Well, I get the statements primarily from the auditing department or Mr. Campbell gives me the statements... I will say this, the business is so departmentalized that, frankly, I doubt if anyone other than Mr. Campbell has a general comprehensive picture of what goes on. And Ive been concerned about this Mojave Monarch mine.
Why?
Well, for one thing, Susan said, I went out there to Mojave on a drive. I didnt have any idea of looking at the mine; in fact, Id forgotten all about the mine being in that part of the country. I was just out there driving around and I saw a sign on a road, a rather weather-beaten piece of wood nailed to a stake. It said on this sign, Mojave Monarch. So I turned in there just out of curiosity.
And what did you find?
I found a mine, but there certainly was no one working there. I went to one of the service stations and asked if there was any other Mojave Monarch around there and the service station man said hed never heard of any, that the only Mojave Monarch he knew had been closed ever since one of the veins had faulted out.
The monthly reports show that the mine is operating, but operating at a heavy loss, Miss Corning said.
Im quite familiar with the monthly reports, Susan Fisher said. I do the typing.
But you dont think the mine is working?
I dont know.
Then if the reports are false, Mr. Campbell is crooked?
I wouldnt say that. The reports come in from a manager in Mojave and
Endicott Campbell has never been out to Mojave to look the mine over?
I dont know.
Well, if hes going to manage my business he should know whats going on in a mine thats almost in his back yard.
Susan Fisher said nothing.
Well, Miss Corning snapped, say something! Should he or shouldnt he?
Susan said, Mr. Campbell is very, very busy around the office. Hes making out reports and correlating affairs and hes had quite a bit of trouble with the income-tax people. Frankly, I dont think hes ever gone to Mojave. I think he feels the mine is somewhat out of his jurisdiction. I dont know where he
The door opened and Endicott Campbell, standing in the doorway, said, Who says Ive never gone to Mojave? Whats going on here? What are you folks trying to do, get behind my back and tear my business reputation to shreds?
I suppose, Miss Corning said, that irate, rasping voice belongs to my manager, Endicott Campbell. Come in, Mr. Campbell, and sit down. Its customary to knock before entering.
I dont care whether its customary or not, Campbell said. I dont know whats going on here, and, despite the fact that Im working for you, Miss Corning, I resent the idea of you corning here and gathering my employees around you to discuss the efficiency of my management before you have even taken the matter up with me or let me know that you were here.
Now just a minute, Campbell, Mason said. We tried to get in touch with you on the telephone.
How did you know Miss Corning was here? Campbell demanded.
I anticipated her arrival, Mason said.
She wasnt due until tomorrow.
I know she wasnt, Mason told him, but in case you want to know, I had men watching the airport so that we could pick her up on her arrival. That was something that you could have done if youd wanted to or if youd thought of it.
Im afraid my mind doesnt work in these somewhat devious channels, Campbell said. And then to Miss Corning, Im sorry, Miss Corning, that Im acting in this manner, but, frankly, Im angry.
Go ahead, go ahead, Miss Corning said. Get angry. I like to hear two men fight.
Well, I dont like the idea of Mr. Mason homing in on this thing and trying to get around behind my back.
Now, just a minute, Mason told him. In the first place, I dont give a damn whether you like it or not. In the second place, nobody is going behind your back. Were out in front of you and scooping up the ball that youd fumbled. Now, just remember one thing. Im representing Susan Fisher. Shes my client. I have an idea that youre intending to make her some sort of a football that you can kick around in order to disguise your own shortcornings. I dont intend to let you do it. I wanted Miss Corning to know the facts as they were before you had a chance to garble them.
Well, Campbell said, I would have liked to have had Miss Corning know the facts as they were before you got to her and garbled them.
Were talking facts, Mason said.
You were talking about the intimate affairs of the company.
We were answering Miss Cornings questions about the Mojave Monarch, and I think that perhaps Miss Corning can well ask you about the Mojave Monarch. If you think weve garbled the facts, Id like to hear what you have to say about them.
And so would I, Miss Corning said.
Much of the belligerence left Campbells manner. All right, he said, as far as the Mojave Monarch is concerned, the only thing I can say to Miss Corning is that apparently I was victimized by a man who was in charge of the property at Mojave, a man who apparently made false reports to me in person, in writing, and over the telephone.