Truth Be Told by Carol Cox Page A

would he be given a chance to make it right,or would he be summarily dismissed? Merrick had a reputation for running a tight ship. Even though Ben had known the man all his life and felt reasonably comfortable in his presence, his employer had an undeniable core of steel when crossed.
    â€œIt’s certainly different from Montgomery County, but it’s a good place in its own right . . . for a man who wants to rise to the challenge.”
    Merrick nodded. He pursed his lips and leaned forward again. “What I’m about to say is a little difficult.”
    Ben steeled himself for whatever was about to come.
    Tenting his fingers, Merrick tapped the tips together and looked at Ben with a solemn expression. “We’re entering a time when investors might look askance at negative talk about our company—the kind of talk that has recently been printed in the local newspaper in opposition to hydraulic mining. There will always be those who don’t share our vision for the future and are determined to stand in the way of progress, but few of them speak from such a position of influence. Having stories in circulation that imply a sizable opposition could be enough to make investors wonder if they’ll receive a timely return. If those concerns aren’t relieved, they may choose to put their money elsewhere.”
    Ben nodded. “You mean the stories you asked me to speak to Mr. Wagner about several weeks ago. I knew you wanted him to retract something he’d written, but I haven’t seen the articles myself.”
    Merrick slid open the bottom desk drawer and pulled out a stack of newspaper clippings, then handed them to Ben. “These came out about the time you started working for me. There was so much for you to learn as a new employee, I didn’twant to distract you at that point. But I think now is the right time for you to see what we’re up against.”
    Ben picked up the articles and read them with a growing sense of disbelief that quickly turned to outrage. When he finished, he laid them back on the desk and looked at his boss. “But . . . but these articles make it seem like Great Western is out to destroy this area rather than to help it prosper!”
    Merrick’s face grew stern. “Exactly. And it’s bad enough to see such nonsense in print locally, but it has come to my attention that portions of these articles have been reprinted in papers in Denver and back east.”
    Ben stared at his employer. “What!”
    â€œI faced Wagner with it head on. I tried to appeal to his sense of honor, but to no avail. The man was utterly inflexible. Once he got the notion in his head that we were up to no good, there was no reasoning with him.”
    Ben set his mouth in a hard line. “Or maybe reason didn’t matter to him. I’ve seen several instances in the East of newspapers engaged in fear mongering, just so they could boost their circulation.”
    A sorrowful expression crossed Merrick’s face. “Ben, you know the good we’re trying to do here. We’re succeeding for the most part. But if our investors back east read this drivel—and pull their funding because of it—we might have to cease operations. And that would mean the end of all the plans we have to bring growth and prosperity to this entire area.”
    Ben sat straight up in his chair. “That’s outrageous! Those stories should never have seen the light of day. At the very least, Wagner should have printed a retraction.”
    Merrick spread his hands wide. “As I told you, I tried toreason with him. But the more we talked, the more he dug in his heels. I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but I have to admit it’s a relief to know we don’t have to worry about him anymore. However, the paper didn’t die with him. His daughter has taken over the Gazette .”
    â€œDo you think she might be willing to see reason