The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-25
CHAPTER TX.

CfIAPI Elk IN
A few minutes walk brought them
before n great office building. Ascend
ins to the second floor, Lawrence pass
ca in quick succession doors neatly
labeled, Train Master" Supt," "Gen1
Sup't." Genl Manager, to pause be-
fore one bearing the legend. ,"Presi
dent" Passing in. they found them
selves in a little space rallied off from
q great, comfortable room Its occu-
pant, a bright-faced young man, arose
and, stepping to the barrier, asked;
Have you business with Mr.. Blank?
All right: be seated; he is engaged at
present, but will be at liberty in few
minutes
John" said Lawrence, IS they seat
ed themselves upon n leather couch.
i want to put you on to something:
Even ii / was not sure of welcome
from the gentleman whom we are
awaiting / would have no fear of other
than courteous reception. The young
man who just spoke to us is hiss chief
clerk. He holds an extremely enviable
position, but YOU can see he is a gen.
tleman. Our rough clothes and appear
ance were entirely ignored. 1t is right
here, in this Office, the personnel of the
entire executive force takes it's cue. If
the man behind that closed door is a
bnOif W 81 iiCcl liSSS t1lStB tNclH
officer down to the petty roundhouse
foreman and trainmasterA assiduously
cultivates like manners; but if he is a
broad gauged officer, who, in respecting
his subordinates, eleyates himself. you
will see its influence. radiating In the
quick voices and courteous treatment
of all the minor officers. Now -renfem-3
Der that once 7 went into trainmas
ter's Office. l only wished to strike him
for transportation ovec his division- A
white-faced youth forming the support
OF a huge pipe was the only occupant.
The profile afforded me an amusing
stady. Drawn over its weak outlines
and recedins chin was the orthodox icy
mask OF official superiority. The exact
duplicate of that worn by his president,
when from the rear of his private car
he haughtily surveys his shivering
satellites or hands Napoleon survey
ing the repulse of Ney's charge at
Waterloo, or Lee when his crumblirS
hosts fell back at Gettysburg, might
have carried in haggard face, or brood
ing eye, 1.-THE of the awful burden
covering the weak lines of the imna-
ture viSage before me-but doubt it,
Determined not to be entirely shriv-
eled in the terrible blaze of officialdom,
1 ventured in weak voice to say
Ahem. No response being given,
Uled II IN louder tone same result.
Peering over his shoulder / allowed my
reverent eyes to rest upon the page fac
ing the despot-it was The Adventures
Of Buffalo BILL Saddened, / tiptoed out.
and, standing off a conductor, rode out
on coal train. When few mornings
after, in a switch sshanty on another
road, related the experience, am yet
at a loss to decide if my Ignorance, or
recital, furnished the basis of the hilari-
Gus outbreak: Why, Scranton. that road
is spotted all over the United States.
The way of that trainmasters clerk is
patterned after hisssuperior, who gets
it higher, until it runs up against, old
Hedge Hog in his private Office. receiv-.
ing lot of ruined shippers from ter
ritory beyond competition"
Here the door opening into the inner
Office opened. A ruddy-f faced gentleman
with erect form and crisp white hair
entered. followed by two alert, protest
ing gentlemen. As they reached the
center of the Office he of the ruddy face
turned. then placing his hands upon his
companions shoulders, in a firm voice.
said: