The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-08

nient Id bis mind. He had put d large
sum cf money into the through line
Of freight cars, but he had done 30
with an eye single to bis own ad.
vantage, with no thought Of anything
but dividends. He had contemptuous-
iy called Duncan "a rainbow chaser,
because that young man had spoken
With some enthusiasm Of The benefits
which the cheapenlng of freight rates
must bring to the people east and west.
In brief, Napper Tandy was very
greedy money getter and nothing else
LIE hated HaIlam with ali that be had
or heart because Hailam was bis slis
perior ln the conduct OF affairs and be-
cause Hallam had 30 badly beaten him
In every case OF competitive effort and
perhaps because OF some other things.
On his part VIII Hallan, without
hating, cordially detested the man
whom he had thus beaten aud made
afraid.
Nevertheless these two never quar-
relied. Each Of them was too worldly
wise to make an open breach with one
whose cooperation In great affairs he
might at any time need.
On the night OF the bah Hallam took
Duncan aside and said TO him:
II wish you'd take the z o'clock
train In the morning and go up to the
mines for a few days. Everything
there seems to be at skies and sevens.
can't make head or tail out OF It all.
All know Is that the confounded
mine Is losing a good many thousands
Of my dollars every month. I want
you to 20 up and make a thorough In
yestigation. II you can't find q way
ont I'll shut up the hole In the ground
and quit
Captain Hallam knew, OF course.
that Duncan could not get much sleep
that night, but he had long ago learned
that Gullford Duncan utterly disre-
garded personal comfort whenever
duty called. and so he had no heslta-
ton In thus ordering bis young lIeuten-
ant TO take an early morning train on
the heels OF night Of dancing.
"Perhaps you'd better go up there
with me-" suggested Duncan.
mo. That would embarrass mat
ters. I've been up several times, and
want you to bring q fresh mind to
bear upon the trouble. I'll telegraph
the people there to put everything at
your command. want you to study
the situation and make up your mind.
just as II the whole thing belonged to
you. Part of 1t does. you know. and
more Of II shall II YOU find way out.
II the thing can be made TO go I'll
give you ten more Of the hundred
shares In addition 10 the Ave you al
ready own. Good night and goodby
till you're ready to report
Captain VIII Hallam had recently
bought this coal mine on d little branch
railroad In the interior Of Illinois. He
had not wanted 10 buy II. but had done
20 By way OF saving debt. The mine
had been badly constructed at the be.
ginning. and latteriy II had been good
deal neglected. There were other diff
culties. as Duncan soon discovered.
and the coal resources Of the property
had never been half developed. In
recognition Of his services In examin-
ing titles and other matters connected
with the purchase Hallam had given
the young man per cent Of the com
pany's stock. He was thus for the
first time working In part for himself
when he was sent to study the sltua-
ton.
Quietly, but Insistently, In face OF the
surly opposition of the superintendent.
who was also styled chief engineer.
Duncan looked into things. 1t was
true. as the superintendent sullenly
said. that this young man knew moth
ing Of coal mining. But II was also
true, as Duncan answered. that he
knew how to learn.
And he did learn. He learned so
much that after three or four days he
sent telegram to Captain Will Hal
lam, saying:
Give me a perfectly free hand here or
call me home. I must have all the au-
thority you possess or ! can be OF no use.
Answer by telegraph
For response Hallam telegraphed:
Consider yourself the whole thing. I
give you complete and absolute authority.
Hire or discharge men at will. Order all
improvements you think best. Draw on
the bank here for any sum you need.
Only make the thing so II YOU can.
Thus armed Duncan set to work In
earnest.
''Why isn't your output Of coal larger
than 1t is?' he asked Of Davidson, the
superintendent.
" can't make 1t larger under the cir
cumstances."
'What are the circumstances What
alinculurs are there IN tne wayf You
have miners enough surely"
"Well, for one thing the mine is bad
" ventilated. Many of the best gal
ieries are filled with choke damp and
must be kept closed"
''Why don't you improve the ventilas
ton? As an engineer you ought to
know how to do that much"
ut isn't feasible, as You would
know. Mr.. Duncan, If you knew any