Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-05-24
MANAGER OF THE B. & A
Continued from page 2

sheer force Of habit, he was all enthu-
siasm. He had pleasant visions Of the
shops running overtime and everybody
satisfied and happy. 1t made no differ
ence to him that he would not be there
to share in the general prosperity.
With the start he had given II, the fu-
ture OF the Huckleberry would be as
sured. He decided he had better say
nothing to Curtice about South Amer
lea.
The upshot Of this meeting was that
he stuck to Curtice with a genial de-
votion that made him wax in his hands.
They spent two days together inspect
ing painless and tattered day coaches,
and on the third day Dan strollsd from
his friends office buttoning his coat on
a contract that would mean many thou
sands Of dollars for Antioch. II was
altogether his most brilliant achieve
ment. He felt that there only remain
ed for him to turn the Huckleberry
over to Holloway and leave the coun.
try. He had done well by 1t.
Dan had been In Chicago about three
weeks, when at last Holloway return
ed, and he proved as limp as Cornish
had said he would be IN crisis. he
was inclined to be critical, too, and
seemed astonished that Oakley had
been waiting in Chicago TO see him
He experienced a convenient lapse OF
memory when the latter mentioned his
telegram.
81 can't accept your resignation" he
said, fusslng nervously among the pa
pers on his desk. II didn't put you
at Antioch. That was General Cor
nlsh's own idea, and don't know what
he'll think"
ut has got past the point where |
care what he thinks" retorted Dan
curtly. "You must send some one else
there to take hold"
"Why didn't you cable him instead of
writing me?" fretfully. 81 don't know
what he will want, only it's pretty GER
tain to be the very thing l shan't
think Of"
81 would have cabled him II had
considered 1t necessary, but II never
occurred to me that my resignation
would not be agreed to on the spot, as
my presence In Antioch only widens
the breach and increases the difficulty
Of settlement with the men"
"Whom did you leave in charger
inquired Holloway.
Holt"
who's her
Hes Kerrs assistant" Dan ex-
plained.
why didn't you leave Kerr in
ehargeT demanded the vice president
II laid him or" said Dan In a tone
Of evaporation. and then he added. to
forestall more questions: "He was In
sympathy with the men. and he hadn't
the sense to keep It to himself.
couldn't be bothered with him. so l got
rid Of him"
well. must say you have made a
frightful mess Of the whole business,
Oakley, but ! told General Cornish
from the first that you hadn't the train
ing for the position"
Dan turned very red In the face at
this, but he let II pass.
ITS too bad" murmured Holloway,
still lingering the letters on the desk.
Since you are In doubt. why don't
you cable General Cornish for instruc-
tlons, or, II there Is reason why you
don't care TO, II Is not too late for me
to cable" said Dan
This proposal did not please Hollo-
way at all, but he was unwilling to ad-
NIT that he feared Cornish's displeas-
ure, which, where he was concerned,
usually took the form OF present ST..
lence and u subsequent sarcasm that
dealt with the faulty quality OF his
Judgment. The sarcasm might come
six months after Il had been inspired
but II was certain TO come sooner or
later and TO be followed by bad half
hour, which Cornish devoted to past
mistakes Indeed, Cornishs attitude
toward him had become through long
association one OF chronic criticism
and he was certain to be unpleasantly
affected both by what he did and by
what he left undone.
"Why don't you wait until the gen
eral returns from England? That's not