The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29

VeyanceS Tor the party there were IDe
two double seated buckbOards used on
the canyon trip the PreviOus day., and
one other with single. seat; but there
were only two drivers. the third man.
who had brought the single seated rig
from Copah. having been prevailed
upon by Ford to disappear.
Ford directed the distribution OF the
trippers arbitrarily and was amazed
when the president acquiesced without
protest. Mr. Colbrith. the doctors
wife. and Penfield We're TO go in the
leading vehicle; Aunt Hester AdaiT.
Miss Van Bruce and the doctor in the
second; and Ford drove the single
seated third, with Miss Alicia for his
companion
I think you must have taken Uncle
Sidney unawares." said Alicia. when
the caravan was toiling at slow foot
pace along the rough wagon road par
alleIing the Horse creek grade.
You mean that he might have OBJ
jected to your driver? You are
whole lot safer with me than you
would be with one of those livery sta
BILE helpers up ahead"
."Oh. no; / didn't mean just that. But
you know he usually plans all the little
details himself. and"
And the fact that somebody else
plans them is sufficient excuse for a re-
arrangement. That is one of the penal
ties he pays for being the big b0ss.'
laughed Ford. Since the yesterday was
now safely yesterday. and today was
his own, there was no room for any
thing but pure joy
You're big boss, too. aren't your
she said, matching his light hearted
mood
4 was, in a way. until your uncle
came over and eclipscd me-"
And you will he again when Uncle
Sidney moves little farther along II
his orbit"
That remains to oe seen. There is
yet plenty of time for him to abolish
me. permanently. before he goes on his
way rejoicing"
But you are not going TO resign, you
know" she reminded him.
Am l nOt?" Then he took his cour-
age by the proper grip and went on
with sudden gravity. That rests en-
tirely with YOU"
Mr. Ford, Aren't you a little un-
fair?" She did not pretend to misun-
derstand him
hrmed.
1T is making me Uncle sidneys exc
etHioner' on one hand; or yours, on the
He pressed the point reIentlessly.
There are only two horns to the di-
Iemna: either Mr.. CoIbrith. or a man
named Stuart Ford will have to walk
the official plank. Because Mr.. Colbrith
is your relative. 1 am willing to be the
Nlciln- But you must say that it is
what you wish. That is my price"
say IL is Unfair" she repeated
Why should you put the burden of
the decision upon poor me?"
Because. if you were not concerned.
there would be, to put it in good Hi
oernian, only one horn to the dilemma
and your uncle would be impaIed upon
that one"
Mercy" she shuddered. in mock dis
may That sounds almost vindictive
Are you V1ndictive. Mr.. FOrd2''
Ierr10ly. he laughed. THE black
hearted villain OF meiodrama isn't a
patch on me when I'm stirred" And
then, more seriously: But it isn't alto
sether a joke There is another side
20 the thinS-what you might call the
ethical, l suppose. There are score or
so OF men in the cOmpany's service
friSble. and his subOrdinates-whose
JOBS hang upon mine. A worse man
than ever aspired to be might be IovaI
TO his friends"
wouldn't think of questioning YOUR
iVydlty 70 Your friends" she admitted.
AlSO he went on detern1inataIv
there is the larger question of rirbf
ana wrong involved. is it right for me
10 step aside and let an organized svs-
tenn OF graft and thievery go ON nm
checked? know it exists: / have
enough to go before
grand jury. I'm not posing
as a saint, or even as a nuclx ralrer,
Out isn't something due to the people
VINO are paying the bills?"
NOW you are involving Uncle Sid
hey again: and 1 can't listen to that"
lie Is innocent; as innocent as some
hundreds of other narrow minded. short
sishted Old men whom chance. or the
uupHcity of the real raseaIs. puts at
the head of corporations"
ct you would make him suffer with
the guilty. VIZ"
Not willingly. YOU may be sure. Not
at all. if he would listen to reason.
But he won't He'll stand by North tiII
the last gun is fired: and while North
stays, therell be graft. big or Httle. as
the opportunities warrant
Alicia held her peace while the cara
van was measuring another half mile
OF the boulder strewn road Then she
saId' 1 feel so wTetchedly made
quate to help you. Mr. Ford. wish
you could wait until you have talked it
over with brother"
SO dol. But 1 am afraid POSTPONE
ment doesn't lie with me. now. From
your uncle's manner and from what
he said to me yesterday. / can't helD
1eeling that the crisis is right here
For two days Mr.. COlbrith has been
very plainly leading up to some sort of
dramatic climax. 1 can't remotely guess
what 1t is going to be; though / can
guess that the plot isn't his
Again she took time to consider. and
when she spoke they were nearing the
scene of the strenuous activities at the
moving track end.
You don't think YOU could postpone
it?' she asked. almost wistfuIiy. he
NIX
er will become interested again 1t is
your fault that he lost interest. Mr..
Ford
My fault?" reproachfuIly
Certainly. You didn't give him
enough to do. He was happy and con-
tented while YOU kept him hard at
work But after the bonds were placed
and the money raised
I'm miserable sinnerr' Ford con
fessed. And 1 had promised you. too,
But the battle has been so fierce at this
end of the line; and 1 couldn't be in two
places at one time Your brother
should have been made first vice presi-
dent. instead of North Perhaps we