The San Francisco call., 1908-10-25

committee. Hence, we wait, and keep
a growing army of laborers here
under pay while we wait" said Ford,
with disgust thinly masked. Then he
added: With all due respect to Mr..
Colbrith he is simply senile frost!"
Frisbie chuckled
Been cooling your fingers has he?
But I understood from the headquar
ters people down town that the Mac
Morroghs had a sure thing on the
grading and rock work Their bid was
the lowest. wasn't it?"
Yes; but not the cheapest for the
company Dick. I've been keeping tab
ON the MacMorroghs for a good while;
they are grafters; the kind of men
who take it out of the company and out
of their labor in thousand petty little
steals-three proftsson the commissary,
piecework for subs where they know
{. mans got to lose out, steals on the
working hours, fines and drawbacks
and discounts on the payrolls, and all
that You know how it's done"
Sure" agreed Frisbie, with his most
diabolical grin. Also, I know how 1t
keeps the engineering department on
the hottest borders of Hades, trying
TO hold them down. The good Lord de-
liver us!"
Il wanted to throw their bid out
without consideration" Ford went on.
But again Mr.. Colbrith said No add
ing that the MacMorroghs were old
contractors on the line, and that Mr..
North had always spoken very highly
of Them
"Ah; the fine Italian hand of Mr..
North again. said Frisbie And that
reminds me: Are we going to be at
war with the main line operating de-
partment?"
Ford shook his head Not openly,
at least North was down to meet my
train when 1 came in last night, and
you would never have suspected that
1 left Denver six weeks ago without
his blessing. And now I'm reminded.
1 have a luncheon appointment with
him at 12, and lot of letters to die
tate before / can keep it, Go down
and do your writing for Crapsey, and
if we lose each other this afternoon,
I'll meet you here at dinner this
evening"
1t was while Ford was working on
his mail, with one of the hotel ste
nographers for helper, that a thick
set bull necked man with Irish blue
eyes and a face two-thirds hidden in
curly tangle of iron gray beard, stubbed
through the corridor on the Pacific
Southwestern floor of the Guaranty
building, and let himself cautiously into
the general managers outer office. The
private secretary, a faultlessly groomed
young fellow with a suggestion of the
Latin races in his features. looked UP
and nodded.
How are you. Mr.. MacMorrogh?" he
Go on in. Mr. North is expecting
you"
The burly one returned the
nod and passed on to the inner
room. The general manager,
sallow, heavy visaged man, who
might have passed in platform
gathering for a retired manufactures
or a senator from the middle west,
swung in his pivot chair to welcome
the incomer.
"Glad to see you, MacMorrogh. Sit
down. What's the news from New
York;"
The contractor found a chair, drew it
close to the general managers desk,
and filled it.
I'm thinking you'll know more about
that than l WILL Misther North" he re-
piled, in voice that accorded perfectly
with the burly figure and piraticaI
fishtes."
'Why?" asked the general manager.
holding~h his chin in his hand--a gesture
known the entire length of the Pacific
Southwestern as signal of trouble
brewing, for somebody.
God knows then; l don't" said the
MacMorrogh. Il wint to Chicago to see
him when the bid was in, and dye
think he would lave me talk 1t over
with him? Not him! Wan day he'd be
too busy; and the next I'd have to call
again. Twas good for him I was not
me brother Dan. Dan would've kicked
the dure in and trown him out av the
windy
The wan ghost of a smile fitted
across the impassive face of the big
man at the desk
Let me tell you something, Mac
Morrogh. If you. or your brother Dan.
ever find it necessary to GO after Ford.
don't give him notice by aattering
down doors. You won't, / know. But
about the contract: you haven't heard
from the executive committes?,