Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-22


served. But Adair was given To under
stand. indirectly. that on an equal foot
ing our line would be given the prefer
ence a friendly ally"
Bully for tLe Mormons, But you say
Copah-ths summer. When we reach CO.
pah we are still one hundred and forty
miles short OF Green Butte. And II you
can broaden the Plug Mountain in three
weeks-which you'll still allow me to
doubt-the Transcontinental ought to be
able To broaden It's Green Butte narrow
gauge in three months
IF YOU had cross sectioned both lines
as I have you wouldn't stumble over
that" said Ford falling back. he COM
monty did. upon the things he knew. We
shall broaden the Plug Mountain without
strengthening a curve or throwing
shovelful of earth on the embankment.
from beginning to end. On the other
hand. the Green Butte narrow gauge runs
for seventy miles through the crookedest
CANYON a Rocky mountain river ever got
lost in There is more heavy rock work
to he done in that canyon than on our en-
tire Pannikin division from start TO fin
ish.'
That's bully for us" quoth the first
assistant But. all the same. we
shouldn't stop at Copah this fall.
I'VE shall not stop at Copah. was the
decisive rejoinder The winters on the
western side of tie range are much
milder than they are here. and not to be
spoken OF in the same day with your
If we can get well out of the mountains
before the heavy SHOWS come
F'rsbie wagged his head.
Il guess I've got it all now-after so
long time. We merely break the record
for fast railroad building-all the records
for the next six months or Is that
about il p?
You've surrounded it," said Ford,
tersely.
Good enough; we're ready to make the
break when you give the word What are
we waiting for?"
Just at this present moment. for the
contractors"
why. i understood You had closed
with the MacMorrogh Brothers, said
Frsbie
mo. At the last moment-to relieve me
of responsibility which might give rise
to charges of favoritism. as he put it
Mr.. Colbrith took the bids out of my
hands and carried the decision up to the
executive committee. Hence. we wait
and keep 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.. Col
BIRTH, he is simply a senile frost,
Frisbie chuckled
Been cooling your fingers, has he? But
understood from headquarters people
down town that the MacMorroghS 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 good while: they
1t out of the company and out of their
labor in a thousand petty little steals
three profits on the commissary, piece
work for subs where they know a mans
got to lose out, steals on the working
hours. fines and drawbacks and discounts
on the pay rolls, and all that. You know
how it's done
Sure" agreed Frisbie. with his most
ia oha1io
keeps the engineering department on the
hottest borders of hades. trying to hold
them down. The good Lord deliver us"'
81 wanted to throw their bid out without
Mr.. Colbrith said No adding 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 department."
Ford shook his head. mot openly. at
least. North was down to meet my train
when l came in last night, and you would
never have suspected that / left Denver
six weeks ago without his blessing. And
now I'm reminded. l have a luncheon
appointment with him at twelve. and a
lot of letters to dictate before l can keep
it. Go down and do your wiring 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 stenographers
for a helper that a thick-set. bull-necked
man. with lrish-blue eyes and face two
thirds hidden in a curly tangle of IRON
gray beard, stubbed through the corridor
on the Pacific Southwestern floor of the
Guaranty building. and let himself eau
tiously into the general managers outer
office. The private secretary. a fault
lesSly groomed young fellow with a sug
gestion of the Latin races in his features,
looked up and nodded.
How are you. Mr.. Marlborough? he
said, and without waiting for a reply.
Go on in. Mr.. North is expecting you"
The burly one returned the nod and
passed on to the inner room. The gen.
eral manager, sallow, heavyvisaged
man. who might have passed in a plat
form gathering for a retired manufac-
turer or a senator from the middle west.
swung in his pivot chair TO welcome the
incomer.
Glad to see you. Marlborough. Sit
down: What's the news from New
York;"
The contractor found a chair. drew II
close to the general managers desk and
filled il.
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 piratical beard.
"Ford's fighting us with his tishtes.'
'Why?" asked the general manager.
holding his chin in his hand-a gesture
known the entire length of the Pacific
Southwestern as a signal of trouble brew
ing for somebody.
God knows then, l don't" said the
Marlborough. II whit to Chicago to see
him when the bid was In. and dye think
he would lave me talk ii 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
t'rown him out av the windy
The wan ghost of a smile fitted across
the impressive face of the big man at the
desk.
Let me tell you something, MacMor-
rogh. If you or your brother Dan ever
find il necessary to go after Ford, don't
give him notice by battering down doors.
You won't, | know. But about the con-
tract; you haven't heard from the execu-
tive cOmmittee?'
Not the half of wan wor-rd."
Have you any idea of what is causing
the delay?'
Its dommed well I know. Misther
North. FORD is keeping the wires hot
BIRTH here with you for wan five min
utes-"
The general manager broke In, follow
ing his own line of thought.
Ford is in Denver; he came in from
Chicago last night Why don't you go up
to the Brown and have it out with him?'
Fight il out, dye mean?"
Certainly not. Make friends with
him.
The contractor sat back in his chair
and plunged his Stubby hands deem into