The San Francisco call., 1908-11-22

Adair saved two full hours In the run
to Saints Rest Nevertheless, it was
after dark when the "01" pulled into
the crowded material ward In the high
mountain basin and Leckhard came
aboard to find out what had brought
this second private car visitation. He
was relieved not to meet North--to be
confronted only by a pleasant faced
young man who seemed to have the
car all to himself.
My name is Leckhard," announced
the man of all work, 'and 1 represent
the engineering department. 1 saw 1t
was Mr.. North's car. and
and you came to see what you could
do for the vice president and general
manager" Adair finished for him.
Mighty sorry to disappoint you, Mr.
Leckhard, but my name isn't North; it's
Adair, and I'm only director. How
much authority Is a director allowed
at this altitude and distance from New
York;
Leckhard laughed.
II reckon you might call yourself the
ranking officer in the field, Mr.. Adair.
What you say goes"
Then / say CO. which means that
Ia like to go--on to the end of the ex-
tension"
But now the engineer was shaking
his head.
ASK me anything but that. Mr..
Adair. None of our enginemen is at this
end Of the line, and your man Williams,
who brought you up from Denver,
doesn't know the way. More than that
If we had a man and an engine I'd be
afraid to send you out for a night run
Mr.. Ford made 1t last night with Mr.
Colbrith's car and they used up 10
hours In covering less than a hundred
ox,l %xr-o tn
feet of killing everybody"
Adafr had lighted a cigarette and
he did not reply until the match flare
had gone out. Then he said, in a way
that made Leckhard his friend for life.
I'm entirely in your hands Mr.
Leckhard; can't turn a wheel unless
you say so. And I believe you're tell
ing me the truth, as man to man. Can
you reach Ford or Mr.. Colbrith by
wire?'
I'm sorry to say I can't. We have
only the one wire, and It's on tenn
porary poles most of the way 1t broke
down on us this morning and 1 cant
raise the end of track"
Block No. g." said Adair, cheerfully
I'VE seem to be out of luck this even
ing." Then, with searching abrupt
ness, DO you call yourself Ford's
friend, Mr.. Leckhard?"
ItdlIleT, SdlQ Tie SdluI ReSt Pooh
Bah, "Ie hired me; and when he goes
1 60"
"Ah. now we are warming ourselves
at the same fire. Let me invite you1
confidence in one word, Mr. Leckhard
dislike Mr.. North
The burly engineer laughed again.
You have a geniusful way of puttine
your finger on the sore spot without
fumbling. We all dislike Mr.. North al
this end of things-with reason"
And that reason is?"
'That he'd fire the entire engineering g
department If he could find half an ex.
cuse. I'm afraid he's going to do 1t
too, in the most effectual way-b,
forcing Mr. Ford out. If Ford goes
every man in the department will quit
with him. I'm afraid it's coming tt
that
johnson, the porter, had lighted the
Pintsch globes and was laying The
covers for dinner.
Make 1t two, Johnson" said Adair
and then to Leckhard: You dine will
me - don't say no; couldn'r
stand it alone" And when that poin
was settled: Now sit down till w,
thresh this out bit finer. How IA
has this forcing business gone? Your.
talking to the man who has backed
Ford from the first
1T has gone pretty far. North ha,