The San Francisco call., 1908-11-22
CHAPTER xvI1I-oontinued.

NAEIl II MS WlAE N-AclAA NA+NA ~--N
young engineer let himself into
the boxlike compartment, and his
voice was at its thinnest when he said
BE seated, nv Ford"
Ford sat down on the divan couch.
and the president plunged at once into
business.
some time ago you advised me, as
chairman Of the executive committee.
that You had decided upon a change
Of route, Mr. Ford" he began rasp-
ingly. What were your reasons for
making the changer"
II stated them in my letter of ad-
vice" said Ford; economy in con
etruction and greater safety in oper-
ating. as against a slight increase in
the length Of the line"
Twelve miles. believe you said;
that Is a very considerable increase,
1 should say. The great eastern COM
panies are spending millions Of dol
lars. 8Ir Ford. to shorten their lines
by half mile cut offs"
Ford had his reply ready.
The conditions are entirely differ
ert It viii be many years before a
fast through servi e is either prac-
ticable or profitable over the exten-
sion: and when it comes to that we
shall stiIl have the short line from
Denver 10 Green Butte by - miles.
But explained all this at the time,
Mr.. Colbrith. and 1 understood that
had the executive committees ap-
proval OF the changed route"
"Qualifedly. Mr.. Ford; only quail
hedly. Yet you have gone ahead in
your usual impetuous way, abandon
ing the short line through the canyon
and building the detour. Your motive
for haste must have been a very strong
one-very strong"
1T was. am not here to kill time"
So It appears But 7 am here Mr.
Ford. to consider carefully and to in
vesngate. We shall go first over this
route you have abandoned. wish to
see for myself the difficulties you have
so painstakingl described"
Ford shrugged.
I'm quite at your service, Of course
But you viii find it a hard trip. In
deed, II we drive, we shall have tc
cross the river and take the other side
The canyon on this side is impossible
in places for a man on foot"
Il provided for that" said the presi-
dent. letting his ferrety eyes rest fol-
moment upon the reluctant one
you viii find two buckboards with
their drivers at the MacMorrogh head
quarters. Be good enough to order
them around and we'll start at once
No; no protests. Mr.. Ford. Ny re-
sponsibrities are not TO be shirked
Penfeld will drive with me, and you
may take Mr.. Frisbie with you, Il
you see fit. I understand he is impli-
Gated with you in this matter"
Ford bridled angrily at the word.
There is no Implication about it
Mr.. Colbrith. You continually refel
TO 1t as II it were a crime"
"Ah. the word is yours. MT. Ford
We shall see-we shall see. That Il
all. for the present"
Ford was raging when he founC
Frisbie and gave the order for th'
vehicles
He turned me out OF his office state
room as If had been a messenger bo,
or tramp, Get those teams out, Dick
and give me a chance TO cool down. I
my Job is to last through this day
Frisbie laughed. Go and dip you
- a. ~, r.-,s1~f~ xrl,f1a -yo,, ~rost
or. better still, chew on this. It's /;
cipher message that Durgin has jus
been sending for Penheld to Vice Pres
ident North Wouldn't that make yo'
weep and howl?"
Ford was still puzzling over tn
meaningless code words when he tool
his seat IN the second Of the two buck
boards with Frisbie. The first assist
ant waited until the horses ha,
splashed through the shadows Of tn
river crossing; waited further until tn
presidents vehicle had gained q littl
start Then he said: rs It possibl
that you had Penfeld for a spy on yol
rs long as you did without working
out OF his cipher code Good Lordl
got that down before I did anything
else-last spring when you left me t
run the Plug Mountain. Here's wha
he says 70 North"-taking the cod
message and translating: Ford sus
poets something. Don't know HOY
much. He and Miss Adair ar
putting their heads together. Sh
has authority Of some kin
from her brother. President goes wit
Ford to examine abandoned route. a
arranged. VIII wire result later"
80 As arranged" was Ford's wrath
~fuI comment. Apparently everything
IS arranged for US. Some day. Dick
I'll lose my temper. tie Penheld IN
hard knot and throw him into tn
river It's like q chapter out Of Lucre
tia Borgiar"
CHAPTER XIX
The Reluctant Wheels