Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20

occasion he will change his plans and
go back to New York with u.s." said
Adair. CURLY.
Good" said Ford. approvingly. "And
how about opening the new through line
for business? Do we go on? Or do we
hang 1t up until we find out where we are
'at'?"
Don't hold 1t up single minute. Drive
it for all the power you can get behind 1t.
If we have to collide with things, let's do
it with the throttle wide open. Now find
me that shorthand person quickly, will
you?'
BY what means the president was per-
suaded or coerced into doing the thing he
had not planned to do. Ford was not to
know. But for that matter. after carry
ing out Adairs instructions the engineer
plunged at once into his own herculean
task of reorganization, emerging only
when he made tardy sixth at the pres-
dents dinner table in the hotel cafe in the
evening.
The dinner. which the young engineer
had been fondly counting upon as a mo-
mentary relaxation from the heart-break-
ing business strain. was dismale fall
ure on it's social side. President Colbrith.
as yet, it appeared. in blissful ignorance
of the latest news from New York. had
reserved the seat Of honor for his new
assis ant. and the half hour was filled to
overf1owing with minute and cautionary
definitions Of the assistants powers and
duties.
Ford listened with blank ear on that
side There was work to do and one man
to do 1t. He did not care particularly 10
hear instructions which he would prob
ably have to disregard at the first ex-
perimental dash into the new field. He
meant to hold himself rigidly to account
for results: more than this he thought
not even Mr.. Colbrith had right to re-
quire.
After dinner he Unidentified himself for
the kindergarten lecture by boldly taking
possession of Miss Adair for the short
walk over to the private car. The entire
world of work was still ahead, and a
corps Of expert stenographers was at the
moment awaiting his return to the c.. P.
and D. offices, where he had established
temporary headquarters; but he shut the
door upon the exigencies and listened to
Miss Alicia.
Il am so sorry we are not going to be
here TO see your triumph" she was say
ing. adding, 1T is a triumph isn't it?''
Only beginning he amended. "And
1t won't be spectacular, II we can help it.
Besides. this east-end affair Is only a pre-
limnary. A little later on. If our tackle
doesn't break, we shall land the really
big fish for which this is only the bait
Shall you never be satisfied" she
asked. jestingly. And then. more serious
ly: What is your ambition? To be able
to buy what your neighbor cannot af-
Big money. you mean? No. I think
not But I like to win. as well as other
men"
ITO win what?"
Whatever seems worth winning-this
fight. in the present instance. and the
consequent larger field. Later. enough
money to enable me to think OF money
only as a stepping stone to better things.
Later still. perhaps"
He stopped abruptly. as though willing
to leave the third desideratum in the air,
but she would not let him.
Go on she said. Last Of all?"
Last of all, the love of true woman"
oh" she scoffed with a little uptilt
Of the admirable chin. Then love must
come trailing along at the very end, after
we have SKINNED the cream from all the
other milk pans in orderly succession
No" he rejoined, grave1y. II put 1t
clumsily-as / snatch purses. AS mat
ter of sober fact, love sets the milestones
along any human road that is worth
traversing."
She glanced up at him and the blue
eyes were dancing. Miss Alicia Adair
knew no joy to compare with that Of
fates gave her such pliable subject.
Tell me. Mr.. Ford. Isis she pretty?"
"She Is beautiful: the most beautiful
woman in the world. Miss Adair.'
paragon of all the virtues?-an angel
without the extremely inconvenient
wings?"
You have said 1t. and 1 have never
doubted 1t from the moment I first laid
eyes on her."
Better and better" she murmured
Then: "She has money!
II suppose she has; yes. she certainly
has money. But that doesn't make any
difference-to her or to me-"
1T is simply idyllic!" was the ecstatic
comment after all this there remains
but one other possible contingency. Has
she willing mind. MIR. Ford?'
They had reached the steps Of the