Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

Trying 10 uOlu JueIu uOWi.. lie SOou
Lord deliver 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 highly Of
them
'Ah; the fine Italian hand of MI.
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. "Not 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 re-
; minded. I have luncheon appoint
ment with him at twelve, and a lot
| Of letters to dictate before I 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"
It was while Ford was working on
his mail. with one of the hotel stem
ographers for a helper. that thick
. set, bullnecked man with Irish blue
eyes and face two-thiEds hidden in
1 a curly tangle Of iron-gray beard,
stubbed through the corridor on the
Pacific Southwestern floor of the
1 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, Mi. Morrogh?" he
said; and without waiting for re-
ply: go on in. Mr.. North is ex-
! pecting YOU
1 The burly one returned the nod and
passed on to the inner room. The
general manager, a sallow, heavy
I visaged man who might have passed
in platform gathering for retired
manufacturer 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; " 3,S ts'si.5
The contractor found a chair, drew
it close to the general managers
desk, and filed it.
I'm thinking you'll know more
about that than I will, Misthel
North" he replied, in voice thai
accorded perfectly with the burlJ
figure and piratical beard. Ford:
fighting US with his fishtes."
: "Why?" asked the general man
ager, holding his chin in his hand
a gesture known the entire length o
( the Pacific Southwestern as a sigma
| of trouble brewing, for somebody.
: God knows, then; don't salt
l; the MacMorrogh. Il wint to Chi
r cago to see him when the bid was in
/ and dye think he would lave me tall
> it over with him? Not him! Wal
day he'd be too busy; and the next
> I'd have to call again. Twas goot
for him was not me brother Dan
? Dan would've kicked the dure in ant
: trown him out av the windy
: The wan ghost of a smile flitte,
E across the impressive face of the bill
| man at the desk.
Let me tell you something, Mac
? Morrogh. II you, or your brother Oar
b ever find it necessary to go after Ford
Z: don't give him notice by batterin
n down doors. You won't know. Bu
d about the contract: you haven't hear
Y from the executive committee"
l. mot the half of wan wor-rd''
o Have yon any idea Of what
t, causing the delay?"
s "'Tis dommed we'll know. Misthe
e North. Ford is keeping the wires he
Y against us. II 1 could have Misthe
Colbrith here with you for wan fiv
S minutes"
" The general manager broke in, TO
t. lowing mis- own line Of thought.
s Ford is IN Denver: he came