Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-18

gone out in the explanatory interval, and
was blowing smoke rings toward the cell
ing.
Il may be the biggest ass this side of
the Jack trails, and the most conceited
Kenneth. but you're over on my side of
the ring when you talk about the me-
chanical obstacles What I'm worrying
about now Is the fact that can't do two
things at once. The options must be Sc
cured before we can make the fifth part
of move In the other field, and the Lord
only knows how long that will take. To
hurry is to lose out"
The lawyer nodded. "And not to hurry
is to lose out, too he qualified. Then he
smoked in thoughtful silence for five full
minutes before he said. abruptly: "Gve
me your list Of stockholders and turn the
option business over to the legal depart
ment. where 1t properly belongs. That
will leave you foot loose to go after the
mechanical matter. How does that suit
your
Ford sprang to his feet
by Jove. Kenneth. you're a man and
brother; I'm not forgetting that you
are taking this entire fairy tale on my
personal say so, and l shan't forget It,
either. It's what / wanted to ashland
was afraid to ask. after l got you safely
jailed up here"
The attorneys smile was grim but
friendly.
I'm not forgetting how you took a sick
man over into the Pannikn wilderness on
two months hunting trip last fall and
made we'll man of him, Ford" he said
ANY man who can shoot as straight as
you do wouldn't be sitting here telling
me lies about a trifling little matter in
volving the expenditure of beggarly
thirty-tive millions. But to come down TO
earth again; you haven't shifted any con-
siderable part of the burden. you know
l can do this bit Of routine work, but the
main thing is up to you, just as it was
before l said yes
Ford rose. stretching himself like a man
who has just been relieved of a burden
whose true weight was appreciable only
in its lifting.
II know" ne said cheerfully 1T has
been up to me all along. In the morning
We'll go around to the Algonquin National
and I'll put you into the financial saddle.
Then I'll get out on the line. and by the
time you have the stock corralled We'll be
II not passengers-from Denver to Chi
caso. Oh, / know what I am talking
about. he added, when the general coun-
sci smiled his incredulisy. This is no af-
fair of yesterday with me. ] have every
mile of these three short roads mapped
and cross sectioned: l have copies of all
their terminal and junction-point con-
tracts / know exactly what we can do
and what we can't do
The lawyers comment was frankly
praiseful. not to say hattering.
You're wonder. Portland that's no
figure of speech. How on earth did you
manage to do it all at such long ranger"
Fords smile was reminiscent Of the OBJ
Stacles.
1T would take me all night to tell you
in detail Kenneth. But did it. It's no
mere brag to say that I could walk into
the Chicago. Peoria and Davenport gen.
organize a through service over the P.
S.W. and the three stub lines within
twenty-four hours If had to-.
We'll. that part of it is far enough
beyond me-" said the attorney. The
stock chasing is more in my line. / hope
we can keep quiet enough about 1t so that
the opposition won't guess what we are
trying to do. You're sure it won't he
given away from the New York end?"
1t was the engineers turn to shake his
head and to look dubious.
Now you are shouting, Kenneth. I
can't tell anything about it. You'll re-
member that when l left New York the
board had turned the plan down, defin-
should say that our only safety lies in
lightning speed. When you get the OPP
tons on those controlling stock major
tiles snugly On deposit in the Algonquin
breath. Isn't that about the way it
strikes your
ut is. precisely" agreed the general
counsel. rising and finding his hat. 'And
OcCduSc IL uOcs StElhc TIE way, j
think I'll go down and do a little tele-
graphing tonight"
Hold on a minute" said Ford. land
I'll give you message to take down, if
you don't mind l must answer Adair.
and ii won't do any harm to prod him a
little on the secresy side
Kenneth waited. with his hand on the
door knob as it CHANGED. Hence the
opening of the door minute or two later
was quite without any preliminary stir of
warning in the room of conference. That