Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-03

didn't lie take you in the cart with himi
And where do I come in?"
You are implicated with me: that was
his word
Another mile passed in discomfortina
plungines. The trail had become all but
impossible for the staggering horses: yet
the. leading blackboard held on doggedly.
There were places where both drivers had
to get out and lead: bad bits whore all
save the president descended To walk. But
through the worst well the best,
Mr.. Colbrith chung Ia his seat like a man
determined To ride. II was well past noon
when the two vehicles reached the west
ern portal of tie canyon. and the dottings
OF the Copah mine workings came in sight
on the hllsides to the southwark. Fords
driver had fallen a little behind In the
final half mile. and when the gap was
closed UP the president was waiting
We'll. Mr.. Ford he began. somewhat
breathless but triumphant, ARE you fully
satisfied
II have learned nothing that did not
knew before we began to build the exten.
Sion" was the non-committal rejoinder.
'Oh. you haven't? You reported that
canyon impracticable for railroad. and
yet L have just driven through IT without
once dismountng from this blackboard.
Moreover. We shall find In Copah tomor-
row q resurvey of the line showing its en-
tire practicability. Mr.. Ford-a report not
made by your engineers"
Ford and FrisDie exchanged swift
glances of intelligence. The presence OF
the strange engineering party In the can
yon was sufficiently explained. AT FIRST
sight the presidents exped!ent seemed
chidishly puerile to Ford Then suddenly
in a flash of revealment he saw beyond
| the puerilities-beyond the stubborn old
man who. with all his narrow self-wiii
and obstinacy. was merely playing the
game for others.
I'VE can discuss these matters later.
| If you WISH" he said, placably. Il think
| you will find our ground well taken. 10
| you want to drive back We came? or
| will you let me find you an easier road
| to the mouth of Horse creek"
| But Mr.. Colbrith was not to be baked
or turned aside.
"Mr. Ford I wish to be fair and i'm
partial. j desired to satisfy myself. per
| sCnally. that this route have driven
| over is practicable. and il was also my
| desire that the investigation should be
| conducted I'm your presence. You VIII ad-
NIT now that you made "A mistake--a very
costly mistake for the compaiy-in aban-
dOning this short cut"
Il admit nothing OF the kind The
difficulties remain as they were, quite UNI
changed by our pleasure trip from tho
end of track. Mr.. Colbrith. Assuming
| that the resurvey will report that the
north bank of the river is practicable.
| while the south bank is not. have Only
| to say that the cost OF the two bridges
| would Offset the easier grading conditions.
while the danger to future traffic would
remain the same. But that is neither
here nor there. You must either give us
credit for knowing our business. or you
| must discredit us entirely.
Frisbie was grinding his heel into the
| hard soil of the mesa. The argument
was growing rather acrid. and Penfield
and the two drivers were interested lis
teners 1t was high time for diversion
| to be made. and the assistant made H.
I'VE have used five hours getting down
| here and we'll need as many going back,
he put in. Unless there is something
more to be done on the spot; think wed
| better take the road over the hills. It's
| with you. Mr.. Colbrith."
| The president signified his assent by
| climbing into his blackboard. and the re-
sineers in the lead for pathfinding pur-
poses. Once safely out OF earshot, trispie
voiced his disgust.
"A wild goose chase, pure and simple!
Stuart. that old man Is in his second
| childhood"
Not at ALL" said Ford. He is merely
following out North's suggestions. Dick.
nv name Is Dennis.
Nonsense. Things are no worse than
| they have been all along"
| NV time with the Pacific Southwest
| ern is shorter by just the number OF
hours it has taken US TO drive down here;
Mr. Colbrith has convinced himself that
was wrong i'm abandoning the canyon. To-
| morrow ne will convince himself that I
was doubly wrong i'm approving the de-
tour. I shall hand I'm my resignation to-
! night.
$50 be it," said Frisbie. shortly. THAT
means goodbye TO the extension. L m
! predicting that il will never get to Green
/ Butte-never get beyond Copah. And your
| name will go out to the railroad world
as that of a man who bit off a number OF
large things that he couldn't chew
''ConfCund YOU said Ford; and after
that Frsbe could get no more t!ian
| single syllab led replies TO his monologue
| of jobs comfortings.
! The returning route was a detour wind
/ ing thrCu the greater part OF 1t. amonS
and over the swelling heights north "i
the Pannikin. On each hilltop the vast
sweep of the inter-mountain wilderness
came into view. and from the highest
/ point i'm the trail. reached when the sun
was dipping toward the western horiZt n
| the eye-sweep took in the broken country
/ living between the Pam kin and the path
| of the Transcontinental narrow gauge
! forty miles away.
! ITO be continued tomorrow