The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27
A Master Of Men

+ was pushing. or rather falling to
push. the old fashioned box pIow
through the crusted drifts on the
upttlte6 shoulder Of Plug mountain. 81
altitude 10000 feet. with the mercury
ct y below zero. There was q wind
the winter day above timber line with
out its wind is rare as a thawing
Christmas-an< II cut like knives
through any garmenting- lighter than
tur or leather The cab OF the 2os wes
old and weather shaken, and Ford
pulled the collar OF his buffalo coat
absEt his ears when the grunting of
the exhaust and the shriIIing of the
wheels on the snow shod rails stopped
abruptly.
'Gar-r-r.' snsrled Gallagher. the
red headed Irish engineer. shutting or
the steam in impotent rage. The
power is not in this dommed ould
camp kittle SEWN machine! IT'S hsav-
ems pity they wouldn't be givin' us
wan man sized. hghtin' lokimotive on
this ind OF the line, Mister Foord"
Ford, superintendent and general au-
tocrst OF the Plug mountain branch OF
the Pacific Southwestern. climbed down
tron his cramped seat on the freman's
box and stood scowling at the retract-
ing index OF the steam gauge. When
he was on his feet beside the little.
Irishmsn you saw that he was 8 young
man, well built, square shouIdered and
athletic under the mufling OF the
shspeless fur greatcoat: also that in
face was strong and manly and good
20 look upon.
Power" he retorted. That's only
one OF the hundred things they don't
give Us. Mike. Look at that steam
Esuge-freezing right where she
stands
~'Tis SO" assented Gallagher. shed
be dead and sthin IN tin minutes be
The clock II we'd lave her be in this
drift"
Ford motioned the engineer aside
end took the throttle himself L was
the third day out from Cherubusco, the
station at the foot OF the mountain;
snd n the eight and forty hours the
engine. plow and crew OF two shovelers
IL OF the Is bIockaded miles isoIating
Saints Rest, the mining camp end of
track IN the high basin at the head Of
the pass.
The throttle opened with g jerk under
the superintendent's hand. There was
snow choked drumming OF the exhaust
and the driving wheels spun wildly in
the furry beneath. But there was no
inch OF forward motion, and Ford gave
IL up.
We're against It" he admitted. Back
|. her down and Well put the shovelers
- II again while you're nursing her Up
and getting more steam. Were going
TO make Il 10 Saints Rest today II the
twO-six has 10 go in on three legs"
Gallagher pulled the reversing lever
into the back gear and sent the falling
steam whistling into the chilled cylin-
6ers with cautious little jerks at the
throttle The box plOW came out OF the
clutch OF its snow wise with shrillings
SIS OF q soul in torment, and the bucking
outfit screeched cOlCly down over Tie
snowy rails 10 the let up where the
shovelers' bOxcar had been uncOupled.
Ford swung of TO turn out the show
cling squad. and presently the labOrerS,
muf7ed 10 the eyes. Were fling past the
isgher was on the running board with
his fare torch thawing out an in
5ector. He marked the cheerful swing
OF the men and gave credit where it
was due.
"Tis fun grown man, that" he
commented, meaning Ford. "Mannys
the wan would be huggin' the warm
boiler head these times and shtickin'
his head out Of the windy to holler,
'G'wsn, boys; pitch IL out lively now.
and be dommed TO yezY But Misther
Foord amt built the like o that. He'll
be as deep IN that freezin' purgatory up
yander "a tn drift as the foremist wan
OF thin
The Irishman's praise was not unmer-
tied Whatever his faiIings, and he
groaned under his fair human share Of
them, Stuart Ford had theagift of lead
ership. Before he had been month
on the branch as its "old man" and
autocrat he had won the good will and
loyalty OF the rank and file. from the
Office men IN the headquarters to the
pick and shovel contingent on the sec
tions. Even the blockade breaking Ia
borers-temporary helpers as they We're
stood by him manfufiy IN the sus-
teined battle with the snow. Ford
spared them when he could. and they
knew t.
Warm it UP, boys." he called cheer
fly. climbing 10 the top OF the frozen
drift 70 direct the attack It's been a
long fight, but we're in sight OF home
now. Come UP here with your shovels
Olsen. and break II down from the top
It's the crust that plugs Mixes wedge"
He looked the fighting leader, stand
ing at the top Of the wind swept drift
and crying on his shoyelers. It was
the part he had chosen for himself in
the game OF life. and he quarreled
only when the stake was small as in
this present man killing struggle
with the snowdrifts. The Plug
mountain branch was the sore spot
IN the Pacific Southwestern system; the
bad investment at which the directors
shook their heads. and upon which the
management turned the coldest OF
shoulders. II barely paid its own oper-
ating expenses IN summer, and the
costly snow blockades in winter went
TO the wrong side Of the profit and
loss account.
This was why Ford had been schem-
ing and planning for a year and more
70 find e way OF escape: not for him.
self but for the discredited Plug Noun
tain line. II was proving a knotty