Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-02-13
CHAPTER IN.


Alfred Promises Allegiance.
Alfred studied Gov. Stanford's face
keenly while the latter re-read Mr..
Huntington's letter.
It said In part: For three years
have closely observed this young man
and found him, I believe, peculiarly
adapted to business of delicate ma.
ture. for which We shall have growing
need. He is older than he looks and
wiser than his age. His character
does not altogether show In his face.
ana few would suspect such q slender
youth of his capacity for the affairs.
you may require of him."
Alfred was gratified at what he saw
IN the governors eyes as he looked up
from the letter. -:
young man, because of Mr.. Hunt
ington's strong letter we're going to
trust you beyond your years. 1t will
be varied and difficult task. Do you
think you will be equal to it,"
"All that can do, sir, is to promise
my best effort and ask you to try me-"
Can you take hectoring good ma
turedly?" asked Mr.. Croker. "You
cant go far on such shape as you
have out west here; there's too much
Harvard college and ballroom in it."
The governor spoke at once. Il be-
lieve Vincent will safely weather re-
marks concerning his shape; he'll be
in cities most of the time, anyway"
TITS not nice work we're putting
you to, Vincent" he continued. You'll
have to meet craft with craft, scheme
with scheme. And some OF Cad
wallader's schemes - they're the
schemes of the men behind him, yet
they don't sweeten in his hands-are
far from savory. But we'll not ask
you to do anything for US that's less
than honest"
That's only safe, sir. You'd hardly
trust me If accepted other terms"
Here's our cipher. Use it az
sparingly al possible. No man can
make a cipher some other man can't
read"
unless he changes it, often
enough" Alfred added instantly. g.
The governor smiled and turned to
the superintendent. II guess he'll do,
Croker" His face relaxed, and Al
fred caught glimpse of the genial,
hearty citizen who won men to his
enterprises through his faith-faith in
both enterprises and men.
your first business will be to learn
more of the railroad. I'll ask our sec.
rotary, Mr.. Miller, to let you have i'm
mediate access to the records. You'd
better take run over the road. That
will speak louder in a day than any
other record could in year. AS
soon as possible you'll go to San
Francisco, get in touch with the Nc
Lane crowd, McCopptn and our other
enemies there and learn what you can
of their plans against US. He glanced
at the superintendent. How can we
wedge him in there the quickest,
Crocker? It won't do for me to in
troduce him." IS, SIS
Il can fix that. The situations
right in my hand, and no smack Of
railroad IN It., either. Ill send him to
Harmon. No one knows that he's to
work for US as soon as his term on
the bench expires. Mrs. Harmonic
the queen bee in society down there.
She'll land the young man where We
want him, first fling"
Good enough. But We cant allow
you much time in San Francisco, Win.
cent. You must work fast, NOV %
wide swath as you need don't mind
the dollars, be the Boston aristocrat
and get throqghsin time TO cut in at
Carson City. There's legislation
pending in the third house }of that
baby legislature over there that we
need to know about. 2
Some further instructions ensued
and the conference ended. And Alfred
wAa 0SHHs, ~,