Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-02

rest and let you overtake me now and
then. you know"
The conductor tweaked the air cord and
the train moved on again.
I've been expecting you'd shout al us
he said. good naturedly. But were do
ing the best We can. There's a freight
wreck on ahead. and we've been dallyng
along. hoping they'd get IL picked up by
the time We reach il. l thought you'd
rather keep moving than to be hung up
for three or four hours at the wreck.
Adair saw his helplessness and made
the best of ii. He was in Mr.. North's
hands. and IL Mr.. North was playing for
delay. the delay would be forthcoming.
None the less. he contrived to make Bar
clay uncomfortable.
I'm only a director I'm the Pacific
Southwestern. and I suppose directors
don't count. he said. nonchalantly. Yet,
presume. If / should ask il personal
favor. 1 might get conductors or an
engineers head to take home with me for
a souvenir. How would that be? Do
you think | could make II VIM"
You could do it. hands down. Mr.
Adair. But 1 hope you won't feel as IL
you'd got to go into the head-huntng
business. It's like the boy throwing
stones into the pond: it's fun for the Kid
but sort o hard on the toad frogs
Adair laughed. He was not one of those
who find it easy to bear malice.
You don't talk half as had as you act
he said. genially. Down at bottom I
n
fellow. Had anything to eat?"
Barclay shook his head. NO: We was
laying off TO get coffee and sinkers at
Clamps Mine. if We ever get there"
Coffee and sinkers.' said Adair.
THAT doesn't sound very uplifting. Sit
down here and help me out with my con-
tract
Barclay did it, rather unwillingly. He
was not accustomed to eating at he vice
presidents table. but there was no resist
ing the curly headed young man when he
chose to make himself companionable.
Barclay sat on the edge of his chair. ate
with his knife or fork indirerently. and
bad small use for the extra spoons and
cutlery. But he made a meal to be re-
membered. Afterward the young man
found cigar case and his own box of
Turkish cigarettes. and still the special
was going at the same slow COW gallop
up the canyon.
How many are there OF you up
ahead?" asked Adair, when Barclays
cigar was going like factory chimney.
Only Williams and his fireman"
Dinner buckets?'
mo: neither Of 'em. as It happens.
Hurry call to go out with you. and both
of ,em live too far to go home after the
grub cans
johnson" said the dispenser of hos
pitality calling the second man. Think
you could climb over the coal with some
dinner for the enginemen? No? Let me
make 1t possible"-fipping a dollar into
-
order and il he stints it there'll be conse-
quenceS.'
Barclay grinned his appreciation. The
curly headed young man was far enough
removed from any species of railway Off
ciaf hitherto known to the conductor. But
Adair was only paving the way.
do you know he said. after a little
interval of tobacco-charmed silence. lone
a real railroad wreck. Suppose you
quicken up a little and let US have our
dead time at the scene of this disaster
you speak Of"
Barclay was fitting uneasily in his chair:
II reckon they've about got 1t picked
up and cleaned out o the way by this
time. Mr.. Adair. I shouldn't be surprised
II we could hardly find the place when
we get there"
Nor l." said Adair. and he sat back
and chuckled. Its considerably difficult
to sit up and pull your Imagination on a
man who has been decently good to you.
isn't it. Barclay? Let me ask you: Are
you Mr.. North's MANI"
MIR. North is the big boss"
But this Plug Mountain division is
part Of Mr. Ford's line. isn't it?"
1T used to be all his. There's a white
man for you, Mr. Adair.'
Adair saw his opportunity and used it,
Now see here. Barclay, I'm only a d.
rector. and don't cut much ice out this
way. But back In New York I'm one of
three or four people who can tell Mr..
North what he can do and what he can't.
You wouldn't want to see Mr.. Ford get
ting 1t in the neck. would your"
by Jacks! There amt a man in the
service that wouldn't fight for him. I tell
well. Mr.. Ford is in trouble; I don't
know but he is likely to lose his job. IL
don't see the president before the big ak
comes down. That is between US two
by gravy. Why didn't you say that at
first? Say. Mr. Adair. you stand be-
tween us and Mr.. North-tell him you
gave the orders yourself-and you'll have
the ride of your life from here to Saints
Rest!''
Go it," said Adair: and two minutes
after Barclay had let himself out of the
forward door Of the ''01'' the train took a
sudden start and darted ahead at full
speed.
This bit of diplomacy on the part of
Adair saved two full hours in the run to
Saints Rest Nevertheless. IT was after
dark when the '01'' pulled into the
crowded material yard in the high noun
tain basin and Leckhard came aboard To
find out hat had brought this second
private-car visitation. He was relieved
not to meet North-to be confronted only
by a pleasant-faced young man, who
seemed to have the car all to himself.
my name is Leckhard." announced the
man-of- all-work. land / represent the en-
cheering department. 1 saw IL was Mr.
NOrth's car. and
do for the vice president and general
manager" Adair finished for him.
Mighty sorry to disappoint you, Mr.
Leckhard but my name isn't North; it's
Adair and I'm only a director. How
much authority is a director allowed-at
this altitude and distance from New
York;"
Leckhard laughed.
IL reckon you might call yourself the
ranking officer in the field, Mr. Adair
What YOU say. goes
Then 1 say go, which means that I'd
like to go-on to the end of the extern
SION
But now the engineer was shaking his
head.
ASK me anything but that. Mr.. Adair
None of our enginemen is at this end of
the line. and your man Williams. who
brought you up from Denver. doesn't
know the way. More than that, IL we
had a man and an engine. I'd be afraid
to send you out for a night run. Mr..
Ford made 1t last night with Mr.. Col
BIRTHS car and they used up ten hours in
covering less than hundred and twenty
miles. and came within six feet of killing
everybody"
Adair had lighted cigarette. and he
did not reply until the match flare had
gone out. Then he said. in a way that
made Leckhard his friend for life:
I'm entirely in your hands. Mr.. Leck-
hard: can't turn a wheel unless you say
so. And / believe you're telling me the
truth. as man to man. Can you reach
Ford or Mr.. Colbrith by wire?''
I'm sorry to say l can't. We have
only the one wire and it's on temporary
t. Afaxurra