The Washington herald., 1908-03-14
By WILLIAM lie QUEUX.

danger where there is none. What could
Max prove after all? No, When / re-
turn to London I'll so and face him. The
reason l didn't go 10 Servia is proved by
Statham himself. OF excuses I'm never
at loss. It's an awkward position, ]
admit, but I must wriggle out OF II. as
I've wriggled before. Stathams peril
seems to me even greater than my own.
and, moreover. he asks me TO do some
thing that Is impossible He doesn't know
he never dreams the truth; and what
more, he must never know. Otherwise
II must"
And instinctively his hand passed over
his hip-pocket, where reposed the handy
plated revolver which he always carried
Presently he found himself again In
| front of the Central Station Hotel and
entering, spent an hour full Of anxious
reflection prior 20 turning in. II any had
seen him in the silence of that hotel
room they would have at once declared
him 10 be a man with a secret, as in
deed he was
Next morning he rose pale and haggard.
surprised at himself when ne looked at
the mirror: but when. at II O'Clock. he
took his seat in the directors Office al
the great Clyde & Motherwel LocOmo-
tive Works his face had undergone an
entire change. He was the calm. keen
business man who, as secretary and
agent Of the great Samuel Statham, had
power 10 deal with the huge financial in
] terests involved
The firm had a large contract for build
ing express locomotives for the italian
railways lately taken over by the state
and the first business was 10. interview
the manager and submanager, together
with the two engineers sent from Italy
regarding some details Of extra cost OF
construction
The work Of the Clyde & NIotherwell
Company Was always excellent. They
turned out locomotives which could well
bear comparison with any Of the North
westerns, Great Northern. or Nord OF
France. both as 10 finish. power. speed
and smoOthness of running Indeed, to
railways in every part Of the world from
Narvik. within the arctic circle. to New
Zealand Clyde & MOtherwell engines
were running with satisfaction. thanks
to the splendid designs Of the chief en-
gineer, Duncan MacgregOr. the white
bearded old Scot. who at that momen,
was seated with Statham's representative
The conference between The engineers
of the Italian ferrovia and the managers
was over, and old Macgregor. who had
I been engineer Tor years 20 Cowan &
| Drummond who owned the works before
| Statham had extended them and turned
them into the huge Clyde & MOtherwell
works. still remained.
He was a broad-speaking Highlander
native Of Killin- on Loeb Tay, whose
/ services had long ago been coveted by
I the London and Northwestern Railway
( Company. on account of his constant i'm
provements IN express engines, but who
always refused, even though offered a
/ larger salary. TO go across the border anc
/ forsake the firm to whom. forty years
/ ago. he had been apprenticed by his
/ father, a small farmer.
! As Scotsman he believed in Glasgow
/ j; was. in his opinion, the only place
where could be built locomotives thai
would stand the wear and tear Of a for
! eign or colonial line. An engine that was
/ cleaned and looked after like a watch. as
/ they were on the English or Scotch main
| lines was easily turned out he was fond
/ OF saying: but when IT became a question
OF hauling power, combined with speed
and strength TO Withstand hard wear and
neglect, it was very different matter.
] Managers and submanagers. secretaries
! and accountants there might be, gentle
men who wore black coats and went out
/ 10 dine in evening clothes, but the actua
man at the head of affairs at those great
/ works was Duncan Macgregor-the short
/ thick-set man in a shabby suit OF gray
I tweed who sat there closeted with ROlfe
You wrote 10 London asking to see
me. Macgregor,' exclaimed the younc
man. We're always pleased TO hear
| any suggestions you've got 10 make,
! assure you" said Charlie. pleasantly
/ Have a cigarette?'' and he pushed the
/ big box over to the man who sat on the
other side Of the table.
/ Thank We. no. Mr. Rolfe. sir. Tn
/ BETTE wanting IT," replied MGcgregor. ir
/ his broad tongue. And then, with a pre-
liminary cough, he said II want very
/ badly TO speak with Mr.. Statham."
Whatever you say TO me, Macgregor
/ I viii tell him"
Il want TO speak to him ma'sel'"
I'm afraid that's impossible. He sees
/ nobody-except once week in the city
and then only for two hours
E wouldn see me-eh2" asked the
; man, whose designs had brought the firm
I to the forefront in the trade.
I fear il would be impossible. Yo,
would go 10 London for nothing. I'm hi.
private secretary, you know; and any,
thing that you tell me I shall be pleased
TO convey to him.
But. mon. I want 10 see i'm ma'seT!
That can't be managed" declared
ROlfe. This business is left 20 Mr.
! Smale and myself Mr. Statham control.
the financial position. but details are lef
| 20 me- in conjunction with Smale anc
Hamilton Is it concerning the develop
ment OF the business that you wish to Sc,
Mr.. Statham?"
mo. it amt. It concerns Mr.. Stat
ham himself privately"
Rolfe pricked up his ears.
! Then it's a matter which you do no
| wish TO discuss with me2" he said Re
member that Mr.. Statham has no bust
! ness secrets from me All his privat,
correspondence passes through my
/ hands"
/ Il know all that. Mr.. Rolfe." Mac
gregOr answered. with impauence: ''bu
must, an / will. see Mr.. Statham
/ I'm coming to London tomorrow to Sc,
| him"
My dear sir" laughed RoIfe. 'fts ut
/ terly useless, Why. Mr.. Statham ha.
/ peers Of the realm calling to see him
/ and he sends out word that he's not a
! home"
'Eh! 'E's a big mon. ken; but wher
e knows ma bizniss ell vera soon SCI
me" replied the bearded old fellow, il
| confidence.
But is your business of such a very
private character" asked RClfe
/ Aye, il is"
/ About the projected strilOe-eh? Well
can tell you at once what his attitude
/ Is toward the men, without you going uI
J 10 London. He told me a few days ago
/ TO say that If there was any trouble. he't
close down the works entirely for si1
months. or a year. if need be. He won
stand any nonsense"
| An starve the poor bairns-eh?" men
| toned the old engineer. who had grown
white in the service of the firm. AVE