The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27

W. prel1minaries and right OF way on
Its proposed extension"
Ford's eyes narrowed He was think
ing OF the warning letter he would have
to write to Frisbie. But what he said
was:
I'd like to know how the dickens
you guessed all that. But no matter;
supposing 1 did?
It's no good said the auditor. shak-
ing his head. I'm talking as a friend.
North doesn't like YOU, personally: and
II he did, you couldn't persuade him to
recommend anything in the way OF an
experiment on the Plug mountain. So
far from extending your two by four
branch-if that is what you have IN
mind-he'd be much more likely to
counsel its abandonment. IL the charter
didn't require US to keep IL going"
Ford found a cigar for the auditor,
and lighted one for himself.
From all of.which infer that the
semiannnaI report OF the Pacih~
Southwestern is going to be a pretr-
bad one he said. with carefully as
sumed indifference.
Evans regarded him shrewdiy-
Are you guessing at that? Or ts
there leak at our end OF the line as
we'll as at yours?'
"Oh. it's guess" laughed Ford. Call
It that. anyhow. At least. haven't am
of your confidential clerks in my psS
But just how bad Is the report going
to be-"
The auditor shook his head.
Worse than the last one Perhaps
you have noticed that the stock has
dropped six points IN the. past week.
You're one of the official family: don't
mind telling you that we are IN the
nine hole, Ford
"Of course we are" said Ford, with
calm conviction. That much IS pretty
evident TO a man who merely reads the
Wall street news bulletins. What Is
the matter with u1specihcally. 7
mean?"
Evans shrugged.
Are you division superintendent on
the system and don't known he de-
manded- I'VE are too short at both
ends. With our eastern terminal only
half way to Chicago we can't control
the east bound grain which grows on
our own line; and with the other end
stopping short here at Denver we can't
bid for west bound transcontinental
business. It's as simple as twice two.
Our competitors catch Us going and
coming"
Precisely. And If we don't get re-
lief"
The auditor smiled grimIy
AS I've said. you're one OF US Ford.
and don't mind speaking freely TO
you A receivership Is looming in the
distance, and not the very dim distance.
for the P. S. W."
Il thought so. How near is it7'
Il don't know-nobody knows def
initely. II we had a man OF resources
at the head OF things-as we have not
It might be stood on for another six
months
I'm on the way TO stand IL OF per-
manently. II I can get any backing"
said Ford quietly.
"You." was the astonished reply.
years I have been buried up yonder in
the hills. with not enough TO do in the
summer season 10 keep me out OF mis-
chief I am rather fond OF mathe-
matics. and am telling you have this
thing figured out TO the fourth decimal
II President Colbrith and his associates
can be made to see that the multiplied
tion OF two by two gives an invariable
resultant OF four there will be no re-
ceivership for the P. S. W. this year,
or next
Show me-" said the auditor.
Ford hesitated for a moment Then
he took packet OF. papers. estimates.
exhibits and fine lined engineers maps
from his pocket and tossed II across
the table
That is for you, personally-for
David Evans; not the p s. w auditor.
You've got TO keep 1t to yourself"
The auditor went through the papers
carefully. shifting his cigar slowly
from one corner of his mouth to the
other as he read and examined When
he handed them back he was shaking
his head, almost mournfully
It's big thing, Ford: the biggest
kind OF a thing. And II Is beautifully
worked out But I know our people.
here and in New York They win sim
ply give you the cold stare and say
that you are crazy"
Because it cant ba A1a,oe67ss
Because 1T doesn't come from Hill
or Hartman or Morgan or some other
one OF the big captains. You'll nsVar
be able to stand it upon its feet -
your single, handed lonesome"
Ford set his teeth and his clean cut
and harder as the man in him came to
the fore
BY heavensi if I put my back under
1t. it's got to stand upon its feet I'm
not going into II with the idea thar
there is any such thing In the book as
failure"
The auditor looked darkly into the
cool gray eyes OF the man facing him.
Then let me give you a word of ad-
vice before you start in. Skip North.
absolutely; don't breathe a word OF
II 10 him. Don't ask me why: but do
as l say. And another thing: drop
into my Office tomorrow before you
-O@'S- SAOW yOu sums ukUre3 that
may help you TO stir things up prop
erly at the New. York end. Do you
go direct from here%'
No; shall have TO stop over a few
days in Chicago. I know pretty we'll
where to put my hands on what I
need; haye laid the foundations from
the bottom up by correspondence. But
want to go over the situation on the
ground before I make my grandstand
play before Mr.. Colbrith and the board
of directors"
WeH. come in and get the figures.
anyway; come TO the private door OF
my of11ce and rap three times IL
Will be just as well il IL isn't gener-
ally known that you are confabing
with me- Our semi-annual report will
probably be in New York ahead OF
you. but it won't hurt II you have the
information 10 work with" Evans was
pushing his chair from the table when
he added. BY the way. you happened
upon the exact psychological moment
10 make your raid: the report coming
out. and things going to the dogs
generally"
Ford's laugh was genially shrewd
Perhaps il wasn't so much OF a