Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-03


the same fire. Let me invite your conf
like Mr.. North
Block number two said Adair. cheer
fully. we seem to be out of luck this
evening" Then. with searching abrupt
ness: do you call yourself Ford's friend.
Mr.. Leckhard?''
Rather said the Saints Rest Pooh
Bah. He hired me, and when he goes. /
CO.
The bury engineer laughed again.
You have a geniusful way of putting
your finger on the sore spot without fun
bling. We all dislike Mr.. North at this
end Of things-with reason
And that reason iS?"
That he'd fire the entire engineering
department If he could find half an ex-
cuse. I'm afraid he's going to do it. too,
in the mosD nectual way-by forcing Mr..
Ford out II Ford goes. every man in the
department will quit with him. I'm afraid
it's coming to that"
Johnson. the porter. had lighted the
P:ntsch globes and was laying the covers
for dinner.
Make it two. Johnson said Adair.
and then to Leckhard: You dine with
NEEDN'T say no: l couldn't stand it
alone" And when that point was set
tied. Now sit down till we thresh this
out a bit finer. How far has this forcing
business gone? You're talking to the
man who has backed Ford from the
first
1T has gone pretty far. North has
Distracted. quietly but persisten;ly. ever
since the first blow was struck on the ex-
tension. He has delayed material, when
he could do it unofficially: he scarts us
for rolling stock and motive power: he
stands in with the MacMorroghs and
backs them against Ford every time there
is a dispute. Ford is a patient man. Mr..
Adair. bur / think he has about reached
the limit
HIN. Do you attach any particular
importance to the presidents trip over the
extensiOn?''
Leckhard shook his head. I'm only a
passenger-I see what goes by the car
windows. Mr. Colbrith was dead set on
pushing over to the end of track-wouldn' t
even wait for daylight: You probably
know him better than 1 do
He is my uncle Adair cut in.
"Oh. then I can't tell you anything
about him. He was hot at Ford last
night: what for I don't know. unless it
was because Ford opposed d night run
over a raw construction track with the
Nadia. He was right about that. though.
If had been in his place I would have
thrown up my job before l would have
taken the risk.
thing. and when he had thought it out
the porter had announced dinner and they
had taken their places at the table.
Il have told you l am FOrd's friend.
Mr.. Leckhard: 1 have ridden couple Of
thousand miles out of my way to give
him a lift. Tell me frankly. have you
any reason 10 believe II will come to
blows between him and the president
while they are together at the front? Try
this celery: it's as good as you'd get at
Sherry's''
Leckhard helped himself to the relish
and waited until the negro. Johnson. had
gone back TO the cooks galley
THE little 1 know comes in round
about way" he replied. slowly. "Penfield.
who is known all over the Southwestern
as Mr.. North's private detective and spy
is with Mr.. COlbrith acting as the presi-
dents secretary. Yesterday, while the
Nadia was sidetracked here. Penfield had
a lot of telegraphing to do for Mr.. Col
BIRTH. He did it himself-he's a lightning
operator. among other things-and I hap
pened into the office just as he was fin
shing. His final message was cipher.
to Mr.. North. and he signed il with his
own name.
.'Well?" said Adair
Again the engineer waited until the
negro was out OF hearing.
"A little later. just as the Nadia was
about to pull out. there came a rush cali
from Denver for Penfield. ] answered
and said the car was on the point of leav-
ing, but that I'd take the message and
try to catch Penfield If | could. 1t came.
on the run. and it was signed by Eek
stein. Norths chief clerk. 1t wasn't CT
phered-lack of time. ] reckon-and Eek
stein took the chance that 1 wouldn' t
catch on
You kept a cOpy?' suggested Adair.
Il did I wasn't able to deliver the
original until the Nadia came back from
the foot OF the pass in the evening to fill
the engine tank. But. couldn't make
anything out of it. Ii was an order to
Penfield not to let anything interfere with
the presidents blackboard trip-whatever
that might be-with authority TO incur
any expense that might be necessary.
using The telegram as his credential with
the Marlborough Brothers if more money
were needed.
ITO pay for the buckboards?" asked
Adair.
You may search me- said Leckhard.
Only it could hardly be that-we have
an open account at the Bank OF COpalI
for legitimate expenses. no. there's a
niger in the woOdpile somewhere. Pen
field is only d clerk. but for some purpose
he Is given carte blanche to spend
money
Adair was absentIy stirring his black
coffee.
..All of which points to one conclusion.
Mr.. Leckhard. They are plotting against
Ford-without the presidents connivaDce.
But the president is'going to be made to
swing the club. l know rather more than
you do about (which isn't saying very
much. My--a relative of mine who is
with the party In the Nadia wired me
three days ago from Denver that Ford
had been tried and condemned and was
only waiting to be hanged That's WHY
l am here tonight. You've got To get me
to the end OF track before il CONES TO
blows between Mr. Colb.ith and Stuart
Ford. ] know both men. Mr. Lackhard.
If the iron comes 20 I. certain heat the
past master of al the peacemakcrs won't
be able 10 patch Kings together"
Ford VII resign said the engineer.
That Is what I'm afraid of. and we
cant let him resign. That would mean
Mr.. North for everything: III sight and the
ultima = ruin OF the l. c;iic SoutlIwes stern.
fght!n5 The family--or my incl which is
just what he viii do il lie gets his blood
up-and doesn't quit in 4 huff. It's up TO
you TO trundie this car ever to the seat
of war. Mr. Leckhard.
The division engineer was thinking
hard.
Il can't see how is 10 be done. right
now. Mr.. Adair' But I'll tell you what
will do. Our empty material trains come
back from the front in the night. as "A
rule. When they get in. and ! can be
sure that the tracks clear, I'll double one
of the construction engines out with you
afraid but. with nothing in the way, you
ought to make the run in four or five
hours-say by late breakfast time"
That was the way ii was left when
Leckhard went back To mis- telegraph den
at 10 O'Clock: and some six hours later
Adair. sleepily conscious of disturbances
Weakened sufficiently TO hear the wheels