The San Francisco call., 1908-11-01
CHAPTER xII-continned

and + When II came clicking
into the dispatchers Office a,
Denver a sleep sodden young man
with an extinct cigar between his
teeth rose. up out of his chair. stretched.
yawned. and pointed for the door.
Going TO leave US. Mr.. Eckstein?''
said the trick dispatcher who was sit
ting at the train table.
Yes, II Mr.. Ford has changed his
mind, ! may as well go home and so to
bed
Reckon he forgot something and
has 70 come back after it," laughed the
operator.
Maybe" said the private secretary.
an9 ne went out. shutting the door be-
hind him with TIE batlike softness and
precision that was his distinguishing
characteristic.
The .sounoers were clicking monoto-
nopsly when the trick man turned TO
the relief operator who was checking
Da1by's- transfer sheet.
What. do you suppose Eckstein was
up 10. sitting here all night. Jim?"
-..s~s"Giye. it up" said the relief man.
ASK NE something easy"
'Tif@bet a hen worth fifty dollars
I car guess He didn't want Mr.. Ford
to make time"
The relief man looked up from his
checking.
why? He didn't do anything. lie
was asleep more'n. half the time"
Don't you fool yourself said the
other heard every word that came
IN about that. hot. box. And if the hot
box. hadn't got in the way, I'll bet a
cockereF worth: seventy-fve dollars, to
go. with that dollar hen, that he
would have tangled me up somehow
tll L had shufied a freight train or
something in Mr.. Ford's way. He's Mr..
Nortbs man. body and soul; and Mr..
North doesn't love Mr.. Ford.
=. "Oh. rats. Billy," sconed the relief
man. getting: up 10 I'll his -corncob pipe
from the common tobacco bag. You're
always. finding a Niger in the wood
pile wien there isn't any. Say; that's
20l~ asking for orders from calotte.
Why don't you come to life and an
Swer eng"
Frisbie. breakfasting early at the
Brown. Palace ON the morning follow
Ing the night OF. .hinderlings. was more
than. astonished when Ford came in
and took the unoecupied seat at the
table for two.
2 Let me eat first" said the beaten
one. when Frisbfe would have. whelmed
him with curious questions, and with
the passing Of the outlets and the
coffee lie. told the tale of the hindrances.
II guess it was foreordained not to
be-" he admitted, in conclusion. We
tried mighty hard to bully it through,
but the fates were too many and too
busy for u.s."
.~rricls?- suggested Frisbie. suspect
ing North OF covering his flight with
special instructions TO delay possible
.'oh. no; nothing of that sort: just
the cursed depravity Of inanimate
things. Every man CONCERNED worked
hard and in good faith 1t was luck
No one Of us happened TO have rab-
bits foot in his pocket"
You don't believe in luck laughed
the assistant
Don't u I know I used to say that
] didn't. But after last night can't
be so sure Of IT." .s.
wen. what's the cost to us?" in
ouired frisbie. coming down Out%of the
high atmosphere of the superstitious
70 stand upon. the solid earth Of rail-
way building fact
II don't know: possibly failure.
There is no guessing what sort of
scheme North viii cook up when he.
and sMacMorroghs get Mr.. Colbrith cor
nered." -
."Oh. K can't be as bad as that. Take
Il at the e-worst-admitting that we may
have. 70 struggle along with the Mac
Morroghs for our general contractors
they-cant. addle the egg entirely. can
Ford tabuIated it by length and
-..sWitI. the MacMorroghs in the fore
front OF things to steal and cheat and
make trouble with the labor, and Mr.
North in the rear to back them. up and
20 retard matters generally we are in
FOR siege TO. which purgatory. If we
ever 20 there, win seem restful. Rich
ard. ny SON: Our one weapon is my
present. ranking authority over the
general manager. II he ever succeeds
IN breaking that, you fellows In the
field would better hunt you another
railroad to build"
y 7
the big boss, Stuart. North can't knock
you out Of that when It comes. to- a
show down"
Il don't know" said Ford, whose
night ride had. made him pessimistic.
Il am Mr.. Colbrith's appointee, you
lnow-not an elected officer. And what
Mr.. CoIbrith has done he may be in
duced TO undo. Adair has been my
backer IN everything; but while he is
the best fellow IN the world he is con-
tinuaIiy warning me that he may lose
interest in the game at any minute and
drop It He doesn't care a rap for
the money making part Of it-doesn't
have to-"
wouldn't Adair be a good safety
switch 70 throw IN front OF Mr. North
end MacMorrogh in New York;"
Ford nodded. II thought Of that
last night, and sent wire. We'il hear
from it today"
Frisbie ate through the remainder of
the breakfast in silence. Afterward,
at The pipe lighting. he asked II Ford's
wire instructions Of the night before
still held good.
They do" was the emphatic re-
ply. we go on just as If noth-