The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27

have to be governed by conditions as
I find them. Aside from North's infiu-
ence with Mr.. Colbrith. which is con-
siderable. believe, he can't do much to
help. But he can do a tremendous lot
to hinder. I think shall try TO choke
him with butter. II I can
notwithstanding the general man
ayers letter. Ford took the train for
Denver the following morning. and the
chief clerk remarked that he checked
a small steamer trunk IN addition to
his hand baggage.
Going to be gone some time. Mr..
Ford?" he asked, when he brought the
night mail down for the superintendent
to look over.
YES" said Ford absently.
You'll let me know where to reach
you from time to time, I suppose?" ven-
tured Penfield.
Ford looked up quickly.
1T won't be necessary You can
handle the Office work. as you have
heretofore, and Mr. Frisbie will have
full charge Of the doors"
Penf1eld looked little crestfallen.
Am I to take orders from Mr.. Fris-
know the worst.
Just the same as you would from
me- said the superintendent. swing
ing up to the step of the moving car.
And the chief clerk went back TO his
office busily concocting another cipher
message to the general. manager.
On the way down the Canyon Ford
was saying to himself that he was now
fairly committed to the scheme over
which he had spent so many toilful
days and sleepless nights. and that he
would have II out with Mr.. North 10 a
fighting conclusion before he slept
But freight wreck got in the way
while the down passenger train was
measuring the final third of the dis
tance. and II was long after Office hours
in the Pacific Southwestern head
quarters when Ford reached Denver.
BY consequence, the crucial inter
view with the general manager had to
be postponed; and the enthusiast was
chafng at his Ill luck when he went
to his hotel-cha1ng and saying hard
words, for the waiting had been long.
and now. that the psychologist moment
had arrived delays were intolerable.
Now It sometimes happens that
seeming misfortunes are only blessings
in disguise When Ford entered the
hotel cafe to eat his belated dinner he
saw Evans, the P. S. ". auditor, sitting
alone at a table for two. He crossed
the room quickly and shook hands with
the man he had meant to interview
either before or after the meeting with
North.
1t was after they had chatted COM
fortably through to the coffee that the
auditor said. blandly: What are you
down for?-anything special?"
YES. I am down TO get leave Of
absence TO go east" said Ford warily.
But that isn't ALL" was the quiet
rejoinder. I'm fact. it's only the non
committal item that you'd give TO a
Rocky Mountain News reporter"
Ford was impatient OF diplomatic
methods when there was no occasion
for them.
GIVE it a name" he said bluntly.
What do you think you know,
Evans?"
The auditor smiled
There is leak in your office up at
Saints Rest, I'm afraid What sort OF
a bombshell are you fixing TO fire at
Mr.. North?
Ford grew interested at once.
Tell me what you know, and per-
haps can piece it out for you"
''Tll tell you what Mr.. North knows
which will be more to the purpose.
perhaps. For a year or more you have
been figuring on some kind OF scheme
to pull the company's financial leg
in behalf OF your good for nothing
narrow gauge. A month ago, for ex-