Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-17

Eckstein was the man; but how to get
him to the Marlborough headquarters
before Adair should arrive?
1t proved to be simpler in the out
carrying than in the planning. A
special light engine over the Trans
continental to Jacks Canyon-an ex-
change of courtesies which even fight
ing railroads make i'll war as well as
in p%eaee--a wire request on the stage
company for relays OF saddle horses,
and the thing was done. And Eek
stein, pushing his jaded beast down
the f1nal hill in the dusk Of the eve
ming. and welcoming, as only the sad
dle-tormented can welcome, the lights
of the headquarters camp. confessed
in cursings quite barbaric in their
phrasings that. he, too, was done.
The conference held that night be-
hind locked doors in the MacMor-
rogh's commissary Office was a coun-
Gil of Ave. with Eckstein, as the
mouthpiece of the vice president, in
the chair. Penfeld was present, with
no vote, and the three MacMorroghs
voted as one; but as to that, there
were no divisions. A crisis was i'm
minent, and 1t must be met.
GAS / have said. l am here with
power to act said Eckstein, grip
ping the chair with wincings after
the day of torment. "The plan out
lined at first by MI. North must go
through as it was outlined. Part of
it has already been carried out, you
say: Ford and the president have
been over the short-cct together. To-
~, 1r,D {lo o,fira nruotl-nar. 81. marty
goes to Copah over tpe detour. Are
the buckboards here FIR that?'
They're here wild the drivers. /
/! saw to that part of it myself" 1t was
the youngest OF the shree MacMor-
roghs who gave the assurance.
$50 far so good commented the
chairman. THE other thing we have
to provide for. or rather, to prevent. is
the possibility of Mr.. Adair's reaching
here in time TO join the party. the,
last definite information we had of Mr..
Adair he was crawling up Blue Canyon
with a train crew which was under
orders to give him ample time to
study the scenery. He has probable
reached Saints Rest before this, low
ever, and once there, Leckhard will
give him anything in sight. The cues
ton is, will he attempt to run the ex;
tension tonight?"
The middle. MacMorrogh thought
not. and his younger brother agreed
with him. But the senior partner
voted aye, and stuck to it. Thereup-
on ensued a conflict of opinion. Dan
MacMorrogh pointed out that the con
struction motive power was all at the
| west end, or in transit eastward; it
would be daylight of another day be-
fore an engineer familiar with the
hazards could be obtained for Adair's
special over the construction line. But
Brian MacMorrogh argued with equal
emphasis that this was a mere beg
ging of chances. Without a telegraph
to verify the guess, no man could say
at what hour one of the trains of
empties would pull through to Saints
Rest; and whatever the hour, Leck-
hard would doubtless turn the engine
and crew to double back with Adair's
car.
Eckstien was gripping the arms of
his chair and setting his teeth deep in
to his cigar while the probabilities
were getting themselves threshed out.
At the end of the dispute he said
quietly: Its a hell of a pity we can't
have the use of the wire for this one
night. But, gentlemen. we can't stop
for trifies. There are five of us here
in this room who know how much is
at stake. One of two things is due
to happen. If We can keep Adair out
Of it for another twelve hours. Ford
will be disgraced and asked to resign.
If he gets TO that point, We're safe.
l know Ford's temper. If Mr.. Col
BIRTH puts it as he is likely to put it,
Ford will say and do things that will
make it impossible for Adair or any
n else to get him back into the
service"
''Thrue for you, Misther. Eckstein;
We have i'm down to the crossin' of a
st." agreed the eldest Of the brothers
Marlborough.
That is n of the due things
Eckstein went on smoothly. "The otteY
isn't pretty TO look at. If Adair gets
here in time, it will be another story.
He can handle Ford; and he has
proved once or twice that he can han
die MI. Colbrith. If he hadn't been
out of the way when you went to
New York with Mr.. North, you'd
never nave seen the thing edge of
this contract. Brian. Well, then what
happens? With Adair on the ground
to back him, Ford wins out. Do you
know what that means? Investiga-
tions, undertakings, and worse. There
are two or three of us here, and some
more on the other side of the range,
who won't get off with less than ten
years apiece. I'm willing to take the
chance of a few more years for an
other play on the red. Hot is it with
the rest of you?"
The elder Marlborough spread his
hands.
TITS all in the same boat we ars.
You've a notion in the back part Of
your head, Mister Eckstein; lave us
have it" /
"As I've said. we cant stick at
trifies. If Adair's train is on the ex-
tension, it mustn't get here. Somebody {:
goes up the line on a hand.car tonight