The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04

out how the battle was likely to GO
and his companion seemed amiably
communicative.
Since you call Mr.. Colbrith Uncle
Sidney / infer that you know what 1
am here for, Mr.. Adair. How do you
think my proposition is likely to strike
the board?"
Again the young man laughed.
Fancy your asking met' he said.
Il haven't talked with any one but
Uncle Sidney and the most could get
out of him was that you wanted
sS5.000,00O to spend"
We'll" said the westerner, anx-
iously. .'am 1 going to get it?''
You can search me-" was the good
natured rejoinder. But from my
knowledge of the men you are going
presently to wrestle with, 1 should say
no., and italieize it,
Perhaps it might help me a little
if could know in advance the par
ticular reason for the italics, Ford
suggested.
"Oh. sure. The principal reason is
that your name isn't Hill or Hartman
or Morgan or. Gates. Money is ridicu-
lousy sheepish. 1t will follow known
leader blindly, idiotically. But if il
doesn't hear the familiar tinkle of the
leaders bell.it is mighty apt to huddle
and run back"
Ford's smile was grim.
Il don't mind saying to you, Mr..
Adafr that this is one of the times
when ii will be much safer to huddle
and rum forward. Have you seen the
half-yearly report?"
Il? Heaven forbid, 1 have never
seen anything out of the Pacific South
western-not even a dividend
Just before President Colbrith took
his place at the head of the long table
ho fn
leaned forward to say in low tones:
II couldn't give you the tip you wanted,
Mr. Ford but I can give you another
which may serve we'll. If your word
doesn't win out, scare 'em-scare 'em
stiff, I don't know but you could
frighten half a million or so out of me
if you should try
THANK you" said Ford. Il may
take you at your word''-and just then
Mr.. Colbrith rose in his place. lingering
his thin white beard rather nervously,
Ford thought, and. rapping on the table
for silence.
1t. was admitted on all hands that the
president of the Pacific Southwestern
was careful man and thrifty. 1t
was these qualities which had first de-
termined his election. There were
many small stock holders in the COM
pany and it is the foible of small stock
holders to believe that rigid economy
accounts for more than adventurous
outreachings in the larger field.
Gentlemen" he began. his high.
raucous voice rasping the silence like
the filing of a saw, this meeting is
called, as you have probably been in
formed, for the purpose of considering
a plan for betterments submitted by
Mr.. Stuart Ford, who is at the present
time superintendent of our Plug Noun
tain division.
'In making this unusual innovation
and in introducing Mr.. Ford desire to
say that 1 have been actuated by that
motive of prudence which. while 1t
stands firmly upon it's own feet, is
willing to consider suggestions from
without. even when these suggestions
arpear to be totally at variance with a
policy of careful and judicious finan-
ciering.
IN presenting Mr.. Ford as the son
of an old friend, long since gone TO his
reward. / wish it distinctly understood
that | am in no sense committed to his
plan. The policy of this company under
the present administration has been
uniformly cautious and prudent. Mr.
Ford would throw caution and prud-
ence to the winds. Our best efforts
have been directed toward the saving
of the ultimate dollar OF expense: Mr..
Ford urges us to spend millions. We
have been trying to dispose of some of
our nonpaying branches: Mr.. Ford
would have us acquire others and build
new lines"
While Mr.. Colbrith was speaking
Adair was rapidly cTaracterizing the
members for Ford, checking them off
upon his fingers.
The little man at Uncle Sidney's
right is Mackie, and the miserly look
ing one next to him is Mcveigh.'' he
whispered. "One of them will furnish
your coffin, and the other will drive
the nails into 1t. The big man with the
beard is Brewster multimillionaire:
and the one who looks like Senator
Bailey is Magnus, president of the
Mohican National. Connolly, the fat
Irish1,n an L. .,aIi4i.ia.. e