The San Francisco call., 1908-10-18


believe could pull this thing out yet,
If could only get up sufficient steam"
For heavens sake, tell me what you
burn and I'll furnish the fuel" said
Ford desperately.
"Will you? 1 guess 1 need something
pretty inhammatory."
Lord of love. haven't you good and
plenty without calling upon me? Are
you going to let these stock jobbing
land pirates on change gibbet you as
a solemn warning to aspiring young
promoters?"
Adair paused with the cigarette half
way to his lips. "Ah" he said, after
a thoughtful moment. Perhaps that
was what I needed. No; they will not
gibbet any Of us today; and possibly
not tomorrow" Then, with a sudden
dropping of the mask of easy going
Indifference: Give me the key to
your room, and find me a swift ste
nographer. Then go over to the Lake
Shore headquarters and ask to have
the Nadia coupled to the evening train
for New York"
But the president?" Ford began
Didn't he say something about going
over these new lines on an inspection
trip"
Never mind Uncle Sidney; on this
one occasion he will change his plans
and go back to New York with u.s."
said Adair curtly.
Good said Ford approvingly "And
how about opening the new through
line for business? Do we go on? Or
do we hang it up until we find out
where We are 'at'?"
Don't hold it up a single minute.
Drive it for all the power you can get
behind it. If we have to collide with
things, let's do it with the throttle
wide open. Now find me that short
hand person quickly. will you?"
By what means the president was
persuaded or coerced into doing the
thing he had not planned to do Ford
was not TO know. But for that mat
ter, after carrying out Adair's instruc-
tlons the engineer. plunged at once
into his own Hercu1ean task of reor-
ganization, emerging only when he
made a tardy sixth at the presidents
dinner table in the hotel cafe in the
evening
The dinner. which the young engi-
neer had been fondly counting upon as
momentary relaxation from the
heart breaking business strain, was a
dismal failure on it's social side. Presi-
dent Colbrith, as yet, 1t appeared in
blissful ignorance of the latest news
from New York, had reserved the seat
or honor for his new assistant and
the half hour was filled to overlooking
OF the assistants powers and duties.
Ford listened with a blank ear on
that side. There was work to do. and
one man to do IL. lie did not care
particularly to hear instructions which
he would probably have to disregard
al the first experimental dash into the
new field. He meant to hold himself
rigidly to account for results; more
than this he thought not even Mr.
Colbrith had a right to require.
After dinner he indemnified himself
for the kindergarten lecture by boldly
taking possession of Miss Adair for
the short walk over to the private car.
The entire world of work was still
ahead, and a corps of expert stenogra-
pliers was at the moment awaiting his
return to the c. P. & D. offices. where
he had established temporary head
quarters; but he shut the door upon
the exigencies and listened to Miss
Alicia.
Il am so sorry we are not going to
be here to see your triumph" she was
saying; adding: 1T is a triumph, isn't
it?"
only a beginning" he amended.
And it won't be spectacular, If we
can help it. Besides. this east end af-
fair is only preliminary. A little
later on, if our tackle doesn't break.
We shall land the really big fish for
which this is only the bait"
Shall you never be satisfed?" she
asked jestingly And then, more Sc
riously: What is your ambition? To
be able to buy what your neighbor can
not afford?"
big money. you mean? No. I think
not But I like to win, as well as
other men,"
ITO win what?"
Whatever seems worth winning
this fight, In the present instance, and
the consequent larger field. Later.
enough money to enable me to think
of money only as a stepping stone to
better things. Later still, perhaps"
He stopped abruptly, as though will
ing to leave the third desideratum in
the air, but she would not let him.
GO on" she said. Last of alp"
Last Of all. the love of a true
woman"
'ohw she scoffed, with little uptilt
Of the admirable chin. Then love must
come trailing along at the very end.
after We have SKINNED the cream from
all the other milkpans in orderly sue
cession."
NO" he rejoined gravely "I put It
clumsily-as I snatch purses. As a
matter Of sober fact, love sets the
milestones along any human road that
is worth traversing"
eyes were dancing. Miss Alicia Adair
knew no Joy to compare with that of
teasing. and it was not often that the
fates gave her such pliable subject.
Tell me, Mr.. Ford, isis she pret-
ty?"
''She is beautiful-the most beautiful
woman in the world, Miss Adair
How finei And, of course, she is a
paragon of all the virtues-an angel
without the extremely inconvenient
wings?'
You have said it; and I have never
doubted it from the moment first laid
eyes on her"
Better and better" she murmured.
Then: she has money!"
Il suppose she has; yes, she certain
ly has money. But that doesn't make
any difference-to her or to me-"
1T is simply idyllic," was the ec-
static comment. after all this there
remains but one other possible con-
tingency. Has she willing mind, Mr..
Ford7"
They had reached the steps of the
Nadia. and the others had gone
within. Ford looked soberly into the
depths of the laughing eyes and said:
Il would give all my chances of sue
cess in this Pacific Southwestern affair