Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-15
conductor. But Adair was only paving

/ baiClay was ultlng uneaSlly In his
chair.
Il reckon they've about got it pick.
ed up and cleaned out o. the way by
thls time, Mr.. Adair l shouldn't be
surprised if we could hardly find the
place when we get there
Nor l.. said Adair; and he sat back
and chuckled. ITS considerably diff.
cult to sit up and pull your Imagination
on man who has been decently good
to you, isn't it, Barclay? Let me ask
you: are you Mr.. North's MANI"
| Mr.. North is the big boss"
But this Plug mountain division is
a part of Mr.. Ford's line isn't it?"
1T used to be all his There's a
white man for you, Mr. Adair.,
Adair saw his opportunity and used
Now see here, Barclay; I'm only a
director, and don't cut much ice out
thls way. But back in New York Tn
one OF three or four people who can
tell Mr.. North what he can do, and
what he can't You wouldn't want to
see Mr.. Ford getting it in the neck,
would you?"
! BY Jacks! There amt man in
/ the service that wouldn't fight for him.
tell you, he's white
| We'll, Mr.. Ford is in trouble. 7
don't know but he is likely to lose his
| Job, If | don't see the president before
the big AK comes down. That is be.
tween us two"
The conductor sprang out of his
chair.
by gravy, Why didn't you saw
that at first? Say, Mr.. Adai., Won
stand between us and Mr.. North-tell
him you gave the orders yourself-and
you'll have the ride OF your life from
here to Saints Rest"
GO it, said Adair. and two min
utes after Barclay had let himself out
oil the forward door of the .'O1." the
train took sudden start and dartad
ahead At full speed
This bit OF diplomacy on the part of
Adair saved two full hours in the run
to Saints Rest. Nevertheless, it was
after dark when the "01'' pulled into
the crowded material yard in the high
mountain basin and Lcckhard came
aboard TO ind out what had brought
TINS second prdivate-car visitation. He
was relieved not to meet North--to he
confronted only by pleasant faced
young man who seemed to have the
car all to himself
My name is Leckhard, announced
the man-of-all work. and / represent
the engineering department. saw il
was Mr.. Norths car, and"
And You came to see what YOU
could do for the vice president and
general manager" Adaii' finished for
him. Mighty sorry to disappoint
you Mr.. Leckhard, but my name isn't
North; it's Adair, and I'm only di-
rector How much authority is a di-
rector allowed--at this altitude and
distance from New York;
Leckhard laughed
Il reckon you might call yourself
the ranking officer in the field. Mr..
Adair What you say goes u
Then ! say go; which means that
I'd like to go-on to the end of the ex.
tension
But now the engineer was shaking
his head.
ASK me anything but that. Nj.
Adair None of our enginemen is at
at this end of the line and your man
Williams, who brought you up from
Denver, doesn't know the way. More
than that, if we had man and an en-
CINE, I'd be afraid to send you out for
a night run. Mr.. Ford made it last
night with Mr., Colbrith's car, and they
used up ten hours in covering less
than hundred and twenty miles, and
came within six feet o. killing every-tI
body"
Adair had lighted a cigarette, and
ne did not reply until the match flare
had gone out. Then he said, in a way
that made Leckhard his friend for
life:
I'm entirely in your hands, Mr..
Leckhard; can't turn a wheel unless
you say so. And l believe you're tell
ing me the truth, as man to man. Can
you reach Ford or Mr. Colbrith by
Wire?"
I'm sorry to say 1 can't. We have
only the one wire, and it's on tempo
rary poles most of the way 1t broke
down on US this morning and can't
raise the end-of-track
Block number two" said Adair
cheerfully. I'VE seem to be out of
luck this evening" Then, with search
ing abruptness: Don't you call your
self Ford's friend, Mr.. Leckhard?"
Rather" said the Saints Rest Pooh
Bah. He hired me; and when he
goes, go"
All! now e.are warming ourselves
at the same fire. Let me invite your
confidence In one word, Mr.. Leckhard.
l dislike Mr.. North
The burly engineer laughed again.
You have geniusfu way of putting
your finger on the sore spot without
We all dislike Mr.. North
at this end of things-with reason"
And that reason is?"
That he'd like to fire the entire en-
cheering department if he could find
half an excuse. I'm afraid he's going
to do it, too, in most effectual way
by forcing Mr.. Ford out If Ford
goes, every man in the department
will quit with him. I'm afraid it's COM
ing to that"
Johnson. the porter, had lighted the !
Pintsch globes and was laying the Gov
ers for dinner
Make it two, Johnson said Adair:
and then to Leckhard: You diua