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

ana theR. RG.s:1ember, whatever
happens, you must not resign-not
even if Uncle Sidney asks you to-,
Frisbie's information, given after
Miss Adair had gone in, was rather
mystifying Young Benson, who was
just i'll from the grade work beyond
Copah. brought word of party of
strange engineers running lines on
the opposite side of the river from the
rejected S. L. & w. shortcut through
the canyon of shale slides. Questioned
by Benson they had told what Fris-
bic believed to be fairy tale. The
chief of the party claimed to be the
newly-elected county surveyor FROM
Copah, running the lines for some min
ing property recently fled for entry.
Benson had not been over curiou,;;
but he was observant enough to note
that the tale was a misfit in three i'm
portant particulars. He saw no locat-
ing stakes, such as prospector al
ways sets up conspicuously to mark
his claim; and there ~ere no signs of
the precious metal, and no holes to
indicate an attempt to find it.
whats your guess, Dick?" said
Ford tersely.
i
81 haven't any coming to me. But
don't like mysteries"
where was this party?"
about mile and half below
here. 1t was going out toward Copah
when Jack met tits work, what
ever it was, all done apparently
1t was one of Frisbie's gifts to be
suspicious; but Ford was lacking on
that side.
ITS barely possible that the man
was telling the truth, in spite of Ben
sons failure to find any prospect
holes," he remarked. We'll let it
go at that until we know something
different. It couldn't be Transcon-
tinental party, this far from home, and
we haven't anybody else to fear
Frisbie dropped the subject as one
of the distractions and took UP the
concrete.
what are the orders today?" he
asked
q don't know. I'm waiting for Nj.
Colbrith to say
There are two blackboard teams
here, in the Marlborough stables =
came over from Copah last night.
What are they for?"
Il don't know Another OF the pres
dent's little surprises, l suppose.
Well know when he sends for me"
The expected summons came at that
precise moment, transmitted by Pen
field. Mr.. Colbrith would like to see
Mr.. Ford in his private state room N
the Nadia. The secretary had a sheaf
of kilograms in his hand, and wished
to be directed to the wire Office. Fris-
bic took him in charge, and Ford went
to obey the summons
The president was sitting very erect
in his swing chair when the young en-
gineer let himself into the box-like
compartment. and his voice was at its
thinnest when he said "Be seated,
Mr. Ford"
Ford sat down on the divan-coucn.
and the president plunged at once into
business.
Some time ago, you advised me, rs
chairman of the executive committe .,
that you had decided upon a change Of
route, Mr.. Ford" he began raspingly
"What were your reasons for making
the changer"
'I stated them in my letter of ad-
vice." said Ford ECONOMY in con-
struction and greater safety in oper
ating, as against slight increase in
the length of the line"
Twelve miles, | believe you said
that is a very considerable increase,
should say The great eastern com
panies are spending millions Of dol
lars, Mr.. Ford. to shorten their lines
by half-mile cut-offs.'
Ford had his reply ready.
1.-THE conditions are entirely differ
ent. 1t will be many years before Il
! fast through service is either practic-
able or profitable over the extension;
and when it comes to that, we shall
still have the short line from Denver
to Green Butte by forty-two miles. But
II explained all this at the time, Mr.
Colbrith, and I understood that I had
he executive committees approval Of
ItAe changed route
"Hualifedly, Mr.. Ford: only quail
u. Yet you have gone ahead in
your usual impetuous way, abandon
ing the short line through the canyon
and building the detour. Your motive
for haste must have been very
strong one-very strong"
! 1T was, am not here to kill
time
$50 it appears. But l am here, Mr..
| Ford, to consider carefully. and to in
vestigate. We shall go first over this
route you have abandoned. I wish to
see for myself the difficulties you
have abandoned. | wish to see for
myself the difficulties you have SO
painstakingly described"
I Ford shrugged.
| I'm quite at your service, OF course
But you viii find it a hard trip. In
! deed, if we drive, we shall have to
cross the river and take the other
| side. The canyon on this side is i'm
| passable in places for a man on foot
! 81 provided for that, said the presi-
dent, letting his ferrety eyes rest for
a moment upon the reluctant one
you will find two buckboards with
| their drivers at the MacMorrogh head
quarters. Be good enough to order
them around, and we'll start at once.
! No; no protests, Mr.. Ford My re-
| SDODSihilitieS are NOT tn he chirkad