The San Francisco call., 1908-10-18
CHAPTER TX
The Race to the Slow

CoIbrlth would prove himself an
obstructor of the stubbornest
kind was amply fulfilled during
he short interval which remained for
decisive action. Truly, in the battle for
business ceIerity the odds were three
TO one against Mr.. Colbrith; yet the
three were as those who buffet the
wind. The president must see and feel,
know and fully understand; and at the
very last moment, when the shortest
Of the options had no more than an
hour TO live. he was proposing to sum
mon General Manager North from Den
yer TO make a fifth in the council Of
. discord.
It was Adair who tpoa ..
the horns when the presidents eau
ton was about to turn victory into
defeat What was said or done after
the young man drew Mr. Colbrith into
the private committee room at the bank
and shut the door. Ford and Kenneth.
who were excluded, could only sur
mise. But whatever was done was well
done. When the two. uncle and nephew,
came out Of the room Of privacy, the
old man was shaking his head and
the young one was smiling serenely
So it came about that between IL and
u o'clock, when Ford. grimly battling
TO the last fought as one without
hope, few strokes Of the pen opened
the doors upon the new creation; five
million dollars. more or less, changed
hands, and the Pacific Southwestern
took the long leap eastward from the
Missouri river to its new base in Chi
cago.
It's you for the hustle now, Ford"
said Adair. linking arms with the en-
gineer when the quartet left the bank
How soon do you think you can get
that first trainload of grain in transit?'
I wish I could tell your" said Ford.
why can't you?"
Because it viii depend very largely
upon the authority Mr.. Colbrith or the
board sees fit TO give me. At present,
you win remember. am still only a
division superintendent-Mr. North's
subordinate. in fact, and"
Say Il out loud" encouraged Adair.
i don't like to. but 1 suppose It can't
be helped Up TO now 1 have been act
ing under special orders, as you may
say. IN a purely financial transaction.
But my commission expired five min
utes ago when the stock deal went
through. When It comes to issuing or
ders IN the operating and transporta-
tiOn department. 1 have no authority
whatever. Mr.. North is general mana
ger. and I suppose his Jurisdiction VIII
now be extended to cover the new
line won't it?"
Not much" retorted the amateur
promoter. You are going to be given
a free hand in this from the word go.
From what can learn, North has been
an obstructor, all along. hasn't he?"
I can't say that" said Ford, just,
even to an enemy ITO be right hon
est about it, ] shall have to confess
that 7 slurred him entirely-went over
his head"
For good reasons, no doubt, only
you are TOO charitable to give them.
Never mind: as 1 say, you are going
to have a free hand. This is your
pie and nobody else. is going to cut it
for you" And when the party reached
the hotel there was another conference
Of two behind closed doors, in which
Ford and the general counsel did not
participate.
An hour later. when Adair came down
from the presidents room. he thrust
a sheaf Of penciled printers copy into
Fords hands.
There you are" he said. I've done
the best 1 could for you on such short
notice-with Uncle Sidney trying his
level best TO get a cross reference to
the board before taking action. Get
these circulars through a print shop
and into the mails. You'll see that one
OF them announces your appointment,
effective today, as assistant to the pres
ident That was as far as Uncle Sid
ney could be dragged. It doesn't give
you q straight flush; but your hand
viii beat North's If It comes to a show
down between you. Just the same I
shouldn't quarrel with North If I were
you. Uncle Sidney thinks the sun rises
and sets IN him"
Ford nodded, and while he was read
ing hastily through the sheaf of pencil
ings a boy brought him a telegram.
When he opened the envelope Kenneth
had turned away. But Adair was look
ing on and he did not fail to remark
the startling effect of the few type
written words upon the engineer.
whereabouts does it hit US this
timer he inquired. lighting a fresh
cigarette.
IN the neck" said Ford curtly.
The possibility occurred to me yester-
day-Pacifc Southwestern stock being
so badly scattered among small hold
ers. 1 wired a broker, a good friend
Of mine, 70 pick up few shares on
nv account Here is what he says:
Market bone dry. No offerings of
p. S.-W. at any price
Adair whistled softly. That's get
fling next TO us with a vengeance!" he
commented. And it can be DONE too.
Half a dozen Of the small stock holders
- &C.