Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-02
XIX.
The Reluctant Wheels.

II was possibly an hOur after Penf1eld s
cipher message reached the Southwestern
Pacific headquarters in the Colorado cap
ital. when a fair-haired young man in
London-cut clothes and with a tourist S
quota of hand luggage. crossed the Dem
yer union station platform from the Pull
man of belated Chicago train.
Ascertaining from a gateman that the
Plug Mountain day train had long since
gone on its way up the canyon. the young
man left his many belongings at the
check stand and had himself driven up
town to the Guaranty building. 1t was
Eckstein who took his card in Mr..
North's outer Office. The private secre-
tary was debating to stenographer and
was impatient of the Interruption But
the name on the card wrought a miracle
Mr.. North? Why. surely. Mr.. Adair
He Is always at liberty for you. Right
through this way'-holding the gate in
the counter railing at it's widest-"we're
mighty glad to see you in Denver, al
ways
Adair had acquired the monocle habit
on his latest run across the Atlantic, and
to keep In practice he gave the secretary
the coolest of stares through the discon-
certing glass. Really! I'm quite de-
lighted. Who is the other member of the
we. Mr.-er-er-"
"Eckstein." prompted the secretary: but
to be quit of the transfixing stare before
worse thing should befall.
In the inner room the vice president
was less ELUSIVE. but no less cordial. II
was rare thing to see one of the COM
panyS directors in the Denver business
offices. Mr.. North was of the opinion
that it would be a good investment OF
time and effort for all concerned If the
members of the board used their privilege
oftener So on through half a dozen
n ha of
What could the general manager do for
Mr.. Adair?
Given leave to speak. Adair stated his
needs succinctly. He wanted a special
train to Saints Rest: he wanted 1t sud-
denly and he asked that it be given the
right of the road.
My dear sir" protested the vice presi-
dent, you mustn't ask impossibilities,
course: you shall have my private car.
But when it comes to the right of way,
you'll have to appeal to Mr.. Ford. Why.
he doesn't scruple to lay out the United
States mails for his material trains!"
"Um." said Adair Where can reach
Ford?"
Mr. North did not equivocate: he never
lied when the truth would answer the
purpose equally well.
He is out on the extension, or more
correctly speaking, somewhere beyond
the present end of the construction tele-
graph line. I'm afraid you couldn't reach
him by wire
And the PRESIDENT? queried the Wis
itor.
MIR. Colbrith's car is at the end of
track. You wished to join the party in
the Nadia?"
THAT is what 1 had in mind" said
Adair. not too anxiously.
Mr.. North shook his head.
Il don't think you'd enjoy the run over
the construction track. Mr.. Colbrith went
over it last night because-well because
he believes ii to be presidential duty to
inspect. everything. If you leave today
you will probably meet the Nadia coming
out-possibly at Saints Rest
Adair suddenly became wary.
Perhaps that would be the easy thing
to do he said. Il suppose the engineers
at Saints Rest could put me up If have
to stay over night?''
my car-with the best cook this side of
Louisiana. Keep it. live in it. till Mr..
Colbrith picks you up on his return
"All right. But you'll give me the spe-
cial. And let it make as good time as 1t
can. Mr.. North; I'm fierce when have to
ride a slow train"
The vice presidents promise was freely
given, and to expedite matters the dfvi-
sion superintendent chief clerk went
down to the station with Adair to see the
special train properly equipped and
started on the Notwithstanding run.
Adair left the details to this orderly from
the general Offices: not knowing how to
compass them himself. he had to. If he
could have seen the broad grins on the
faces of his train crew when Dobson. the
clerk. gave them the dispatcher's order
but at that moment he was lounging in
Mr.. North's easiest chair In the central
compartment of the ''O1'' reading for the
twentieth time a crease-worn telegram.
The telegram was from Alicia, and it
was dated at Denver. three days ago. II
was not very explicit; on the contrary, it
was rather incoherent.
You would better come on as fast as
you can if you want to save your friend S
life. He has been tried and found guilty
of just what, 1 don't know-and will be
hanged pretty soon-within a few days.
l think
Now that's a nice way to stir fellow
up. isn't it," soliloquized the pleasure
lover Just as was getting ready to go
up to Mount Ptarmigan for the shooting.
She knew that. too. I'll bet picayune
it's just girls scare. Ford's plenty good
and able to take care of himself"
That was Mr.. Charles Edward Adair' s
care-free phrasing of 1t; but three hours
later. when the cook of the "O1" served
him the most appetiZing of luncheons in
the big open compartment. and the steep
ly pitched walls of the lower Blue cam
yon were still stinting the outlook from