The San Francisco call., 1908-12-06

hand. and apparently listening half
absently TO the clamor in the street
Don't be unreasonable. Mr.. Ford"
he, said quite mildly. You know we
can't consider anything like that at
the present moment"
'It must be considered" Ford per-
sisted. Ever since 1 quit being a
division superintendent, North has OBJ
structed, lied about me. fought me.
The time has come when. If stay. I
must have a free hand can't have it
while he is out of jail"
THAT is strong language to apply
to our first vice president. Mr.. Ford
And l can only believe that you are
rejudiced-unduly prejudiced- But all
this may be taken up later. As you
suggest. we may be losing very pre-
cious time
Ford got upon his feet.
Promise me that you Will give the
Denver management as thorough an
investigation as you have given me.
Mr.. iColbrith: do that. and give me
absolute authority over the MacMor
roghs and their men for one week; and
before the weeks end we'll be hauling
passengers and freight into Copah over
our own rails"
For a moment the president seemed
to be on the point of yielding Then
his habitual caution thrust out its foot
and tripped him.
'T can't be pushed Mr.. Ford" he
complained. with a return of the irri-
tated tone. Let the matter rest for
the present. And-and you may con-
slider yourself relieved from duty until
I have gone a little deeper into these
charges against you. Mr.. North accuses
you. and you accuse Mr.. North. / must
have time to approach these matters
deliberately. / don't know which of
you to trust"
1t was a deadlock. Ford bowed and
laid his hand on the door
you are still the president of the
Pacific Southwestern, Mr.. Colbrith. and
while you remain president"
The old mans pride of Office took
fire like tow in furnace.
What do you mean by that. Mr..
Ford? Make yourself clear, sirr' he
quavered.
'T mean just this: If your niece.
Miss Alicia Adair hadn't been good
enough to say that she will be my wife.
I'd carry this thing up to the board
of directors and do my level best to
have you put where you could do the
least HARM
You? Alicia?" the old man shrilled.
And then. in an access of senile rage
that shook him like a leaf in the wind:
''I said you were suspended-you are
give another order as an official of the
Pacific Southwestern company. I'll
I'll put you through the courts for
itr'
Ford opened the door and went out.
leaving the president clutching his
chair with one hand and balling the
other into shaking fist The die was
cast. and he had thrown blank at the
very moment when the game seemed
to be turning his way. What would
Alicia say?
AS if the unspOken query had evoked
her the door of her room opened si-
lently and she stood before him in the
corridor
Tell me-" she commanded.
I'VE have fought it out. and I've had
my beating he said soberly when
t, thought I had him fairly down-he'
was actually begging me to stay on
: with the company-we got tangled up
again over North. and he fired me
bodily"
/ Did you-did you tell him about
our"
J 'Yes: and that was what set off the
| final fireworks"
She put her hands on his shoulders
and made him face her sGuarely.
Stuart. did you lose your temper?''
Tim afraid I did-just at the last.
you know. It's simply an unspeakable
moment when we should be setting
. the whole world afire in superhuman
effort to fog this piece of construction
track into shape, your uncle paralyzes
} everything.
The cOnstraining touch Of her hands
became almost a caress. What shall
you do, Stuart? Is there nothing to be
done?'
He took his resolution on the spur
of the moment
Yes. thank heavenl Your uncle has
got to find a printing press. or at least
a telegraph wire. before he can make
my discharge effective Before he can
do that, or until he does il. I'm going
to pull the throttle wide open and race
for it afterward, Who knows but
shall have time TO save the day for
the company after ALL. GOodby, dear
/, est. In twenty minutes I shall be riding
! for the MacMOrroghs' camp, and when
get there"
You are going to ride back
alone? Oh. no. no." she protested; and
the clinging arms held him.
Why. Alicia, girl-see here; what
!. do you imagine could happen to me?
Why, bless your loving heart I've been
/. tramping and riding this desert more
: or less for two years. What has come
over your?
QOu huOWf Dul-Dut-Ol, me-
you will think I am miserably weak
and foolish; but just as you said
that. I seemed to see you lying in the
road with your horse standing over
/, you-and you were-dead,r
Nonsense" he eomforted- 'Tn be
back here tomorrow, alive and well:
! but I mustn't lose minute now. It's
: up to me TO reach Horse creek before
the news of the gold strike gets there.
, There'n be a stampede. with every
laborer on the line hOohng it for
Copah. Goodby. sweetheart. and-rnay
To- He took her face between his
, hands and did il anyhow.
Five minutes later he was bargain
ing for a saddle horse at the one livery
stable in the camp. offering and pay
ing the selling price of the animal for
I the two days hire It was a rather
r sorry mount at that. and when he was
dragging it out into the street. Jack
Benson. the youngest member Of his
staff. rode up, that moment IN from
the tie camp above Cow mountain.
Don't dismount. Jack" he ordered
rrf1 inst u, 70