The Carlisle independent., 1916-11-30
CHAPTER ii.

A fight among the direetors-and bitter fight-had been indicated from fhe moment the allotment of the stock Issue of the new Copper Range and Tfdewater cutoff line was discussed. It was not alone that the territory of the proposed cutoff was rich in traf- fic. The survey made by Holmes en- gineers through a wild country, hith- erto reputed inaccessible, had deyel- oped lowgrade pass through the Su- perstition mountains that would put the Tidewater's active riva1-the Colo rado and Coast line-with it's heavy grades and curves, at serious, if not irretrievable, disadvantage, in it's fight for competitive traffic.
 General Holmes, seated in the li- trary of his country home with his associate, Amos Rhinelander took from his morning mail letter from John B. Rhodes, chairman of his execu- tive committee, which revealed the ex- tent of the feeling over the situation. Holmes handed the letter to Rhine lander. Rhodes had discovered that their competitors already had sur veying party out on reconnaissance endeavoring to locate the Tidewater pass; having in view the reputation for sharp practice of the Colorado line packers, he urged Holmes to keep a close watch on the original survey, now in the generals possession, until the right of way should be definitely IJ4 of the directors, he would arrive on a special at noon for the informal board meeting at which means for financing the project were to be arranged.
 Through a complication in financial arrangements, Holmes had been obliged to put on his own, the Tide water line board, minority group of directors led by Rhinelander's nephew, Seagrue and Seagrue's attorney, Ca pelle-Seagrue was owner of a sub stantial interest in the Colorado and Coast line itself. Indeed, his means were all tied up in it. It was this con- plication which caused uneasiness in Holmes mind and called for prudence not all those even of his own direc- ,torate could be trusted, in the circum- stances, not to conniye against his in- terest.
 Seagrue had already been for the weekend the house guest of Holmes. He was at that moment seated in the garden with Helen-Holmes' daughter and Helen was being alternately amused and bored by the patently forced efforts of the customer to in- terest her in himself and his affairs. More than once during his stay she had refused to listen seriously to him and now to annoy him, she professed to wonder, as the blast of a freight engine whistle sounded at the moment through the hills, whether that might not be George Storm, one of her fa- thers many engineers-a man to whom she had lately rendered a great and gratuitous service and about whom Seagrue himself had once tried to twit her. And it so chanced that it really was young Storms train running by them for the passing track. He had orders to wait there for the directors special.
 Toward noon, Holmes and his guests, together with Helen, started for the station to meet the train. Its arrival was the occasion of many greetings for Helen from old New York friends who declared that the mountain sun and air had wrought wonders for the once delicate girl.
 It was while she stood thus on the platform surrounded by her newly ar- rived guests that young engineman crossed the platform, cap in hand. After slight hesitation he walked up to her as if he would speak Again, as if undecided, he halted just before Helen. She noticed the rather grimy appearance of the stalwart engineman, obviously just from his cab, but did not look closely enough to recognize him. If he was pausing, as he stood, for courage, it rose in him, for as her eyes returned to him, he stepped near CT to her: T think it was you who saved my life the other day. he said somewhat haltingly. Then he ques- tioningly held out his hand Will you accept my thanks?"
 The moment he spoke, Helen knew him-it was Storm, the fireman of the freight wreck. Indeed, she remem- bered him almost too we'll Her face flushed with embarrassment. Her guests, without catching what he had said, were critically inspecting the smoked engineer. Something like wave of resentment swept over Helen. Why should he chooge this. os all mss