The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1916-03-10
CHAPTER TX
The Speedway

1t was in the days after he had
found on his desk a long envelope in
closing a certificate for a thousand
shares of stock in the Niquoia Electric
Power, Lighting and Traction company
that Brouillard began to lose his nick
name of "Hells-Fire" among his work
men, with the promise of attaining. in
due time. to the more affectionate
title Of the Little Big Boss"
At the enyelope-opening moment,
however, he was threatened with an
attack of heart failure. 1t was scarce
ly believable. But a hastily sought in
terview with the company's president
cleared the air Of all the Incredible
lies.
Why. my dear Brouillard! what in
Sam Hill do you take us for?" was the
genial retort when the young engineer
had made his deprecatory protest.
did you think we were going to cut
the melon and hand you out piece of
the rind? Not SO. my dear boy; we
are not built on any such narrow-gauge
Hines. That's what we are willing to
pay for a good, reliable government
brake. It's going to be your business
to see to 1t that the reclamation serv-
ice gets exactly what its contract calls
for, kilowatt for kilowatt"
I'D do that, anyhow. as chief of con-
struction on the dam"
You mean you would try to do it.
AS an officer of the power company,
you can do it; as an official kicker on
the outside, you couldn't feaze US a
particle. What? You'd put US out of
business? Not much. you wouldn't;
we'd play politics with you and get a
man for your job who wouldn't kick"
WELL" said the inheritor of sudden
wealth, still matching the promoters
mood, you won't get me fired now
that's one comfort. When will you
want my expert opinion on your aux.
Niary damn"
ION our dam, you mean. oh. any
time soon; say tomorrow OF Friday
or Saturday, II that hurries you too
much. We sha'n't want to go to work
on It before Monday"
Being himself an exponent OF the
modern theory that the way to dc
things is to do them now, Brouillard
accepted the. hurry order without com
ment. Celebrity swiftness of accom-
plishment that was almost magical
had become the Mirapolitan order OF
the day. Plans conceived overnight,
leaped to their expositions in things
done as If the determination to dc
them had been all that was necessary
to their realization.
You shall have the report tomor
row." said the newly created consult
ing engineer. but you can't go tc
work Monday. The labor market IL
empty. and I'm taking it for granted
that you're not going TO stampede m,
shovelers and concrete men"
"Oh, no." concluded the city builder
1--WE sha'n't do that. You1l admit-ir
your capacity of government watch
dog-that we have played fair in tha
game. We have imported every work
man we've needed. and we shall i'm
port more. That's one thing none o
US can afford to do-bull the labo
market. And II won't be necessary
we have a trainload OF Italians an,
Bulgarians on the way to Quesado to
day. and they ought to be here b.
Monday"
you are wonder. Mr.. Cartwright.
was Brouillard's tribute to the worke
of modern miracles, and he went hi
way to ride to the upper end of tn
valley for the exploring purpose.
On the Monday, as President Cor,
wright had 30 confidently predicted
the train load OF laborers had marche
in over the War Arrow trail and tn
work on tho auxiliary power dam wa
begun. On the Tuesday small arm