New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-03-21

neers are right up against It. There
are new problems coming up every
day. The Indians Gull her a yellow
dragon, but she's a tricky woman,
she's an eel; she's giving US sums to
break our teeth on"
"WhO has the next rOom?"
USED to be the general managers.
Ogilvie uses 1t now"
"And who did you say was Ogil-
vieT" They turned back into the
room.
"YOu can go In. He's not here. He
Is he new auditor. m expert account
ant from Los Angeles. Put in by the
o. p. when 1t assumed control last
year. He used to come down once
n month. After Hardin went out he
came down to stay"
"WhOse say-sOY"
II don't know. The accounts were
rotten. that's no Office secret. The
world knows that. Hardin Is blamed
for 1t. 1t isn't fair. Look at Sather's
stone palace In Los Angeles. Look at
Hardin's tent, his shabby Clothes"
I'D like to meet Ogilvie." observed
the general manager.
"Oh, he's not much to meet. A pale,
white-livered vegetarian, a theOso-
phist. You've seer 'em. Los Angeles
Is full of EN-. He was here when Har-
din was fired. You could see him see
his opportunity. His chest swelled
up. He looked as If he had TASTED
meat for the first time. lie thought
that he could wOozIe into the empty
place! He went back TO Los Angeles,
convinced them that the auditor
should be here, protect the company's
interests. 1t sounded mysterious.
sleuthlike. az If he had discovered
something, so they let him bring the
books down here. He is supposed to
be ferreting. But he's 'woozling.' He
used to be In the outer office. Said
the noise made his head ache, so he
moved In here. All the committee
meetings are held here. and OCCASION
ally the directors meetings. Water
companies. too. Ogilvie's taking notes
wants to be the next general mana
ger; 1t sticks out all over him."
whats the derivation of woozle?"
this with deep gravity.
"Wait till you see Ogilvie /" laughed
his entertainer. Then as an after
thought, "This is all public gossip.
He's fair game"
The door opened behind them, and
Rickard saw the man whose descrip-
ton had been SO deftly knocked off.
he recognized the type seen so fire.
qucntly In southern California towns,
the pale, damaged exile whose chance
of reprieve is conditioned by stern
rules Of diet and sobriety. 1t was the
temperament which must perforce
translate a personal necessity into q
religious dogma.
"This gentleman's ..ust-Is Just
looking around" stammered MacLean,
laundering, confused.
The vegetarian nodded, taking off
his felt sombrerO and putting it on a.
chair with care.
BY this time 1t was apparent that
no one save Hardin knew of his COM
ing. He was ahead of Marshall's let
tiers. He did not like the flavor of his
entrance.
"What provision is being made for
the new general manager?"
The question. aimed carelessly. hit
the auditor.
"They are not talking of filling the
position just yet" he responded.
"There is no need at present. The
work is going along nicely, better, l
might say. adjusted as it now is. than
1t did before"
Il heard that they had sent a man
from the Tucson office to represent
Mr.. Marshall"
"Did you hear his manner" STAN
mered Ogilvie.
"Rlckard."
The auditor recovered himself. 81
would have heard Of 1t were 1t true.
I am in close touch with the Los An
geles Office"
1T Is true"
"How do you know" Ogllvie's dis
may was too sudden; the flabby facial
muscles betrayed him.
I'm Richard" The new general
manager took the swivel chair behind
the flat-top desk. "Sit down. I'd like
to have a talk with you"
IF you will excus me."-Ogilvie's
bluff was as anemic as his crushed ap-
p%earance. IL am busy this morn
ing. Might trouble you-for a
few minutes? My papers are In this
desk"
Richard now knew his man to the
shallow depths Of his white-cOrpus-
cled soul. "If ! won't be In your way
I'll hang around here. I've the day to
kill"