The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-03-04
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followed by a few idle glances.
Rickard looked with approval at the
tan slim figure which was assuming
the courtesy Of the towns. The fine
handsome face was almost too girlish,
the muscles of the mouth too sensitive
yet for manly beauty, but he liked the
type. 1.-the as young desert-reared
Indian, his manner and carriage told
of q careful home and rigid school dis
cipline.
He was ushered into a large cool
room. The furnishings he inventoried
a few stiff chairs, long table and a
typewriter desk, closed for the Sab
bath.
"The stenographer's room," an.
nounced the lad super1uously.
"Whose stenographer"
General property now. Everyone
has right to use her time. She used
to be Hardin's, the general managers.
She Is his still, in a way. But Ogilvie
keeps her busy most Of the time"
Rickard had not heard Of Ogilvie.
He made q mental register.
"When did Hardin 60 out7" he
knew the date himself. He expected
the answer would trail wisps Of other
information. He had very active Gu
riosity about Hardin. The mans fall
ures had been spectacular.
The young fellow was thinking
aloud. 1.-THE dam went November
10th. Hardin was given q decent in
terval to resign. OF course he was
fired. 1t was an outrage" He re-
membered that he was speaking to a
stranger and broke off suddenly. Rick
ard did not question him. he made
another note. Why was it an outrage
or why did 1t appear so7 In perspec.
tive, from the Mexican barranca,
where he had been at the time. the
failure Of that dam had been another
bar sinister against Hardin.
II see that you are from the Univer-
sity Of Californian Rickard said, and
nodded at the pin Of gold and blue
enamel.
"Out for a year." glowed the lad.
dad wanted me to get some real stuff
in my head. He said the Colorado
would give me more lessons-more real
knowledge in q year than I'd get In
six at college. I kicked up an awful
row"
The older man smiled. "Of course.
You don't want to 60 back now"
The boy made q wry face. HE ex-
poets me to 60 back in August. Says
I must"
"You did not tell me your name,"
was suggested.
"MacLean, George MacLean," said
the young man rather consciously. 1t
was a good deal to live up to. He al
ways felt the appraisement which fol-
lowed that admission. George Mac.
Lean, elder, was known among the
railroad circles to be man Of iron,
one of the strongest Of the heads Of
the Overland Pacific system. he was
not the sort of man son could speak
lightly of disobeying.
"Of course everyone calls me Jun
ior."
II guess you'll go back If he wants
you to-" smiled Rickard.
"Oh, but what a rotten trick 1t
would bel" exclaimed the son Of the
man Of iron. ITO throw me out Of
college, was daffy to finish with my
class, and to get me here, to get me in
terested-and then after I've lost my
place to pull me back. Why, there are
things happening every day that are
liberal education. They are only just
beginning to understand what they are
bucking up against. The Colorado's
an unknown quantity; even old engi-
neers are right up against it. There
are new problems coming up every
day. The Indians call 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 it now"
"And who did you say was Ogil-
vie?" They turned back into the
room.
"You can 60 In. He's not here. He
is the new auditor, an expert account
ant from Los Angeles. Put in by the
o. P. when it assumed control last
year. He used to come down once
a month. After Hardin went out he
came down to stay"
"Whose say-so?"
II don't know. The accounts were
rotten, that's no Office secret. The
world knows that Hardin Ia hlamed