Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-15
CHAPTER vi.
Red dTape.

/ hSu ape .
At ten o'clock the next morning Har-
din, entering the office, again. the gem
eral managers, found there before him
George MacLean, the new director, and
Percy Babcock, the treasurer, who had
been put in by the Overland Pacific
when the old company was reorgan-
lied. They had just come in from Los
Angeles, the trip made in MacLean's
private car, to attend a directors meet
ing.
Rickard entered few minutes later,
Estrada behind him. Ogilvie followed
Rickard to his desk.
"Well?" inquired the new manager.
Ogilvie explained lengthily that he
had the minutes of the last meeting.
"Leave them here" Rickard waved
him toward Estrada, who held out his
hand for the papers.
Reluctantly the accountant relin-
quished the papers. His retreating
coattails looked ludicrously whipped
but no one laughed. Hardins scowI
deepened.
Showing his power" he thought.
Hes going to call for a new pack"
Estrada pushed the minutes through
with but few unimportant interrup-
tions. He was sitting at the same desk
with Rickard. Hardin, sensitive and
sullen, thought he saw the meeting
managed between them.
Several times he attempted to bring
the tangled affairs of the water .om-
panies before the directors. Richard
would not discuss the water comma
MES.
Because he's not posted! He's be-
ginning to see what he's up against"
ran Hardin's stormy thoughts.
He was on his feet the next minnie
with motion to complete the Hardin
headgate. Violently lie declaimed to
Babcoek and MacLean his wrongs, the
injustice that had been done him. Mar
shall had let that fellow Maitland con
vince him that the gate was not prac-
ticable; had 1t not been for him the
gate would be in place now; all this
time and money saved. And the Matt
land dam, built instead! Where was
1t? Where was the money, the time,
put in that little toy? Sickening! His
face purpled over the memory. Why
was he allowed to begin again with
the gate? ANSWER me that. Why
was | allowed to begin again? It's oil
child's play, that's what it is. And
when | am in it again up to my neck
he pulls me off !"
This was the real Hardin, the un-
cOuth, averaged Lawrence studentl
The new manner was just veneer.
Rickard had been expecting it to wear
thin.
Il think" interjected Rickard, "that
we all agree with Mr. Marshall, Mir.
Hardin, that wooden headgate on silt
foundation could never be more than
a makeshift. | understood that the
first day he visited the river with you
~ huN ttAV ihCd " put tite uttlihllC
gate, the gate which would control the
water supply of the valley, up at the
Crossing on rock foundation. Mr.. Mar
shall does not expect to finish that in
time to be of first use. He hopes the
wooden gate will solve the immediate
problem. 1t was case of any port in
storm. He has asked me to report
my opinion"
"Why doesn't he give me chance
to go ahead theny growled the de-
posed manager. 'Instead of letting
the intake widen until 1t will be an inn
possibility to confine the river there
at all?"
$50 you do think that it win be an
impossiblity to complete the gate as
planned?"
Hardin had run too fast. 81 didn't
mean that" he stammered. 81 mean
1t will be difficult if we are delayed
much longer"
Have you the force to re-begin
work at once?" demanded Riekard.
Il had it," evaded Hardin. Il had
everything ready to go on-men. ma
terial ~ when We stopped the last