The spectator., 1921-07-12


 then pretty soon, everybody took hold after which the only trouble was to keep people-our own rank ana nie among them-from buying r. \. L. Common so fast that the New York CTS would catch on and run the price up.
 They didn't catch on-not until after it was too late; and the minute MT. Chadwick wired us from Chicago that we were safe, the strike went oii. as you might say between two minutes, and Mr. Noreross called Il meeting or stockholders. the same to be held bless your heart .--in Portal City, the thriving metropolis of the region in which. counting Mir. Chadwick in as one of us Il good. solid voting major ity of the stock was now held. The M0untaineer printed the call. and II spoke of the railroad as 'our railroad company,
 The meeting was held in due time. and Mir Chadwick was there to pre- side. He made Il cracking good chair man. and the WAY he dilated on the fact that now the eountry--;ila the employeeS-had a railroad of their own and that the whole nation would be looking to see how We would de monstrate the problem We had taken over, actually brought cheers-think of it; cheers in q railroad stockhold- CTS meeting!
 Following Mr. thadWcly.s x ;alk there was the uSua! routine zbHSinesS: re- ports were read and il was shown that the Short Line notwithstanding all the StealingS and mismanagemenis, was still Il good going proposition at the price at which il had been bought ill. \ new board of directors WIS chosen, and as soon aS the new hoarj got to- ðer Mir NorcrosS Wcni haek to his office in the headquarters. net as gen. eral manager. this time-nei on your life but 0s The newly elected preSi- dent of Pioneer Short Line Nnd hy the Same token. the tir>t official cir eular that camc out--A copy of which I sent tied up with T blue ribhen, to AIalSie Ann read like this:
 "To all Employees;
 Effective this day, Mr James r. nedd~ k appointed assistant ,lo the president with headquarters in Portal City.
 "G. Norcross. President"
 That,S all; all but Ettle talk he tween the hoSs and Alr. Upton Nan Rritt thal took place tH our office an the daN after Mr Nau Britt still kick in4 about the hard weeE tbat ihe bos~ was always piIing upon hum b53 been appointed general manager.
 You've made the rflte. Graham just aS l said you would sad our own and anls millionaire. after he had got through abusing the tateS that wouldn't let him se back east and play with his coupon shears aud his y1chis and polo ponies. You're going to he the biggest man this side of the mountains, some day: and the day isn't so very far on. either"
 II was just here that the boss got out of his chair and walked to the other end pf the room. When he came back il was to say:
 You think have won out Cp- ton. and So does everybody else. I suppose it looks that way to the man in the street But haven't. you know l have lost the one thing for which l would gladly give all the business success l haze ever made ar hope to make
 Mir. Van Briu'S smile was more than half Il grin.
 Tt isn't lost. Graham it's only gone before. Can't you wait decent llt- tie while?"
 "If l should wait all my life it wouldn't be long enough. upton." was the reply. What you said Ia me that time when We first spoke of Col lingwood-waS true You said she loved the other man-and So she. did"
 This time Mir. Van Britt'S smile was q whole grin.
 "l said it, and I'll say II again. She didn't realize 1t or admit il. even to herself you know; shes too good and clean hearted for anything like that. But 1 could see il plainly enough. and So could everybody else except the. two people most nearly concerned didn't mean Howie Colliusweod you were the other man Graham"
 Al this the boss Whirled short around and tranped to the other end of the room again, standing for quite n little while with one foot on the low window-Sll anf making out like he MaS looking down at the traffic clattering along in Nevada avenue. But I'll het a quarter he never saw a single wheel of it. When he came back our way his eyes were shining and he put his hand on Mir Van Britts shoulder
 'lt ought 10 have been you. tppy," he said dropping back to the old col. -'ge nickname. You're ny long odds the better man. When--when do you A. .l-