New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-12
CHAPTER XVI
The Qeserter

D. my idi NilouSh u iItCt III
e boss coming up again. There wa
+ nothing doing. The station policema
had seen the crazy rOunder jump int
a taxi and 60 spinning off uptown.
: There was another jolt waiting 70
us when we got back to the Office
: while we were both out. Mr.. Van Brit
; llad blown In from his rOOm at tn
FOOT of the hall and we found hin
lounglng comfortably in the chair tina
Colllngwood had just vacated.
II thought maybe you'd urn u
again pretty soon. since you'd left TIN
doors all Open" was the way he starte,
out. Then: "Sit down, Graham;
want TO talk a few lines"
Mr.. NOrcross Dol his own chair ant
twirled it to face the general super
intendent. Say it," he commanded
briefly.
Mir. Van Britt hooked his thumbs
in his armholes.
"Fve just been figuring a bit on the
general outlook you have a decently
eiilcient operating outfit here, what
with Perkins and Brant and Conway
handling the three divisions as self.
contained units. You don't need q
general superintendent any more than
"A monkey needs two tails"
what are YOU driving att" was
the curt demand.
swell, suppose we say retrenchment,
for n thing. As ! size it up. you
might just as well be saving my salary.
1t would buy a good many new cross
ties in the course of a year"
THAT'S all bunk. and you know it."
snapped the boss. "The organization
as ii stands hasn't a single stick of
dead wood in 1t. You know very well
that a railroad the size of the Short
Line can't run without an individual
head of the operating department.
Mr.. Van Britt laughed a little at
thar.
IF you should get some one of these
new efficiency experts out here he
would probably tell you that you could
cut your staff right in two in the
middle"
| could see that the BOSS was get
ting mighty nearly impatient.
you are merely turning handsprings
around the edges of the thing you have
cone to say, Upton," he barked out.
"Come to the point, can't you? What
have you got up your sleeve?"
"Nothing that | could make YOU
understand in a month of SUNDAYS.
Pm sore on my job and | want to
quit"
Nonsense. You don't mean that?"
"Yes, | do. I'm tired of wearing
the brass collar of a soulless corpora
ton. What's the use, anyway? found
a bunch of dividend checks from my
bank at home in the mail to-day, and
what good does the money do me?
tip the servants at the hotel without
everlastingly demoralizing them. I'm
like the little boy who wanted to 90
out in the garden and eat worms"
The boss was frowning thoughtfully.
you're not giving me a show, Up
he protested. Cant you blow
the froth off and let me see what's
in the bottom of the stein?"
pledge you my word, it's all froth,
Graham. | a to climb up on the
mesa behind the shops and take a
good deep breath of free air and shake
my fist at your blamed old cow-track
Of a railroad and tell it to go to the
devil. You shouldn't deny me a little
pleasure like that"
Ii was getting under the boss skin
At last. Il can't believe that you
really want TO resign" he broke out,
sort of hopelessly. ITS simply pre-
)osterous ~
Pull it down out of the future and
lut il in the present, and you've got
t." said Mr.. Van Britt. IL have re-
wrote it out on a piece of
and dropped it into your mail
,ox as ] came through the outer office.
is signed, sealed, and delivered. You'll
1--WE me a testimonial. or something of
hat sort. TO Whom II May Concern,
won't you? I've beer Obedient and
and honest and efficient, and
that, haven't IL"
I'D like to know where YOU got your
liquor, Upton. That is the most char
table construction | can put upon all
his. Why, man alive! you're quitting
ne in the thick of the toughest fight
he grafters have put upl" :
"Yes, | know but a mans got onIy
life to live. and I've always had I
sneaking sympathy for the high pri-
ate in the front rank who didn't want
D stand up and get himself shot full I
{ holes. I'm running. and If you !
Iould ask me why. I'd tell you what 7
he r~etreating soldier told S%tonewall G
he said he was running only (
cause he couldn't fly" Once more '
he BOSS grew silently thoughtful. Out /
I the digging mental inquiry he n
this: a
"Has this sudden notion of yours h
to do with Sheila Macrae, a
pledge you my word again. l met /,
bella on the street today and prom g
ed her that / wouldn't so much o
tip my hat TO her while Collingwood
on this side of the Missouri river" n
But if you quit. you'll go east your b
II, won't your" /"
Maybe. after a while. For the time "
ing, I'd like TO loaf on you for a m
eek or so and watch the wheels go h
ound without my having to prod v
EN-. It's running in my mind that \
is newest phase of the c. S. & W..
lsiness is going TO stir up a mighty
city shindy. and l had a foolish no "