id not reply until the match
flare had gone out. Then he said, in a way that made Leckhard his friend
for life:

"I'm entirely in your hands, Mr. Leckhard; can't turn a wheel unless you
say so. And I believe you're telling me the truth, as man to man. Can
you reach Ford or Mr. Colbrith by wire?"

"I'm sorry to say I can't. We have only the one wire, and it's on
temporary poles most of the way. It broke down on us this morning, and I
can't raise the end-of-track."

"Block number two," said Adair cheerfully. "We seem to be out of luck
this evening." Then, with searching abruptness: "Do you call yourself
Ford's friend, Mr. Leckhard?"

"Rather," said the Saint's Rest Pooh Bah. "He hired me; and when he
goes, I go."

"Ah! now we are warming ourselves at the same fire. Let me invite your
confidence in one word, Mr. Leckhard. I dislike Mr. North."

The burly engineer laughed again.

"You have a geniusful way of putting your finger on the sore spot
without fumbling. We all dislike Mr. North at this end of things--with
reason."

"And that reason is?"

"That he'd fire the entire engineering department if he could find half
an excuse. I'm afraid he's going to do it, too, in the most effectual
way--by forcing Mr. Ford out. If Ford goes, every man in the department
will quit with him. I'm afraid it's coming to that."

Johnson, the porter, had lighted the Pintsch globes and was laying the
covers for dinner.

"Make it two, Johnson," said Adair; and, then to Leckhard: "You dine
with me--don't say no; I couldn't stand it alone." And when that point
was settled: "Now, sit down till we thresh, this out a bit finer. How
far has this forcing business gone? You're talking to the man who has
backed Ford from the first."

"It has gone pretty far. North has obstructed, quietly but persistently,
ever since the first blow was struck on the extension. He has delayed
material, when he could do it unofficially, he scants us for rolling
stock and motive power, he stands in with the MacMorroghs and backs them
against Ford every time there is a dispute. Ford is a patient man, Mr.
Adair, but I think he has about reached the limit."

"H'm. Do you attach any particular importance to the president's trip
over the extension?"

Leckhard shook his head. "I'm only a passenger--I see what goes by the
car-windows. Mr. Colbrith was dead set on pushing over to the
end-of-track--wouldn't even wait for daylight. You probably know him
better than