Part 21 (2/2)
”I thought so”
The secretary turned to the typewriter, and their eyesto do with this story) She looked inquiringly, doubtful of his resources He signed to her to ades into action Then he swept his hand
, and set to work, while Miss Kinzey's white fingers called up the Continent of Aeles--The 'Constance' is at Los Angeles, isn't she, Miss Kinzey?”
”Yep” Miss Kinzey nodded between clicks as the secretary looked at his watch
”Ready? Send 'Constance,' private car, here, and arrange for special to leave here Sunday in time to connect with New York Lio, Tuesday next”
Click--click--click! ”Couldn't you better that'?”
”Not on those grades That gives 'eain anything by taking a special east of that Ready? Also arrange with Lake Shore and Michigan Southern to take 'Constance' on New York Central and Hudson River Buffalo to Albany, and B and A the same Albany to Boston Indispensable I should reach Boston Wednesday evening Be sure nothing prevents Have also wired Canniff, Toucey, and Barnes--Sign, Cheyne”
Miss Kinzey nodded, and the secretary went on
”Now then Canniff, Toucey, and Barnes, of course Ready? Canniff Chicago Please take my private car 'Constance 'from Santa Fe at Sixteenth Street next Tuesday p h to Buffalo and deliver N Y C for Albany--Ever bin to N' York, Miss Kinzey?
We'll go some day Ready? Take car Buffalo to Albany on Limited Tuesday p m That's for Toucey”
”Haven't bin to Noo York, but I know that!” with a toss of the head
”Beg pardon Now, Boston and Albany, Barnes, sah to Boston Leave three-five P M (you needn't wire that); arrive nine-five P M Wednesday That covers everything Wade will do, but it pays to shake up the reat,” said Miss Kinzey, with a look of admiration This was the kind of man she understood and appreciated
”'Tisn't bad,” said Milsom, modestly ”Now, any one butout the run, instead of handing hio”
”But see here, about that Noo York Limited Chauncey Depew hiested, recovering herself
”Yes, but this isn't Chauncey It's Cheyne--lightning It goes”
”Even so Guess we'd better wire the boy You've forgotten that, anyhow”
”I'll ask”
When he returned with the father'sHarvey meet thehing over the keys Then Milsoeles ran: ”We want to knohy--why? General uneasiness developed and spreading”
Ten o appealed to Miss Kinzey in these words: ”If cri please warn friends in ti to cover here”
This was capped by a e from Topeka (and wherein Topeka was concerned even Milsouess): ”Don't shoot, Colonel We'll corirams were laid before him ”They think we're on the war-path Tell 'e just now, Milsouess you and Miss Kinzey had better coh it isn't likely I shall do any business on the road Tell 'em the truth--for once”
So the truth was told Miss Kinzey clicked in the sentiment while the secretary added the memorable quotation, ”Let us have peace,” and in board-rooms two thousand miles away the representatives of sixty-three million dollars' worth of variously manipulated railroad interests breathedto meet the only son, sohis cub, not the bulls Hard ht for their financial lives put away the weapons and wished him God-speed, while half a dozen panic-smitten tin-pot roads perked up their heads and spoke of the wonderful things they would have done had not Cheyne buried the hatchet
It was a busy week-end a the wires; for, now that their anxiety was reeles called to San Diego and Barstow that the Southern California engineers ht know and be ready in their lonely round-houses; Barstow passed the word to the Atlantic and Pacific; the Albuquerque flung it the whole length of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe ine, coilded ”Constance”
private car were to be ”expedited” over those two thousand three hundred and fifty miles The train would take precedence of one hundred and seventy-seven others ; despatches and crews of every one of those said trains ineers, and sixteen firemen would be needed--each and every one the best available Two and one half ines, three for watering, and two for coaling ”Warn the ly; for Harvey Cheyne is in a hurry, a hurry-a hurry,” sang the wires ”Forty miles an hour will be expected, and division superintendents will accompany this special over their respective divisions Froic carpet be laid down Hurry! oh, hurry!”