ollars. He will examine and
investigate, and probe and pry, and will want to worry through every
pen-scratch which has been made up to date."

"Well, there is one comfort; he can't take much time for his worrying,"
said Ford. "Some of the options expire to-morrow noon."

Adair sat up as one who suddenly takes notice.

"What?--to-morrow? Land of glory! but you two fellows took short
chances! Why, any little hitch--"

"I know," said the engineer evenly. "But we took what we could get--and
were thankful. Somebody was bidding against us, and prices began to
jump. Incidentally, I may say that Kenneth deserves to be made a
vice-president of the new company, at the very least. He has done ten
men's work in the last three or four days."

"I don't doubt it. Neither do I suspect you of loafing. For that matter,
I've been hustling a few lines, myself, since I sent you that first
telegram."

"Do you find it exciting enough to keep you interested, as far as you've
gone?" inquired Ford, mindful of Miss Alicia's longings.

"It's the best yet," declared the idler. "Only, you mustn't lean too
heavily on me, you know. I'm the most uncertain quantity you ever
experienced. But here comes Uncle Sidney, with a cowed and brow-beaten
Kenneth in tow--say your prayers, and get ready for the battle royal."

IX

THE RACE TO THE SLOW

Adair's prophecy that President Colbrith would prove himself an
obstructor of the stubbornest was amply fulfilled during the short
interval which remained for decisive action. Truly, in the battle for
business celerity the odds were three to one against Mr. Colbrith; yet
the three were as those who buffet the wind. The president must see and
feel, know and fully understand; and at the very last moment, when the
shortest of the options had no more than an hour to live, he was
proposing to summon General Manager North from Denver to make a fifth in
the council of discord.

It was Adair who took the bull by the horns when the president's caution
was about to turn victory into defeat. What was said or done after the
young man drew Mr. Colbrith into the private committee-room at the bank
and shut the door, Ford and Kenneth, who were excluded, could only
surmise. But whatever was done was well done. When the two, uncle and
nephew, came out of the room of privacy, the old man was shaking his
head and the young one was smiling serenely. So it came about that
between eleven and twelve o'clock, when Ford,