wn leader blindly, idiotically. But if it doesn't hear the familiar
tinkle of the leader's bell, it is mighty apt to huddle and run back."

Ford's smile was grim.

"I don't mind saying to you, Mr. Adair, that this is one of the times
when it will be much safer to huddle and run forward. Have you seen the
half-yearly report?"

"I? Heaven forbid! I have never seen anything out of the Pacific
Southwestern--not even a dividend."

Ford would very willingly have tried to share his enthusiasm with the
care-free young man, whose face was still vaguely but persistently
remindful of some impression antedating the automobile passing; but now
the other members of the board were dropping in by twos and threes, and
privacy was at an end.

Just before President Colbrith took his place at the head of the long
table to call the meeting to order, Adair leaned forward to say in low
tones: "I couldn't give you the tip you wanted, Mr. Ford, but I can give
you another which may serve as well. If your good word doesn't win out,
scare 'em--scare 'em stiff! I don't know but you could frighten half a
million or so out of me if you should try."

"Thank you," said Ford. "I may take you at your word,"--and just then
Mr. Colbrith rose in his place, fingering his thin white beard rather
nervously, Ford thought, and rapping on the table for silence.

It was admitted on all hands that the president of the Pacific
Southwestern was a careful man and a thrifty. It was these qualities
which had first determined his election. There were many small
stock-holders in the company, and it is the foible of small
stock-holders to believe that rigid economy counts for more than
adventurous outreachings in the larger field.

"Gentlemen," he began, his high, raucous voice rasping the silence like
the filing of a saw, "this meeting is called, as you have probably been
informed, for the purpose of considering a plan for betterments
submitted by Mr. Stuart Ford, who is at the present time superintendent
of our Plug Mountain Division.

"In making this unusual innovation, and in introducing Mr. Ford, I
desire to say that I have been actuated by that motive of prudence
which, while it stands firmly upon its own feet, is willing to consider
suggestions from without, even when these suggestions appear to be
totally at variance with a policy of careful and judicious financiering.

"In presenting Mr. Ford as the son of an old friend, long since gone to
his reward,