d therefrom. And gossip spread abroad
that Stillman, then Head of the Inspection Division, was not a big
enough man for the job. Thus it was an entirely unsuspecting Kinnison
who was called into the innermost private office of Thomas Keller, the
Superintendent of Production.

"Kinnison, how in hell do you handle those Siberians? I never saw
anything like them before in my life."

"No, and you never will again. Nothing on Earth except a war could get
them together or hold them together. I don't 'handle' them--they can't
be 'handled'. I give them a job to do and let them do it. I back them
up. That's all."

"Umngpf." Keller grunted. "That's a hell of a formula--if I want
anything done right I've got to do it myself. But whatever your system
is, it works. But what I wanted to talk to you about is, how'd you like
to be Head of the Inspection Division, which would be enlarged to
include your present Chemical Section?"

"Huh?" Kinnison demanded, dumbfounded.

"At a salary well up on the confidential scale." Keller wrote a figure
upon a piece of paper, showed it to his visitor, then burned it in an
ash-tray.

Kinnison whistled. "I'd like it--for more reasons than that. But I
didn't know that you--or have you already checked with the General and
Mr. Black?"

"Naturally," came the smooth reply. "In fact, I suggested it to them and
have their approval. Perhaps you are curious to know why?"

"I certainly am."

"For two reasons. First, because you have developed a crew of technical
experts that is the envy of every technical man in the country. Second,
you and your Siberians have done every job I ever asked you to, and done
it fast. As a Division Head, you will no longer be under me, but I am
right, I think, in assuming that you will work with me just as
efficiently as you do now?"

"I can't think of any reason why I wouldn't." This reply was made in all
honesty; but later, when he came to understand what Keller had meant,
how bitterly Kinnison was to regret its making!

He moved into Stillman's office, and found there what he thought was
ample reason for his predecessor's failure to make good. To his way of
thinking it was tremendously over-staffed, particularly with Assistant
Chief Inspectors. Delegation of authority, so widely preached
throughout Entwhistle Ordnance Plant, had not been given even lip
service here. Stillman had not made a habit of visiting the lines; nor
did the Chief Line Inspectors, the boys who