to you. A receivership is looming in the distance, and the not very dim
distance, for the P. S-W."

"I thought so. How near is it?"

"I don't know--nobody knows definitely. If we had a man of resources at
the head of things--as we have not--it might be stood off for another
six months."

"I'm on the way to stand it off permanently, if I can get any backing,"
said Ford quietly.

"You!" was the astonished reply.

"Yes, I. Listen, Evans. For two years I have been buried up yonder in
the hills, with not enough to do in the summer season to keep me out of
mischief. I am rather fond of mathematics, and I am telling you I have
this thing figured out to the fourth decimal. If President Colbrith and
his associates can be made to see that the multiplication of two by two
gives an invariable resultant of four, there will be no receivership for
the P. S-W. this year, or next."

"Show me," said the auditor.

Ford hesitated for a moment. Then he took a packet of papers, estimates,
exhibits and fine-lined engineer's maps from his pocket and tossed it
across the table.

"That is for you, personally--for David Evans; not the P. S-W. auditor.
You've got to keep it to yourself."