was not mortal. Ford had been born in Illinois; and so, something better
than a third of a century earlier, had the president. Moreover, Mr.
Colbrith had, in the hey-day of his youth, shared rooms with the elder
Ford in the fresh-water university which had later numbered the younger
Ford among its alumni. These things count for somewhat, even when the
gap to be bridged is that between the president of a railroad and one of
his minor officials.

But when the revolutionary project was introduced, the president's
guarded cordiality faded like a photographic proof-print in the
sunlight, and the air of the darkened library grew coldly inclement.

"So you came to talk business, did you?" said the high, rasping voice
out of the depths of the easy-chair opposite; and Ford raged inwardly at
the thought that he had clearly placed himself at a disadvantage by
becoming even constructively the guest of the president. "As a rule, I
positively refuse to discuss such matters outside of their proper
environment; but I'll make an exception for Douglas Ford's son. Your
plan is simply impossible. I can understand how it may appear possible,
and even attractive, to a young man, and especially to the young man who
has invented it. But as an investment for capital--my dear young sir, go
back to your division, and strive by faithful service to rise in the
accepted and time-honored way. You are wasting your time in New York."

Curiously enough, Ford found his evaporated courage recrystallizing
under opposition.

"I can not believe that I have made the plan, and the present condition
of the system, sufficiently clear to you," he insisted; whereupon he
went patiently and good-naturedly over the argument again, emphasizing