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sorted it till it's nae despicable for its size。 But it's no fit
for the wark。 Jemmie； lad； just gie't its fill an' we'll pit the
saw until a log；〃 said Urquhart； as they went up into the sawing…
room where； in a few minutes； the colonel had an exhibition of the
saw sticking fast in a log for lack of power。
〃Man； yon's a lad that kens his trade。 He's frae Gleska。 He earns
his money's warth。〃
〃How did you come to get him？〃 said the colonel； moved to interest
by Urquhart's unwonted praise。
〃Indeed； just the way we've got all our best men。 It's the boss
picked him oot o' the gutter； and there he is earnin' his twa and a
half a day。〃
〃The boss did that； eh？〃 said the colonel； with one of his swift
glances at the speaker。
〃Aye； that he did； and he's only one o' many。〃
〃He's good at that sort of business； I guess。〃
〃Aye； he kens men as ye can see frae his gang。〃
〃Doesn't seem to be able to make the company's business pay；〃
ventured the colonel。
〃D'ye think ye cud find one that cud？〃 pointing to the halting saw。
〃An that's the machine that turned oot thae piles yonder。 Gie him
a chance； though； an' when the stuff is deesposed of ye'll get y're
profit。〃 Urquhart knew what he was about； and the colonel went
back with Coley to his rooms convinced of two facts； that the
company had a plant that might easily be improved； but a manager
that； in the estimation of those who wrought with him； was easily
first in his class。 Ranald could have adopted no better plan for
the enhancing of his reputation than by allowing Colonel Thorp to
go in and out among the workmen and his friends。 More and more the
colonel became impressed with his manager's genius for the picking
of his men and binding them to his interests； and as this impression
deepened he became the more resolved that it was a waste of good
material to retain a man in a country offering such a limited scope
for his abilities。
But after four weeks spent in exploring the interior； from
Quesnelle to Okanagan； and in the following in and out the water…
ways of the coast line； the colonel met Ranald at Yale with only a
problem to be solved； and he lost no time in putting it to his
manager。
〃How in thunder can I get those narrow…gauge； hidebound Easterners
to launch out into business in this country？〃
〃I can't help you there； Colonel。 I've tried and failed。〃
〃By the great Sam； so you have！〃 said the colonel； with a sudden
conviction of his own limitations in the past。 〃No use tryin' to
tell 'em of this；〃 swinging his long arm toward the great sweep of
the Fraser Valley； clothed with a mighty forest。 〃It's only a
question of holdin' on for a few years； the thing's dead sure。〃
〃I have been through a good part of it；〃 said Ranald； quietly； and
I am convinced that here we have the pick of Canada； and I venture
to say of the American Continent。 Timber； hundreds of square miles
of it； fishI've seen that river so packed with salmon that I
couldn't shove my canoe through〃
〃Hold on； now；〃 said the colonel； 〃give me time。〃
〃Simple； sober truth of my own proving；〃 replied Ranald。 〃And you
saw a fringe of the mines up in the Cariboo。 The Kootenai is full
of gold and silver； and in the Okanagan you can grow food and
fruits for millions of people。 I know what I am saying。〃
〃Tell you what；〃 said the colonel； 〃you make me think you're
speakin' the truth anyhow。〃 Then； with a sudden inspiration； he
exclaimed： 〃By the great Sammy； I've got an idea！〃 and then； as he
saw Ranald waiting； added； 〃But I guess I'll let it soak till we
get down to the mill。〃
〃Do you think you could spare me； Colonel？〃 asked Ranald； in a
dubious voice； 〃I really ought to run through a bit of timber
here。〃
〃No； by the great Sam； I can't！ I want you to come right along；〃
replied the colonel； with emphasis。
〃What is he saying； Colonel？〃 asked Mr。 Blair。
〃Wants to run off and leave me to paddle my way home alone。 Not
much！ I tell you what； we have some important business to do
before I go East。 You hear me？〃
〃And besides； Macdonald； I want you for that big meeting of ours
next week。 You simply must be there。〃
〃You flatter me； Mr。 Blair。〃
〃Not a bit； you know there are a lot of hot…heads talking separation
and that sort of thing； and I want some level…headed fellow who
is in with the working men to be there。〃
And as it turned out it was a good thing for Mr。 Blair and for the
cause he represented that Ranald was present at the great mass…
meeting held in New Westminster the next week。 For the people were
exasperated beyond all endurance at the delay of the Dominion in
making good the solemn promises given at the time of Confederation；
and were in a mood to listen to the proposals freely made that the
useless bond should be severed。 〃Railway or separation；〃 was the
cry； and resolutions embodying this sentiment were actually
proposed and discussed。 It was Ranald's speech； every one said；
that turned the tide。 His calm logic made clear the folly of even
considering separation； his knowledge of； and his unbounded faith
in； the resources of the province； and more than all； his
impassioned picturing of the future of the great Dominion reaching
from ocean to ocean； knit together by ties of common interest； and
a common loyalty that would become more vividly real when the
provinces had been brought more closely together by the promised
railway。 They might have to wait a little longer； but it was worth
while waiting； and there was no future in any other policy。 It was
his first speech at a great meeting； and as Mr。 Blair shook him
warmly by the hand； the crowd burst into enthusiastic cries；
〃Macdonald！ Macdonald！〃 and in one of the pauses a single voice
was heard； 〃Glengarry forever！〃 Then again the crowd broke forth；
〃Glengarry！ Glengarry！〃 for all who knew Ranald personally had
heard of the gang that were once the pride of the Ottawa。 At that
old cry Ranald's face flushed deep red； and he had no words to
answer his friends' warm congratulations。
〃Send him East；〃 cried a voice。
〃Yes； yes； that's it。 Send him to Ottawa to John A。 It's the same
clan！〃
Swiftly Mr。 Blair made up his mind。 〃Gentlemen； that is a good
suggestion。 I make it a motion。〃 It was seconded in a dozen
places； and carried by a standing vote。 Then Ranald rose again and
modestly protested that he was not the man to go。 He was quite
unknown in the province。
〃We know you！〃 the same voice called out； followed by a roar of
approval。
〃And； besides；〃 went on Ranald； 〃it is impossible for me to get
away； I'm a working man and not my own master。〃
Then the colonel； who was sitting on the platform； rose and begged
to be heard。 〃Mr。 Chairman and gentlemen； I ain't a Canadian〃
〃Never mind！ You can't help that；〃 sang out a man from the back；
with a roar of laughter following。
〃But if I weren't an American； I don't know anything that I'd
rather be。〃 （Great applause。） 〃Four weeks ago I wouldn't have
taken your province as a gift。 Now I only wish Uncle Sam could
persuade you to sell。〃 （Cries of 〃He hasn't got money enough。
Don't fool yourself。〃） 〃But I want to say that this