"
"No hurry, no hurry," urged Bob. "Why the men haven't got
back from their breakfast yet. Wait awhile. Have a smoke."
"Thank you; I do not smoke."
Tripp looked at him in amazement.
"And you in the show business?"
"Is that any reason why a man's habits should not be regular?"
"N-n-n-o," admitted the rival slowly.
"Well, I must be going, just the same. I have considerable work
to do in the car."
Bob rose reluctantly and followed Phil from the dining room.
He had hoped to detain the young car manager longer, or until
his own men could get a good start on the work of the day.
He looked for no difficulty, however, in outwitting his
young opponent.
As they approached the railroad yards each car stood as they had
left it, shades pulled well down and no signs of life aboard.
"Looks as if your crew was still asleep," smiled Tripp.
"I might say the same of yours, did I not know to the contrary,"
answered Phil suggestively.
Bob shot a keen glance at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing much. Of course I did not think your men would be
asleep all this time. They are surely out to breakfast by
this time."
"You ain't half as big a fool as you look, are you?" demanded the
rival manager. "Well, I will see you later."
Each went to his little office and began the work of the day, but
there was a grim smile of satisfaction on the face of each.
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