Panama and the canal in picture and prose .. . tten youtio letter. Oh, yes, Colonel, it was about that work downat Miraflores. Oh, I see. You spoke a little inaccurately. You_ WHAT THE COLONEL MEANT BY ORDERS 163 meant you received my orders, not a letter. Youhave the orders, so that matter is settled. Wasthere anything else you wished to talk with meabout? But the visitors topic of conversation had beensummarily exhausted and, somewhat abashed, hefaded away. And again: A high official of the Isthmian Com-mission had been somewhat abruptly translated fromthe Washington office to Ancon. There w
Panama and the canal in picture and prose .. . tten youtio letter. Oh, yes, Colonel, it was about that work downat Miraflores. Oh, I see. You spoke a little inaccurately. You_ WHAT THE COLONEL MEANT BY ORDERS 163 meant you received my orders, not a letter. Youhave the orders, so that matter is settled. Wasthere anything else you wished to talk with meabout? But the visitors topic of conversation had beensummarily exhausted and, somewhat abashed, hefaded away. And again: A high official of the Isthmian Com-mission had been somewhat abruptly translated fromthe Washington office to Ancon. There was no He spoke of his fears to the Colonel at lunch oneday. Lets walk over to the site and see, remarkedthat gentleman calmly. It may be noted in passingthat walking over and seeing is one of the Colonelsfavorite stunts. There are mighty few, if any,points on the Canal Zone which he has not walkedover and seen, with the result that his knowledgeof the progress of the work is not only precise butpersonal. But to return to the house COL. GOETHALS REVIEWING THE AT CAMP ELLIOTT house suitable for his occupancy and the Colonelordered one built to be ready, let us say, Octoberfirst. Meanwhile the prospective tenant and hisfamily abode at the Tivoli Hotel which, even toone enjoying the reduced rates granted to employees,is no inexpensive spot. Along about the middle ofAugust he began to get apprehensive. A fewfoundation pillars were all tliat was to be seen ofthe twelve-room house, of the type allotted tomembers of the Commission, which was to be his. On arrival there three or four workmen were foundplugging away in a leisurely manner under the eyeof a foreman to whom the Colonel straightwayaddressed himself, You understand the ordersrelative to this job? he said to the foreman,tentatively. Oh, yes. Colonel, responded that functionarycheerfully, it is ordered for October first, and weare going to do our very best. Pardon me, blandly but with a suspicion of 164 PA
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