The Master of Transportation took in the applicant fully, then nodded his head as if pleased with his inspection.
"That's good."
Anthony was drawn to the speaker instantly, for there was no affectation about him. He was straightforward and open, little given to the kind of small talk that serves in so many cases to conceal character. He produced the effect of a busy and forceful man; one could feel energy radiating from him, and his voice had a ring of authority. Like every one down here who was doing something, he talked of little besides the Big Job, even when Mr. Cortlandt joined the trio. As the two younger men rose to leave, Edith playfully admonished him to teach his protege the entire detail of the railroad business and have him back in time for dinner, to which he agreed.
"She's wonderful," he remarked a moment later, as he and Kirk descended the hotel steps together. "She told Colonel Jolson he'd just have to find you a position, and I have been delegated to show you about."
"You don't say. I supposed there were plenty of openings."
"Not good ones. However, she usually gets what she wants. If I'm not a good guide, you must put it down to inexperience."
"The Cortlandts seem to have considerable influence for outsiders. I thought I'd have to begin at the bottom."
Runnels glanced at his companion quickly.
"Outsiders! You don't call them outsiders?"
"I never quite figured out who they are. Funny, by-the-way, how everybody says 'they' in referring to them."