None of the trainmen knew that Mr.Scott had not personally given the orders.

I had almost made up my mind that if the like occurred again, I would not repeat my proceeding of that morning unless I was authorized to do so.

I was feeling rather distressed about what I had done until I heard from Mr.
Franciscus, who was then in charge of the freighting department at Pittsburgh, that Mr.Scott, the evening after the memorable morning, had said to him: "Do you know what that little white-haired Scotch devil of mine did ?" "No." "I'm blamed if he didn't run every train on the division in my name without the slightest authority." "And did he do it all right ?" asked Franciscus.
"Oh, yes, all right." This satisfied me.

Of course I had my cue for the next occasion, and went boldly in.

From that date it was very seldom that Mr.Scott gave a train order.
[Illustration: THOMAS A.SCOTT] [Illustration: JOHN EDGAR THOMSON] The greatest man of all on my horizon at this time was John Edgar Thomson, president of the Pennsylvania, and for whom our steel-rail mills were afterward named.