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that Messrs. Swope and Reed stuck their heads in once, saw the room well occupied and retired. There were about 20 men there including Bettke, Walter Hedley, "Zip", Scott, Faron, Piro, and Bransfield. The rest were industrial men from New York and Newark whom I didn't know. After the first five minutes, I was fairly at ease and it seemed no time before it was 12:15 PM and the meeting was over. I really had no idea the time had passed so rapidly. Several told me later, it was a good discussion, including Scott, Buddy Keye's successor, and Walter said it was significant as Scott had felt we were wasting our time on these locomotives previously--now he seemed to have some real enthusiasm.

When the meeting was over, George Saunders said there was a wire for me and I opened it with both hope and dread. It said, "Roger better no need for you to call tonight love - Wil." What a relief! I felt as though a ton had been lifted off my back, and I thanked heaven for it.

Walter took me to luncheon at the Railroad Luncheon Club at 30 Church where we saw Perry Egbert and Foley of Alco, having a stiff Scotch before eating which just hit the spot. Walter talked Diesels incessantly including another lecture on Larry Richardson and "persona non grata." Also, he seems to have designs on me for further reports. Said too he had been trying for months to get me into the Chicago Office to follow all diesel work west