

114 DEEP FURROWS 



Growers' picnic he drew Crerar aside for an hour's 

 chat, found out why he hao7~ii6t answered the letter 

 suggesting that he play a more active part, and liked 

 him all the better for his modesty. 



Without saying anything of what he had in mind he 

 returned to Winnipeg and sent the Vice-President to 

 Russell to size up the situation quietly. When Kennedy 

 got back he agreed with the President's choice of a 

 successor. 



The Company was holding its first annual meeting 

 on July 16th and care was taken that the unsuspecting 

 Crerar was on hand. The Vice-President button-holed 

 him, explaining that he was wanted on the Board of 

 Directors and in spite of his protest the President 

 himself nominated him and he was elected promptly. 



But when at the directors' meeting that night the 

 President told the Board that he had been looking 

 around for a young man to take charge and that 

 T. A. Crerar was the manwhen everybody present j 

 nodded approval, the man from Russell was speechless. 

 If they had asked him to pack his grip and leave at 

 once for Japan to interview the Mikado, he could not 

 have been more completely surprised. 



"Why, gentlemen " he objected, " I don't know any- 

 thing about managing this company! I could not 

 undertake it." 



"What is the next order of business?" asked 

 E. A. Partridge. 



The shareholders were almost as much surprised as 



' the newcomer himself when the name of the new 



president was announced. Many of them had never 



heard of T. A. Orerar. Had the young president-elect 



been able to see what lay ahead of him 



But, fortunately or unfortunately, that is one thing 

 which is denied to every human being. 



- ; :1 



