The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-10

Inc president or the Great South
western Railway Company tapped In
patiently on the table. The other
members Of the board kept constrain-
cd silence, and the second vice prcsl-
dent, In charge of extension. gazed
longingly at the plebelan sign across the
street and seven stories below. 1t was
at him the president was directing his
remarks.
1T Is ridiculous" he said, that we
should be blocked by the obstlnacy OF
one man In our endeayer to build this
branch line. a casual observer would
certainly suppose that the executive
department Of the company had sufIl-
Client brains TO overcome such an obsta-
Gle as this. The situation Is simple
the mountains in which the new strikes
have been made. To develop them ma
chinery must be hauled in and ore
hauled out. That means Il branch line.
One man owns all the land-mesa and
foothlls-between the railroad and the
mines We must cross this ranch, but
he declines to sell right OF way. He Is
pioneer and Is bullhcaded. He says
the country was getting along without
railroads when he came there, and that
1t can get along without them still. We
must overcome his objections-but how?
We offer to pay him well for all dam
age done. and he replies by suggesting
that our grading outfit bring along one
flat car of collins. He IS certainly n
contrary individual. Have stated the
case correctly?" EE
You have" said the second vice pres
ident, removing his gaze from the sign
below to the map on the table. with
one exception. Colonel snortally is not
an individual; he is community, and
more; be Is corporation. because he
owns 10000 acres Of land: he Is pollu-
cal party. because he employs more
COW punchers than you can ordinarily
get together ut G country dance; he Is
q law giver, because OF the wealth and
the taxes he pays; he is u law enforcer
go far as he sees fit. because he can
shoot straight and has men with him
who can do likewise; he Is society. be-
cause his daughter. whom I have had
the pleasure of meeting, Is the most
beautiful young woman In the terri
tory. What can a poor, ordinary rail-
road company do against such COM
bination? We cannot condemn until
we can get right OF way from the
board Of supervisors. and he Is the
county government"
The president mopped his brow. His
gaze wandered across the street and
down seven stories to sign. He arose
and picked up his silk hat
"Ali right" he said. we must get
across that ranch some way.
~ cloud of dust was coming down the
road. Theophilus Smith carefully
watched II for moment. and then turn
ed Bucyrus among the boulders by the
roadside. Bueyrus was his mule. Just
ahead of the dust cloud appeared
frantic horse. tearing wildly down the
road toward him. Now and then he
could catch glimpse Of q swaying
blackboard and young woman cling
ing to the seat. Theophilus. who was a
careful young man. put his briarwood
pipe II the inside pocket OF his Jacket.
drew his sombrero down tightly upon
his head, and then disinterestedly
watched the approaching runaway. AS
the dust cloud and its contents passed,
Bacyrus wheeled. and then, too, went
flying down the road. Through sand
and over boulders they went. horse.
blackboard, mule and dust.
Excuse me, MISS" said Theophilus,
as be came alongside and reached for
the bit of the running horse: pleasant
day, Is 1t net?"
He gripped the bride hard, pulled
sideways and backward. and Bucyrus
cheertully sat down to the occasion and
slid. There was more dust, and then
they stopped.
Theophilus rubbed some Of the dirt
from his eyes and raised his sombrero
10 the girl In the blackboard. She look
ed at him with wde-open blue eyes.
Il am very sorry" he said politely.
ito stop you so rudely merely to ask
you q question. but will you kindly par
don NE and inform me where Colonel
Snortally lives?"
The young woman's lips quivered.
and, instead OF replying, she burst into
tears. Then. recovering from her en-
barrassment and fright, she drew long
breath and smiled family, and as the
color came back TO her cheeks, she an
swered:
u am the colonel's daughter. and I
VIII gladly show you the way home"
Theophi!us spoke few words to the
still restless horse. handed the reins up
10. the young woman. and led Bucyrus
70 the rear Of the blackboard, TO which
he tied him.
81 suppose" said the colonel's daugh-
ter. as they started up the road, that
lshonld thank you for saving my life
and my fathers best blackboard. Real
~. thank you very much. II you will
stop at the house for dinner l VIII try
and show my gratitude with some tor
tillas and frijoIes OF my own cooking"
The debt OF gratitude Is on my side
and not yours" Theophlus answered.
II am In search Of work as a cowboy,