Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-17

| tie way OIL IL ustiiu CIT, 10 WIG lTOu
there to Omaha and Pawnee the griev-,
Gus tidings that Major Melville had
been stricken down by rioters and lay
insensible in charge Of the physician9a
Nathan thought the situation demand.
ed reinforcement at once; so didsol9
Gray Fox, commanding at Omaha, and
the latter ordered thither just one man;
a captain of infantry senior in rank to
Nathan. What they needed was cool
head, said he, not cold feet, and, lest
the uninitiated should misinterpret the
phrase, let it be explained here and
now that "cold feet" is soldier syno-
nym for scare
Things We're indeed in grievons shape
when the vice presidential car rolled
into the Seattle yards and ranged up
alongside that of Captain Nathan. By
that time, thanks to Santley, sentinels
had been thrown about the sacred pre-
cincts, and, seeing no rioters in the i'm
mediate neighborhood, Nathan had
measurably recovered his nerve. He
hoped to make favorable impression
on his wife's plutocratic uncle, but Mr..
Barclay shifted the fumes of smolder-
Ing thousands, and the sight of half
mile of smoking ruins up the track
soured him utterly. All this could
have been prevented had Nathan
shown any dash, pluck, energy-any Of
the qualities railway men admire and
SO many possess. And then to think
that even now the Big Horn was open!
He had seen Channing's first train
whistling down the opposite side Of
the gorge. He learned from his satels
lites, boarding the car to the east of
town, of the almost miraculous rescue
of the Big Horns buildings. A ire
mendous story it made by that time,
and the heart of the magnate was sore
In his bosom that such Ill should have
befallen the Seattle, such good fortune
the Missouri Valley. He hated Chan
ming, anyhow. Claiming was sprung
from the ranks and had worked his
way up step by step from section boss
to superintendent in one road after an
other. He had been assistant general
superintendent of the Seattle only a
few years back, and when the vacancy
occurred that should have been tender
ed to so energetic and valuable man
1t was Barclay who opposed IT. Chan
ning's all right for an assistant or sub
ordinate" said he, "but he hasn't the
education or the social position a SUI
perintendent should have" So man
with Barclays requirements got the
promotion over Channing's head;
whereat the latter Instantly resigned,
went over to the Northern Pacific for a
short term, and then 1t was the Big
Horn that rendered him the superin.
tendency and within another year
made him general manager.
"If the president and board of direct
ors will look after the finances" said
he, 'I'll run the road" And run 1t he
had and marvelously well, to the secret
dismay Of the Seattle. And now at the
first serious clash he had Strengthened
things out for his own road while the
strikers We're smashing things for the
Seattle, and Barclay could have cursed
the day he let him go.
But that wasn't all.
II took hours to gather his forces and
count the costs. Then he could have
sworn that Melville had so ordered the
distribution of troops rs purposely to
expose the Seattle's yards, whereas
Melville had sent more troops to the
south side than he had retained on the
north, little AIcConville, with four
companies, having been detailed to GOV.
err the Seattle's lines, and Mac had
saved their stock trains, though he
couldn't be everywhere at once md so
protect their sheds and shops. Bar.
clay had only succeeded in getting his
division superintendent, with impro:
yised crews, at work and his cattle off
their cars and into the corrals when
nightfall came. he had found only d
meager half dozen laborers for the nee
essary work, Charming having earlier
gathered in every willing hand the
town afforded, and when the morning
of the morrow dawned the Big Horn
shop whistle sounded as of yore, and
Its east bound train set forth on time,
while there We're still only silence and
smoldering ruin throughout the yards
Of the Seattle.
Late that afternoon, weary, hollow
eyed, unshayed, but feeling hopeful
and we'll nigh content with his work,
Eric Langdon was making the rounds
of the Big Horn yards, visiting the
sentrles whom he had posted. With
the full consent and cooperation Of
the little major and at the earnest re-
quest Of Charming he had assumed the
duties Of military adviser" had per-
sonally coached three or four compa-
MES besides his now devoted followers
Of Company G and was recognized MS
sort Of field officer of the day, re-
spected and looked up to by the entire
command. McConville, differing with
Nathan as to the management of af-
fairs, had withdrawn from the south
side during the early hours of the night
and was quartered in an old passenger
car at the Big Horn yards. Captain
Damrell, the "doughboy'' right bower
of old Gray Fox, had reached town at
midnight and supervised, If he did not
actually suDersede, Nathan. Chan
ming, wearied, but triumphant, was still
at his post at the passenger station
hHu III LUZ leleSrapnlc communication
with his entire line and with the presi-
dent and board of directors. He was
hungry and eager for dinner, but
special" was coming full tilt from
Gunnison Junction, and he could not
go. The Missouri Pacific had rushe
Mrs. Melville over its line posthaste to
Omaha as the result of alarming dis
patches concerning the majors condi,
ton, and, with one of Gray Fox's staff
officers as escort, she had spent the
morning speeding up the line of the
Missouri Valley and was expected ey-
cry minute. Langdon had been duly
Informed Of the injury inflicted on his
honored chief and friend, but 1t was q
time wheR his presence and services
We're sorely needed at the yards, and
he had to be content with the tidings
that Melville had been borne to the
Brentwood House, given the best room
and attention and was resting easily.
Now he was planning for nap of