The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-15
CONQUEST OF CLANCY

Peter Clancy track foreman, stood gag
ind disconsolately at all that was left OF
the latest passenger locomotive purchas-
cd by the C. S. and St. L. railroad. as 1t
<&allowed ingloriously in the mud OF the
ditch alongside the track enhankment.
Beside him, the roadmaster kept Up a
continual torrent of abuse, directed alter
nately against him and the fates in gen.
eral. which had decreed two wrecks to
his division Ia the last month.
"All I've got 10 say to you, Clancy
he ended. is that you'n have to go be-
fore the chief for this. If the track was
all right when you went over it last. as
you say. it's long time since you made
The trip. Two sections of rail don't work
themselves loose in an hour
Clancy knew his superior too well to de-
prive him of the relief afforded by using
him as a buffer, and WITHOUT replying
20 the TRADE walked over TO the spot
where the locomotive had first left the
rails The wreckina crew had arrived
long before, and an extra engine had
taken the train OF the ditched locomotive
TO its destination. Kneeling by the ties,
Clancy made a minute inspection Of the
track. Not a spike remained on either
side of the line from which the rails
were missing
. Its wreckers." Mr.. Lane" he said as
he rejotned the head of the division.
How do you make it out?" the other
asked
The spikes is all gone, an there's
marks of a claw on the ties
Without a word the roadmaster turned
en- his heel and made for the hand-car
which stood upturned by the side of the
track. Clancy gathered the crew of the
car together, had it placed on the rails,
and started full speed for headquarters
On the way, the roadmaster revoived
fhany things in his mind The wreck two
weeks before the present one had been
similar TO it in almost every respect. Two
lengths of rail had given away in front
OF fast freight and sent three cars and
the locomotive into the ditch. The road
bed had been so badly ploughed up on
that occasion that it had been impossi-
bic to tell what caused the accident and
1t had passed as one OF the unexplainable
mysteries OF railroad operation. Taken
with the present wreck it became signih-
cant, however, and the roadmaster re-
solved to wire from his office for detec-
tiyes
Clancy in the meantime had also been
turning things over in his mind. He real
lied perfectly that the first suggestion of
the division superintendent would be that
a new section foreman was an expert
ment worth trying under the circum-
stances. While conscious of his own
rectitude so far as any responsibility for
the wreck was concerned. there were
one or two other little matters in his
official history which might not stand
a too rigid examinat ton, and the foreman
decided that il was imperative to his
prosperity that the identity Of the per-
sons concerned in the wreck should be
made known without delay Something
10 the same general effect was intimated
by the roadmaster, as ne left him at
the end OF the line, and Clancy, his soul
sadly troubled, sat down on a baggage
truck to think. The more he pondered
on the affair, the more involved it be-
came. and he finally resolved as the first
step towards ais rehabilitation TO take
himself 10 the house of Mrs. Klause-
meir for counsel. Mrs. KrauseIne:r, a lus-
ty German woman of extended expert
ence In the ways Of man, kept boarding
house where Clancy and many of the IN
married members of his gang boarded.
She had been his mentor on many pre-
yious occasions, and her Sharp insight In
20 inhuman nature had stood him in good
stead in Strengthening out the involved
situations into which his dealings with
sundry junkmen had brought him. \
certain amount Of waste" is expected
on all roads. but Clancy frequently over
stepped the limit.
When the foreman reached the board
ing house he found Mrs Krausemeir at
work In the backyard Waving her mys-
teriousIv into the house, he poured his
troubles into her patient ear. winding up
with the assertion that If the wreckers
were not caught in a day or two he Ger
tainly would be discharged.
The landlady considered the case from
all sides before making any reply 10
Clancy's oft-repeated requests for advice
She had her own interest in the situa-
ton. which was all the more complicated
from the fact that up 10 the pres Mt II
had been carefully concealed from her
star boar6er. Mrs. Krausemeir had d
daughter. and the chief aim for Two
years of a mind made for seheming had
had been the coRsummation CT a match
between her only child and Mr. Clancy
the best catch within her sphere. If he
was discharged. what would become OF
all her cherished plans?
You go lack BY your york" she said
finally. and don't say nothinss to no-
body. l got a idea. but it amt no good
yet"
Sa,sr,- C-Ia,,1, tool 1,i,,,so,f % h.,,S,.,,o,
tiers and from there to the scene OF the
wreck For the balance Of the day M
bossed his men as they cleared the oe-
bris from the track. and said nothing to
any one OF his suspicious. As soon~as he
could decenty leave of work he FASTENED
to the boarding house 10 learn what Mrs
krausemeirs meditatiOns had brought
forth. Instead of his landlady ne found
her daughter waiting to receive him.
Good morning. Mr.. Clancy" she called
cheerily as he came Up the cinder-eov-
cred walk Amt it been a lovely day2"
rs your mother about. Effie?' the
foreman asked. ignoring the polite for
nlalities with which the conversation
opened.
No. she amt. Mr.. Clancy. But she
said ] was 10 entertain you till she got
back" the other replied, archiy eyeirg
the impatient Irishman. shes gone
over to the freight yards, and won't be
back 10 supper"
'Wha tn devil is she eoin' at the
freight yards . asked Casey roughly.
How IN divf should 1 know tho 9TH
er answered in minicry Of Ciancys tone
as the foreman squeezed BY her into the I
hc1se- Il guess mother wants 10 make
this match she'll have 10 make love for