The San Francisco call., 1904-10-30

confidently. "And when you get the
epilogue you will say that it makes my
little preface wearisome by contrast"
The light was slowly drawing in the
editorial mind.
MY heaveni'' he exclaimed. "Kent,
you're good for twenty years at the
very lul-leasti"
Am I? 1t occurs to me that the
Prosecuting Attorney In the case will
have a hard time proving anything.
Doesn't it look that way to you? AT
the worst, it is only an unhappy mis-
understanding of orders. And if the
end should happen to justify the
means"
Hildreth shook his head gravely.
You don't understand, David. If
you could be sure Of a fair minded
Judge and an unbiased jury-you and
those who are implicated with you; but
you'll get neither in this machine-rid-
den State"
I'VE are going to have both after you
have filed your two columns-by the
way. you are still saving those two
columns for me. aren't you?-in to-
morrow mornings Argus. Or rather,
I'm hoping there will be no need for
either Judge or jury"
The night editor shook his head again
and once more he said, MY heavenl"
adding: What could you possibly hope
to accomplish? You'll get the receiver
and his big boss out Of the State for a
few minutes, or possibly for a few
hours II your strike makes them hunt
up another railroad to return on. But
what will 1t amount to? Getting rid Of
the receiver doesn't annul the decree
OF the court"
Kent fell back on his secretive habit
yet once again.
Il don't care to anticipate the eli
max, Hildreth. BY l o'clock one Of
two things will have happened: You'll
get wire that will make your back
hair sit up, or I'll get one that will
make me wish I'd never been born
Let it rest at that for the present; you
have work enough on hand to fill up
the interval and If you haven't, you
can distribute those affidavits i gave
you among the composItors and get
them into type. I want to see them in
the paper tomorrow morning along
with the other news"
"Oh, we can't do that, Davidi The
time isn't ripe. You know what told
you about"
''If the time doesn't ripen tonight,
Hildreth, it never will. Do as L tell
you and get that stuff into type. Do
more; write the hottest editorial you
can think Of, demanding to know If it
isn't time for the people to rise and
clean out this stable once for ALL"
by Jovel David. I've half a mum
mind to do it. If you'd only unbutton
yourself a little and let me see what
nay backing is going to be-"
All in good season." laughed Kent
Your business for the present moment
is to write; I'm going down to the
Union station
What for?" demanded the editor
''To see if our crazy engineer is still
mistaking his orders properly
Hold on minute. How did the
enemy get wind of your plot so quick
ly? You can tell me that, can't your"
''Oh, yes; told you Hawk was one
of the party in the private car. He
fell off at the yard limits station and
came back to town"
The night editor stood UP and con-
fronted his visitor.
David, you are either the coolest
plunger that ever drew breath-or the
biggest fool. I wouldn't be stand
ing in your shoes tonight for two such
railroads as the T-W.'
Kent laughed again and opened the
door.
Il suppose not. But you know there
is no accounting for the difference in
tastes. / feel as If / had never really
lived before this night the only thing
that troubles me is the fear that some
body or something, will get in the way
Of my demented engineer.Y
He went out into the hall, but as
Hildreth was closing the door he
turned back.
There is one thing that / meant to
say: When you get your two columns
of sensation, you've got to be decent
and share with the Associated Press. "
I'm dud-dashed. if 1 dol" said Hill
dreth, fiercely.
''Oh, yes, you will; just the bare facts,
you know. You'll have all the excit-
nothing of the batch of affidavits in the
oil scandal. And it is of the last i'm
portance to me that the facts shall be
known tomorrow morning wherever
the Associated has wire"
go way" said the editor, land dud-
don't come back here till you can un-
cork yourself like a man and a Cue
Christian Go off, 1 sayi"
1t wanted but few minutes of II
when Kent mounted the stair to the
dispatcher's room IN the Union
station. He found M'Tosh sitting
at Donohues elbow, and the sound
ers on the glass-topped table were
cracking like over-laden wires in
an electric storm.
Strike talk" said the trainmaster.
Every man on both divisions wants to
know what's doing. Got your news
paper string tied up all right?"
Kent made a sign of assent.
I'VE are waiting for Mr.. Patrick CAL
lahan. Any news from him?"
Plenty of it. Patsy would have a
story to tell, all right, if he could stop
to put 1t on the wires. Durgan ought
to have caught that blamed right-of-
way man and chloroformed him."
II found him messing, as 1 'phoned
you. Anything come of it?''
Nothing fatal, guess, since Patsy
is still humping along. But Hawks
next biff was more to the purpose. He
came down here with Halkett's chief
clerk. whom he had hauled out of bed.
ard two policemen. The plan was to
fire Donohue and me, and put Bicknell
in charge. 1t might have worked If
Bicknell'd had the sand. But he weak
ened at the last minute; admitted that
he wasn't big enough to handle the dis
patcher's trick. The way Hawk cursed
him out was a caution to sinners"
when was this2" Kent asked
Just a few minutes ago. Hawk went
off ripping; swore he would find some
body who wasn't afraid to take the
wires. And. between us three, I'm
scared stiff for fear he will"