The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-04-21
TIE manager caught his breath with Z


little gasp. He was excited; an in
SEPARATION seemed to have come to him.
His eyes were riveted to the map.
There. trailing off from the heavy,
black line. denoting the course of the
road. was faint, dotted line leading
away around some buttes and Off a
few inches to an irregular patch of
waved lines marked "Alkali lake"
linen 1t kept on around in another d.
rection and Joined the line Of the rail-
road just little clear Of Lost Trail.
With bound. Harding snatched a
small file book from his desk; then
raced through a number of documents
IN the pigeon holes. Finally he found
it-what he was looking for
Great God! What a blunderr he
almost shouted. as he hastily glanced
through the sheets. Then he dashed
from the room and down the long hall
toward the dispatcher's office.
AS he flung himself in at the door,
he nearly trampled on a messenger,
who, recognizing him. excitedly stam-
mered: "She's found sir-No. g."
"Who's-"
"Earle's taking it-over there, SIR"
Read 1t to me, Earle; don't stop
to write itP exclaimed the general
manager as he reached the operator.
Then the telegrapher began slowly, as
he spelled out the words:
civilian Condon's in charge of 6,
| sir. He said he was carrying Lyman,
vice president Of the N. o. & l.. A.,
this trip; and as they were passing
Salton he heard Lyman-who didn't
Know he was near-telling another
railroad man about the old cutoff that
was put in along there to connect Al
kali lake, where the salt mill is to be
built. Condor heard Lyman say that
the piece Of track would prove valua-
BILE shortly, and that he was laying
plans to get 1t for the N. o. & l. A.
Said the charter provided that If
train wasn't run over the cutoff by
certain date the charter would expire.
Said the road had never used 1t, and
that the charter expired to-day, and
the N. o. & L. A. would buy it for a
| song.
] the line had completely forgotten the
cutoff, and he realized. If something
wasn't done, the company would lose
| that road. He says he knew head
quarters couldn't act in time to mend
matters, SO he took the responsibility
| on his own shoulders, had the limited
backed to the switch and started out
| RI live To fhok
clause about a train going over that
line. He knew the penalty for will
fully delaying the mails, but he told
all the passengers there was a bad
wreck ahead, and that to save time
they would have to go by way of the
cutoff
"In lots Of places they had to stop
to shovel Off the drifted sand that had
buried the tracks, but he says the rails
were all there, and they finally got
through. 1t was dark when the scout
ing crew went back over the line to
look for 9, and they couldn't see the
switch to the cutoff. They had for
gotten it was there, anyway. Condor
wants to know If there are any orders,
SIR"
$50 he had the nerve to stop the lim-
tied and delay the mail"
| Then to the operator: "Tell him to
report to me directly when he gets In
| tomorrow"
On his way. back to his office John
Harding glanced at his watch; it was
nearly 1890 O'clock.
And thedirectors meet at 1 O'clock"
he mused-and smiled, then laughed
aloud.
He was passing the superintendent
office. He stopped and walked leisure
ly in. TO man in his shirt sleeves
he said
"Mr. Sullivan, have you filled the
vacancy Of assistant superintendent
yet?"
| mo- sir"
Lets see-that pays $1,000, doesn't
it? Well, drop in to see me about that
tomorrow afternoon-after the direc-
tors meeting. Goodnight.
apolis Sun.