Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-11-04

Who would have thought that the
peaceful dreamy little Badger OF n week
ago could have changed to this coffee col.
ored torrent that was rushing so madly
by, carrying logs RATS hcnhouses. sheds.
shocks of corn and pumpkins in a bewil-
derlng tumble?
1t looked like a procession Of vegetables
taking themselves to market Dick
watched the panorama with boyish in
terest. II was the annual fall rise
the rise which, when the food began to
subside little, would send the coal fleets
scurrylng, putting and snortnE down tho
Ohio
There had been floods before but none
In the memory Of man Ike this 1t was
already above high water mark md stin
rising.
Near where Dick sat a small creek en-
tered tho Badger through a deep ravine
which cut the hill at that point.
The 3, F. and n. were erecting trestle
over this rayine. To the north OF It they
already had tracks laid and construction
trains running. as had also the b. r. The
hill there not being 80 precipitous as It
WAS on the south there was room for
the two by little crowdinR
An engine had just stopped a little
above where Dick was sitting. and
short, stocky man stepped from the cab.
"Humph," muttered Dick. "Ther walk
in boss 3 come to take look at their
old road"
As the general foreman alightcd he
called to the foreman OF the gang which
was at work there, and the two walked
down toward the treste They stopped
Just behind a boy who was apparently
intent upon throwing stones into the
river oblivious to all else
Price" said the new arrival, 81 want
to do a bit of hustling tomorrow. Rogers
says he VIII have this trestlc so We can
run trains over It by tonight Now Is
our chance to clinch our hold and make
the b. r. sick of their job l want you to
get your men out by daylight in the morn
ing and work them to the limit. / am
going to run trains over here and dump
riprap down on the b. r. I'll make them
I present of more ballast than they ever
saw. I'll bury them clear out of sight.
and there won't be any resurrection for
them.
They have had the advantage of US
heretofore because they could run trains
in from both ends. Since they got that
culyert completed down there they were
i'm a position to couple up their track
right off and run trains clear through II
this flood hadn't stopped them. But l
wouldn't have had them get train
through for the world"
The general foreman rubbed his fat
he would do to and the surprises he had
In store for the Il II
The two men walked back over the
tresuc and on up the track, leaving a
small boy throwing stones at a big yellow
pumpkin that seemed to be in a great
hurry to get somewhere, closely pursued
in this commendable effort by an old
iarmyard gate. They did not know the
boy-in fact gave him no thought. Their
minds were fun of weightier matters for
were they not fighting a great battle-a
battle In which fortunes were at stake?
THAT was where the construction boss
made his mistake for the spy is often
more dangerous than the general and
that small boy was likewise thinking Of
oihor things than the pumpkin which
seemed to absorb his attention.
Dick was thinking Of Jop and the bitter
contest waged for so many days between
his fathers gang and the men In the cut
above, lie watched the general of the OPP
posing forces disappear into the cab again
after the train had been unloadcd
Ills brain had been in a whirl What
! should he do? Their own traCks-hs own
| racks he almost considered them-were
/ a"Ger water here and no trains running
| L was already o'clock, and none Of the
| .. Il. men about and construction head
! quarters were at Barnstable twenty miles
| up the road. As he heard the whistle of
| the engine on the rival Company's train
calling In their nagman preparatory to
'tortng back firm resolve took posses
son of him lie hurried across the tres
i ard caught the last car just as 1t was
| moving OF II was a gondola He pulled
almseII over the side and crouched down
n the floor out of sight. bound for Barn
table
The engineer of construction OF the
3. X was just leaving his office when he
heard some one running down the plat
form and calling: MIR Bent, Mr. Bentr'
lie turned about. thrust his hands deep
ITO his pockets and looked from under
he peak OF his cap to see who was call
ng.
Dick came up out of breath.
Wei, what IS it, inquired the engi-
leor
live got-eh-a somethin' to tell We"
)ufed the boy.
AN right. Catch I'D with vour hreatb
IS quick as you can and let's have IT,
5ut who are you?"
m Dick-Dick Gallagher live down
It Houseton. Ny fathers foreman at-at
the rock cut"
"oh. Jerry Gallaghers boy. Ell? Well.
what's up?"
THE B. f. and N ia goin' to run over
their trestle tonight and start dumpln'
On our tracks. They say they will bury
is out or sight by the time the water
goes down"
What exclaimed Mr.. Bent incredu-
.ously, looking intently at Dick who
told your"
Between gasps for breath Dick told his
story. The engineer thrust his hands
deeper into his pockets. His eyes seemed
TO retreat under his shaggy brows His
chin was thrust forward. and he bit say
agely at his mustache
Come with me-" he said leading ths
way back TO the depot and into the tele-
graph office. The operator had his lunch
basket open In front OF him and was al
ready about half through with his sup
per.
call up c. .. as quick as you can"
SAID Mr.. Bent taking a chair by the
operators side. "ClCkety. click" went
the instrument
Il have him, sir"
Ask him II the superintendent is in and
say want TO talk with him"
After a short pause there came an an
swering stutter in the receiver
He IS there now. sir" was the inter
probation given by tho man at tho wire
Then began an exciting lot OF jabber. as
lhough the instrument had gone crazy
AFTER II had continued for about ffteen
minutes back and forth Mr. Bent said:
Ihats all right. Now call up A. Y. and
ten John Connolly that | want him TO
prlhg his work engine down here with a
gohdola OF stone tonight and to be here
al Il C. ID. VIII notify the dispatcher's
once and his crew Will get their orders
al A. Y. In time TO start