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

ago could have changed to this coffee col
ored torrent that was rushing so madly
by. carrying logs. RATS. henhouses. sheds
shocks of corn and pumpkins in a bewil-
dering jumble7
1t looked like a procession OF vegetables
taking themselves to market Dick
watched the panorama with boyish In
terest. 1t was the annual ''fall rise
the rise which, when the flood began to
subside little, would send the coal fleets
scurrying. putting and snorting down the
Ohio.
There had been floods before, but none
In the memory of man like this, 1t was
already above high water mark and still
rising.
Near where Dick sat small creek en-
tered the Badger through a deep ravine
which cut the hill at that point.
The b. F. and N. were erecting a trestle
over this ravine. To the north of II they
already had tracks laid and construction
trains running, as had also the b. r. The
hill there not being so precipitous as 1t
was on the south, there was room for
the two by a little crowding.
An engine had just stopped a little
above where Dick was sitting, and a
short. stocky man stepped from the cab.
"Humph." muttered Dick "Ther walk
in boss g come to take a look at their
old road"
AS the general foreman alighted he
called to the foreman of the gang which
was at work there, and the two walked
down toward the trestle. They stepped
Just behind boy who was apparently
intent upon throwing stones into the
river. oblivious to all else.
Price" said the new arrival, 81 want
to do bit of hustling tomorrow. Rogers
says he will have this trestle so we can
run trains over II by tonight. Now is
our chance to clinch our hold and make
the B. r. sick of their job want you to
get your men out by daylight in the morn
ing and work them to the limit. l am
going to run trains over here and dump
riprap down on the B. r. I'll make them
l 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
culvert completed down there they were
in a position to couple up their track
right off and run trains clear through. If
this flood hadn't stopped them. But
wouldn't have had them get a train
through for the world"
The general foreman rubbed his fat
hands In gleeful anticipation of the things
he would do to and the surprises he had
In store for the =. r.
The two men walked back over the
trestle and on up the track, leaving
small boy throwing stones at big yellow
pumpkin that seemed to be in a great
hurry to get somewhere, closely pursued
In this commendable effort by an old
farmyard gate They did not know the
boy-in fact. gave him no thought, Their
minds were full 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
other things than the pumpkin which
seemed 10 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. He watched the general of the op-
posing forces disappear into the cab again
after the train had been unloaded.
Ills brain had been in a whirl. What
should he do? Their own tracks-his own
tracks he almost considered them-were
Under water here and no trains running
It was already o'clock, and none of the
g. r. men about, and construction head
quarters were at Barnstable, twenty miles
mp tho road. AS he heard the whistle of
the engine on the rival company's train
calling in their fiagman preparatory to
starting back a firm resolve took possess
tres
To and caught the last car just as 1t was
moving off. 1t was a gondola. He pulled
himself over the side and crouched down
On the floor out of sight, bound for Barn.
stable.
TIE engineer of construction of the
B. Il. was just leaving his office when he
heard some one running down the plat
form and calling: Mr.. Bent! Mr. Bent!"
He turned about thrust his hands deep
into his pockets and looked from under
ne peak OF his cap to see who was call
ing
Dick came up out OF breath
We'll. what Is it," inquired the engi-
leer.
live got-eh--a somethin' to tell ye."
ouffed the boy.
IAN right. Catch up with your breath
rs quick as you can and let's have 1t.
But who are your"
I'm Dick-Dick Gallagher. l live down
At Houseton. My fathers foreman at-at
the rock cut
'oh. Jerry GaiIagher's boy. Ell? Well,
what's up?'
THE B. F. and N. Is goln' to run over
their trestle tonight and start dumpin
On our tracks. They say they will bury
rs out OF sight by the time the water
goes down.
What! exclaimed Mr.. Bent incredu-
lously, 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 saw
agely at his mustache.
Come with me-" he said leading the
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. D. as quick as you can"
said Mr.. Bent. taking a chair by the
operators side. "Clickety, click" went
the instrument
II have him. SIR"
ASK him II the superintendent Is In and
say want to talk with him"
After short pause there came an an
swering stutter in the receiver.
He Is there now. SIR" was the inter-
probation given by the man at the wire.
Then began an exciting lot OF Jabber as
though the instrument had gone crazy.
After II had continued for about fifteen
minutes back and forth Mr. Bent said:
That's all right. Now call up A. Y. and
ten John Connolly that 1 want him TO
bring his work engine down here with a
sondola OF stone tonight and to be here
at II. c. D. will notify the dispatcher's