Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-14

that tiOuuicS luc IS tuc lcdT tudt bOIuc- body or something will get in the way of my demented engineer"
 He went out into the hall, but as Hildreth was closing the door he turned back.
 There is one other thing that I 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 I dol" said Hil- dreth, fiercely.
 "Oh, yes, you will; just the bare facts. you know. You'll have all tIs exciting details for an exclusive to say nothing of the batch of affldavits in the oil scandal. And it is of the last importance to me that the facts shall bs known tomorrow morning wherever the Associated has wire. ?
 Co away!" said the editor, land dud-don't come back here till you can uncork yourself like a man and a uc-Christian. Go off, I say!"
 It wanted but few minutes of II when Kent mounted the stair to the dispatcher's room in the Union sta- tion. He found M'Tosh sitting at Donohue's elbow, and the saunders on the glass-topped table were cracking like overladen wires in an electric storm.
 Strike talk" said the train-master. Every man on both divisions wants to know what's doing. Got your news paper string tied up all right?"
 Kent made sign of assent.
 We are waiting for Mr. Patrick Callahan. Any news from him?"
 Plenty of it. Patsy would have story to tell, all right, if he could stop to put it on the wires. Durgan ought to have caught that blamed right-of- way man and chloroformed him."
 T found him messing, as '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, and two policemen. The plan was to fire Donahue and me, and put Bicknell in charge. It might have worked if Bicknell'd had the sand But he weakened at the last minute; admitted that he wasn't big enough to handle the dispatcher's trick. The way Hawk cursed him out was caution to sinners"
 When was this?" Kent asked.
 "Just a few minutes ago. Hawk went of ripping; swore he would find somebody who wasn't afraid to take the wires. And, between us three, I'm scared stiff for fear he will"
 Can it be done?"
 Dead easy, if he knows how to go about it-and Bicknell will tell him. The Overland people don't love us any too we'll, and if they did. the lease deal would make them side with Guil- ford and the governor. If Hawk asks them to lend him a train dispatcher for few minutes. they'll do it.
 But the union?" Kent objected.
 They have three or four non-union men"
 "stilI. Hawk has no right to dis. charge you" .-.....a snaoY
 "Bicknell has. He is Halkett's repre- sentative. and-'
 The door opened suddenly and Hawk danced in. followed by a man bare headed and in his shirt-sleeves, the superintedent's chief clerk, and the two officers.
 Now, then, we'll trouble you and your man to get out of here. Mir. M'Tosh." said the captain of the junto forces, vindictively.
 . But the trainmaster was of those who die hard. He protested vigorous ly. addressing himself to Bicknell and ignoring the ex-district attorney as if he were not He, McTosh. was willing 10 surrender the office on an oficial or der in writing over the chief clerks signature But did Bicknell fully un- derstand what it might mean in loss of life and property to put a new man on the wires at moments notice?
 Bicknell would have weakened again, but Hawk was not to be frus- trated a second time.
 Don't you see he is only sparring to gain time?' he snapped at Bicknell. Then to M'Tosh: Get out of here. and do 1t quick! And you can go, too" wheeling suddenly upon Kent.
 Donohue had taken no part in the conflict of authority. But now he threw down his pen and clicked his key to cut in with the 70. s." which claims the wire instantly. Then dis tinctly. and a word at a time SO that the slowest operator on the line could get it. he spelled out the message: "All Agents: Stop and hold all trains except first and second fast mail. west bound. M'Tosh fired, and ofice in hands of police"
 Stop hirn." cried the shirt-sleeved man. Hes giving it away on the virel"
 But Donohae had signed his name and was putting on his coat
 You're welcome 10 what you can find" he said. scovling al the inter ioper. If you kill anybody nov, it'll be your own fault"
 Arrest that man,- said Hawk to his policeman: but Kent in,erposed-
 If you do. the force vill be two men shy tc-morrow. The Civic league isn't dead yet" Ard he took down the numbers of the two officers.
 There were no arrests made. and when the busted three yer. clear of