Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-08-11

like to have SWOrR the glass out before
HALEY spoke.
''I'm glad We're up to high water at
the Spider, Bucks" said he at last.
'When they get in the Peace river
year"
HALEY" Bucks spoke slowly, 81
don't need to tell you what think, do
I? It's a shame. But it's what I've
said for year-nobody ever knows
I what Omaha will do next"
HALEY rose to his feet "Where you
going, PHILIP asked Bucks.
"Going back to the Spider on No. 2"
mot going back this morning! Why
don't you wait for No tonight?' sug-
gested Bucks.
ED" HALEY raised his voice at the
foreman, will you get those stay
bolts and chuck them into the baggage
car for me on No. 2? I'm going
over to the house for minute" He
forgot to answer Bucks. They knew
what it meant He was bracing him
self to tell the folks before he left
them. Preparing to explain why he
wouldn't have the Sunday at home
with the children. Preparing to tell
the Wife-and the old man-that he
was out. Out of the railroad system he
had given his life to help build up and
make what it was. Out of the position
he had climbed to by studying like a
hermit and working like a hobo Out
without criticism or allegation or rea-
son-simply like dog, out.
Nobody at the Wickiup wanted to
hear the telling over at the cottage;
nobody wanted to imagine the scene.
AS No. 2's mellow chime whistle
rolled down the gorge they saw
HALEY coming out of his house, his
wife looking after him and two little
girls Juggling at his arms as he hurried
along; old Denis behind, his head
down, carrying the boys shabby vaIise,
trying to understand why the blow had
fallen.
That was what Callahan, up with
Bucks at the window, was trying to
fgure-What it meant
1.-THE man that looks to Omaha for
rhyme or reason will beggar his wits,
Callahan" said Bucks slowly as he
watched Ed Peeto swing the stay bolts
up into the car so they would crack
the baggageman across the shins and
then try to get him into a fight about
it. ''They never had a man-and I bar
none; no, not Brodie-that could ham
die the mountain water like HALEY;
they never will have man-and they
dump him out like pipe Of tobacco.
How does it happen we are cursed
with such a crew Of blooming idiots?
Other roads aren't"
Callahan made no answer. 81 know
why they did it," Bucks went on, but
I couldn't tell Haley"
"Why?"
II think l know why. Last time
was down the president brought his
name up and asked a lot of questions
about where he was educated and so
on. Somebody had plugged him; l
could see that in two minutes. I gave
him the facts-told him that Brodie
gineer. The minute he found out he
wasn't regularly graduated he froze up.
Very polite, but he froZe up. See?
actual requirements
Bucks extended his hand from his vest
pocket in an odd wavy motion till it
was lost at arms length-''nothing-
nothing nothing"
AS he concluded, HALEY was climb
ing behind his father into the smoker.
No. 2 pulled down the yard and
out. One thing HALEY meant to make
sure of-that they shouldn't beat him
out of the finish Of the Spider bridge
as he had planned it; one monument
HALEY meant to have-one he has.
The new superintendent Of bridges
took hold promptly. We knew he had
been wired for long before his appoint
ment was announced. He was good
enough fellow, l guess, but we all
hated him. Bucks did the civil, though,
and took Agnew down to the Spider in
a special to inspect the new work and
introduce him to the man whose bread
been wanting to meet you, Mr.. Haley"
said Agnew pleasantly after they had
shaken hands. HALEY looked at Ag-
new silently as he spoke; Bucks looked
at the grasshopper derrick.
1--WE been expecting you'd be along
pretty soon," replied HALEY presently.
There's considerable to look over
here. After that We'll go back to Peace
river canyon. We're just getting things
started there. Then Wen run up to the
Bend and I'll turn the Office over"
"No hurry about that You've got a
good deal of bridge here, Mr.. Hal
ey.'
you'll need a good deal of bridge |
here
81 didn't expect to find you so far
along out here in the mountains.
Where did you get that pneumatic
1t touched Haley, the pleasant, easy
way Agnew took him. The courtesy Of !