The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-12-20
THE
CRAFTERS |
By
FRAN CTS LYN 3
y CoOpyriGhs. Isos. BY rss soss.-x.usn CO.. \
CHAPTER xxyL-coxrrSuEp.

M'Tosh was a man for q crisis. The
red tail-lights of the priyate-car spe-
cial were yet within a sprinter's dash
of the trackhead, but the train-master
lost no time chasing a ten-wheei flyer
with Red" Callahan at the throttle.
"Up to my ofiee!" he shouted: and
ten seconds later Kent was leaning
bresthless over the desk in the dis
pstcher's room while M'Tosh called
DIrgan over the yard limits telephone
rs that you, Durgan?" he asked,
when the reply came Then: Drop
the board on The mail, quick! and
send somebody To tell Fischer to side
track, leaving the main line Western
Division clear. Got that7"
The answer was evidently prompt
and satisfactory. since he began again
almost in the same breath.
Now go out yourself and flag Gala
han before he reaches the limits. Tell
him the time-card's changed and he is
to run west with the special to Meg
lip as first section OF the mail-no
stops. or fischer will run him down.
Leg it. He's halfway down the yard,
nowi"
The train-master dropped the ear
piece OF the telephone and crossed
quickly to the dispatcher's table.
Orders for the Western Division,
Donohue." he said CURLY, "and don't
n: the grass grow. Receivers car.
Callahan, engineer. runs TO Megilp as
81 n
Hunt, conductor; Fischer, engineer;
runs to the end of the division with
out stop. making up all time possible
Add to that last. by order Of the re-
oeiver.'"
The orders were sent as swiftly as
the dispatcher could rattle them of
on bis key; and then followed an in
tervai Of waiting more terrible than a
battle. Kent tried TO speak, but his
lips we're 'parched sRd his tongue was
like a dry stick between his teeth.
What was doing In the lower yard?
Would Durgan fail at the pinch and
mismanage it so as to give the alarm?
The minutes dragged leaden-winged,
and even the saunders on the dispatch
er's table were silent.
Suddenly the clicking began again.
The operator at yard limits" was
sending the o. K to the two train or
ders. SO far, so good. Now II Gala
han could get safely out on the West
ern Division.
But there was a hitch In the lower
yard. Durgan had obeyed orders
promptly and precisely. and had sue
ceeded in stopping Callahan. Durgan
climbed to the cab of the 1910. and
the changed plan was explained In
dozen words. But now came the
crux.
= "lf | stand here ill you'd be bring
In me my orders. I'll have the whole
kit av thin buzzin'. round to know
fwhat's the matther." said Callahan;
but there was no other thing TO do,
and Durgan hurried back to the tele-
graph Office 10 play the messenger.
He was too long about it. Before he
got back. HaIkett was under the cab
window OF the 1,01o, demanding TO
know-with many objurgations-why
Callahan had stopped in the middle
of the yards.
Get a move on you'll" he shouted.
"The express is right behind us. and
itlI run us down. you damned bog
trotter!"
CalIahan's gauntieted hand shot up
20 the throttle-bar.
I'm i'avin'. Misther Haikett," he
said mildly. "wiIl yen go back to the
car. or ride wit met" w
The general superintendent took no
chance of catching the Naught-seven's
band-rails In the darkness. and he
whipped up into the cab at the first
sharp cough of the exhaust
I'm go back when you stop for your
orders" he saids but q shsdowy figure
had leaped upon the engine-step a
scant half-second behind him, and
Callahan was stuffJng the crumplcd
copy of the order into the sweat-band
of his cap. The next instant the big
1910 leaped forward like a blooded
horse under an unmerited cut of the
whip, slid past the yard limits teie-
graph Office and shot out upon the
main line Ct the Western Division.
"Sit down, Misfher HallKett. an
make yerself aisyt" yelled Callahan
across the cab. "~Tis small use Jimmy
Shovel II have for his box this night"
Shut on YOU Irish madnanI" was