Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-07-25
THE
CRAFTERS |
BY
FIR AN CTS LYN D e
y Copyright. 1901. by The DObOs-Merrill Co.,
CHAPTER XXvl.-CoSr1SuED


M'Tosh was man for crisis. The
red tail-lights of the private-car spe-
cial were yet within a sprinters dash
of the trackhead, but the train-master
lost no time chasing ten-wheel' flyer
with Red" Callahan at the throttle.
up to my office!" he shouted; and
ten seconds later Kent was leaning
breathless over the desk in the dis
patcher's room while M'Tosh called
Durgan 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 that?"
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,
nowl"
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
let the grass grow. Receivers car,
Callahan, engineer, runs to Megilp as
first section of fast mail. Fast mail,
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,
eeiver.'
The orders were sent as swiftly as
the dispatcher could rattle them off
on his key; and then followed an in
terval OF waiting more terrible than a
battle. Kent tried to speak, but his
lips were parched and 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. X. to the two train or
ders. So far, so good. Now if 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. Durgar
climbed to the cab of the 1,010, anC
the changed plan was explained in :
dozen words. But now came thc
cruX.
IF l stand here till 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 to play the messenger.
He was too long about it. Before h
got back, Halkett was under the cal
window of the 1,010, demanding t,
know-with many objurgations-wh.
Callahan had stopped in the middl;
Oh the yarOS.
Get move on you'll" he shouted
1.-THE express is right behind us, an,
It'll run US down, you damned bog
trotter!"
Callahan's gauntleted hand shot u
to the throttle-bar.
I'm Pavin', Misther Halkett."
said mildly. "Will yez go back to tn
car, or ride wit me?"
The general superintendent took n
chance of catching the Naught-seyen'
hand-rails in the darkness. and h
whipped up into the cab at the frs
sharp cough of the exhaust
'T'll go back when you stop for you
ORDERS" he said: but shadowy figur
had leaped upon the engine-step
scant half-second behind him. an
Callahan was stuffing the crumple
copy OF the order into the sweat-ban
OF his cap. The next instant the bi
1,010 leaped forward like a bloode
horse under an unmerited cut Of th
whip. slid past the yard limits telt
graph office and shot out upon tn
main line Of the Western Division.
"Sit down. Misther Halkett. al
make yerself aisy." yelled Callans
across the cab. "'Tis small use Jimm
Shovel II have for his box this night
shut OF. you Irish madman," W;