The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-15

wen, am getting some Work IOr
them, and while there isn't much profit
III it. perhaps. it's a great deal better
than being idle"
"Just a whole lot" agreed McClin.
took.
81 think | can pick up contracts
enough To keep us busy through the
summer. understand you've always
had to shut down.
Yes. or half time" disgustedly.
II guess we can worry through with.
out that: at any rate. want to-" oh.
served Oakley.
"Tll 60 sec how can manage about
our own repairs" said McClintock.
lie went ont. and from the window
Oakley saw him with a bunch Of keys
IN his hand n,ing in the direction of a
line of battered day coaches on one Of
the sidings. The door opened again al
most Immediately to admit Griff Ry-
der. This was almost the last person
in Antioch from whom Dan was ex.
pecting call. The editors cordially
as he greeted him made him instantly
suspect that some favor was wanted.
Most people who came to the office
wanted favors. Usually it was either
q pass or Il concession on freight.
AS n rule, Kerr met all such appli.
cants. His manner fitted him for just
such interviews. and he had no gift for
popularity. which suffered in conse-
quencc
Ryder pushed Il chair over beside
Oakley's and seated himself. BY slid
Ing well down on his spine he managed
to reach the low sill of the window
with his feet. He seemed to admire
the effect, for he studied them in ST.
lence for Il moment.
There's Il little matter l want to
speak to you about. Oakley I've been
intending to run in for the past week,
but have been SD busy couldn't"
Oakley nodded for him TO go on.
''In the first place, I'll like to feel
that you We're for Kenyon. You can
be Of great deal of use to us this cleo
ton. It's going to be close. and Ken
yOn's pretty decent sort Of G chap to
have come out of these parts. You
ought to take an interest in seeing him
reelected"
Oakley surmsed that this was the
merest flattery intended to tickle his
vanity. He answered promptly that he
didn't feel the slightest interest in poll
tics one way or the other.
"Well, but one good fellow ought to
wish to see another good fellow get
what he's after, and you can help us. If
you've mind to. But this isn't what
I've come for. It's about Hoadley."
"What about Hoadley?' quickly.
Hes got the idea that his days with
the Huckleberry are about numbered"
II haven't said So
II know you haven't"
"Then what is he kicking about?
When he's to go he'll hear of it from
me-"
But, just the same, it's in the air
that there's to be shakeup and that a
number of men, and Hoadley among
them, are going to he laid off. Now,
he's another good fellow. and he's a
friend of mine, and told him I'd come
In and fix it up with you.''
II don't think you can fix it up with
me, Mr.. Ryder. Just the same Id like
to know how this got out"
"Then there is to be Il shakeup?"
Oakley bit his lips. You seem to
take it for granted there is to be-"
Il guess there's something back of
the rumor"
II may as well tell you why Hoad-
ley's got to GO
"Oh, he's to go then? thought my
information was correct"
I'm the first place he's not needed,
and in the second place he's a lazy
loafer. The road must earn its keep.
hand in his pocket every six months to
keep it out of bankruptcy. You are
enough of a business man to know he
won't stand that sort of thing forever.
or course am sorry for Hoadley If he
needs the money, but some ones got to
suffer and he happens to be the one.
I'll take on his work myself l can do
1t, ana that's Il salary saved. haven't
any personal feeling in the matter.
The fact that don't like him, as 1t
happens, has nothing to do with 1t. If
he were my own brother he'd have to
get out"
Il can't see that one man more or
less is going to make such differ
cnce, Oakley" Ryder urged, with what
he intended should be an air Of frank
good fellowship.
Cant you:" with chilly dignity.
Oakley was slow to anger. but he had