The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-07-03

And then came his answer, emphatic
and final. Out in the yards, rising
family above the voice of Little Feath-
err startled shouts we're audible. the
heavy putting of a locomotive, a thud
a scream Of escaping steam. Casey
left by one door, his fireman by the
other. Another roar, as water found
the fire-box, a great crashing splash
then silence. The rails had spread, and
the road was effectually out of com.
mission now.
Engineers came at dawn. The driz-
zle Of the night had settled to a steady
soaking downpour when their buck
board drew up beside the Greer-Merrill
works.
They went with Barker and looked
over the disaster. A quarter-mile OF
more had Little Feather taken to the
tracks; 1t whirled along cheerily, the
irons boot-deep below the surface
They prodded at the submerged rails
and smiled dryly.
The private spur was wreck!
Could they repair 1t Immediately? In
a week, perhaps, or month.
The proposition was absolutely, ut
terly unfeasible; the fact that Greer
Merrill's shipments positively must &c
out did not alter that particle. The
very best one could hope for was some
spot down the line, where temporary
platform could be knocked together
and cars run in from Broadbury to
take aboard the Champlin Mills ma
chinery.
They found that spot five miles be-
low the works, and Barker with
sigh, half relief, half anger, accepted
the situation. 1t meant at least
days delay, for he would have to drag
out the discarded trucks and beg, buy,
borrow or steal mules to haul them
which, meant more expense.
Naturally, he came face to face with
the mule problem. Barker sent for half
a dozen of his minor executives and
instructed them to sally forth and
gather such mules and work horses
rare things in that locality-as might
be obtained, on any terms.
One of the six was Abner Green, and
"Er-Green." The superintendent
snapped his fingers impatiently. See
here, somebody or other said that
you've got two or three mules"
Few"
"All right. We want to hire EN-
How many are there?"
ADner braced himself.
"Sixty-one, sir"
"Hey? How many, Green?" Bar
ker's chair whirled about.
"Sixty-one."
"Sixty-one mules?"
Yes, sir"
six" Barker stopped and shrugged
his shoulders. well, it's rather a
happy chance, Green, although I didn't
know you had gone in for mule
ranching. How much do you want to
hire them out by the day."
FL amt anxious to hire 'em, Mr..
Barker. They're for sale"
For sale, Ell? Well-how much for
the lot, then?"
"Three thousand dollars"
What"
"Three thousand dollars, SIR"
"You want too much altogether,
Green" Barker stiffened. I'VE don't
need them. That's ALL"
Abner departed. The seekers of
mules were already gone. The day
wore onward rapidly-the first of those
fifteen hundred dollar days.
At eventide the five returned-fve
men, three mules and an anaemic horse.
They had secured Broadbury; they
had descended upon Red Eagle; they
had searched the country in between.
1t was rather a staggerer for Bar
ker. Doubtless there were more mules
in the state. But the price seemed to
be racing along with the demand, and
go or 20 mules would total tremen-
dous figure. Meanwhile, the fifteen
hundred per day
Barker choked down his feelings
and sent for Green, who was working
in the finishing room.
81 find that it is going to take good
deal of time to buy the mules we
need, Green. We have decided to take
yours"
But you know" said Abner. mules
have riz since mornin'."
"Eh?"
"You can have 'em for FIVE thousand,
SIR"
Barker was on his feet. Dull purple
surged into his cheeks. Infrequent as
such an occurrence was, the general
superintendent was losing his temper
Screen, you go to the devil!" shout
ed the other. II won't be bled, and
won't allow this firm to be bled, by
any such trick of an employee as that!
Get out of here!"
Abner trudged homeward through
the rain, serene and elated.
Barker had been wiring details in
termittently to the home office. A
message from there overlook Merrill
himself in his parlor car, as he sped
westward ON a little unannounced visit
to Greerville, to superintend in person
the monster Champlin Mills delivery.
He arrived at two o'clock on Tues
day morning and listened silently to
Bankers full report. He took pencil