The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-19


shape things here for an entire new
deal"
Don't let me stand IN your way
returned Dave grimly-
That's what I want to see you
about"
1T needn't take long blurted Dave.
Then I'll tell you what I want
II don't resign You can discharge
me any minute"
Il wouldn't ask any man to resign,
Dave, if I wanted to discharge him.
Don't make a mistake like that. I sup
pose you will admit there's room for
Improvement of this division
Dave never twitched- a whole lot
of Improvement" Bucks, with per-
ceptible emphasis. added 1t came
from the new superintendent as a sort
of gauntlet. and Dave picked it up
Il guess that's right enough he re-
piled candidly; there is room for a
whole lot of Improvement If I sat
where you do I'd fire every man that
stood in the way of 1t too.
That's why I've sent for YOU
Bucks resumed.
Then drop the chinook talk and
give me my time"
you don't understand me, Dave.
want you to give up your run. I want
your friend, Burnes here, to take your
run
A queer shadow went over Dawes
face. When Bucks began he was get
way it ended, the way it was coming
abour-putting me into his place..
the only boy on the division he cared
anything about struck him, as it
struck me. all in a heap. He couldn't
say word His eyes went out the
window into the mountains; something
in it looked like fate. For my part, I
felt murder guilty
What I want you to do. Dave ad-
ded Bucks evenly, ''is to come into the
office 1r-ftF ,ft ,,
train crews. Just at present I've got to
lean considerably on q trainmaster. Do
YOU want the job 2"
The silent conductor turned to stone.
The men who own the road are
new men, Dave. They didn't steal it,
they bought it and paid for it. They
want a new deal, and they propose to
give a new deal to the men. They will
pay salaries a man can live on hon
estly: they will give no excuse for
knocking down; they want what's
coming to them. and they propose the
men shall have their right share of it
in the pay checks.
But there's more than that in it.
They want to build uD the operating
force as fast as it can be built, from
the men in the ranks. I aim to make
a start now on this division. If you're
with me, hang up your coat here the
1st of the month and take the train
crews
Dave left the office groggy. The best
Bucks could do he couldn't get a posi-
tive answer out of him. He was over
come and couldn't focus on the pro-
position. Bucks saw how he had gone
TO pieces and managed diplomatically
to leave the matter open, Callahan,
whom Bucks had brought with him as
assistant. filling in meanwhile as train
master.
The matter was noised. 1t was
known that Dave. admittedly the
brainiest and most capable of the old
guard, had been singled out regard
less of his past record, for promotion.
I'm not here sitting in judgment on
what was done last year" Bucks had
year and next that. will count in this
office" And the conductors, thinking
there was a chance, believing that at
last if they did their. work right they
tions, began to carry their lanterns as
if they had more important business
than holding up stray fares.
Meantime Dave hung to his run.
Somehow the old run had grown a
part of him. and he couldn't give il
up. When he told Bucks al the end of
the week that he would like another
week TO make his decision the superin-
tendent waved it to him Everybody
began to make great things of Dave.
Some of the boys called him trainmas-
ter and told him to drop his punch and
give Tommie a show.
He didn't take the humor the way
one would expect, Always silent he
grew more than that-somber and de
jected. We never saw a smile on his
face Dave is off" muttered Henry
Cavanaugh. his old baggageman. T
don't understand it. He's off You
ought to talk to him. TOmmie- You're
the only man on the division can do
It,
was ordered west that night from
Washakie 1 rode upon Dawes train.
The hind Los Angeles sleeper was
loaded light, and when Dave had
worked the train and walked into the
stateroom to sort his collections l fol-
lowed him. We sat half an hour alone
and undisturbed, but he wouldn't talk
It was heavy train and the wind was
high.
We made Rat River after midnight,
and / was still sitting alone in the
open stateroom when L saw Dawes
green light coming down the darkened
aisle. He walked in, put his lamp on
the floor. sat down and threw his feet
..How's Tommie tonight2.' he asked.
leaning back as If he hadn't seen me
before, in his old teasing way. He
PLAYED light heart sometimes, but 1t
was no more than played; that was
sHow's Dave?" He turned, pulled
the window shade and looked out.
There was a moon, and the night was
bright, only WINDY.
what are you going to do with
Bucks, Dave %
DO you want my punch. Tommie 2''
you know better than that, don't
you -
4 guess So
you're blue tonight What's the
matter2" He shifted and it wasn't
like him to shift
I'm going to quit the West End
"Quit2 What do you mean? You're
not going to throw over this trainmas-
ter offer -
I'm going to quit. What's the use p
he went on slowly. How can I take
charge of conductors. talk to conduc-
tors? How can I discharge conduc-
tor for stealing when he knows I'm a
thief myself2 They know it; Bucks
knows It There's no place among
men for a thief
Dave. you take it too hard. Every
thing ran wide open here. You're the