The Yale expositor., 1906-10-12
CHAPTER Ix.-Continued.
copyright, 1906, BY j. 2. Lippineott Coz


heavy SHOWS still held aloof. Adams
prediction wrought itself out into
sober fact After the single appeal to
force, Mr. Darrah seemed TO have
given up the fight None the less. the
departure of the Rosemary was de-
layed, and it's hospitable door was al
ways open to the Utah chief of con-
struction and his assistant.
Winton took his welcome broadly,
as what lover would not; and within
a week was spending most OF his
evenings I'm the Rosemary-this at a
time when every waking moment OF
the day and night was deeply mort
gagged TO the chance of success. For
now that the Rajah had withdrawn
his opposition. nature and the per-
Nersity OF inanimate things had taken
a hand. and for a fortnight the work
of track-laying paused fairly within
sight OF the station at Argentine.
First il was a carload of steel ac-
cidentally derailed and dumped into
Quartz creek at precisely the worst
possible point in the lower canyon,
jagged. rock-ribbed. cliff-bound gorge
where each separate piece of metal
had to he hoisted out singly by der
rick erected for the purpose-a process
which effectually blocked the track
for three entire days. Next it was an
other landslide (unhelped by dyna-
mite, this) just above the station, a
crawling cataract of loose. sliding
shale which. painstakingly dug out
and damned with plank bulkhead dur
ing the day, would pour down and
bury bUlkhead. buttresses, and the
very right of way in the night.
la his right mind-the mind of an
ambitious young captain of industry
who sees defeat with dishonor staring
him In the face-Winton would have
fought all the more desperately for
these hindrances. But, unfortunate
ly. he was no longer an industry cap
tain with an eye single to success.
He was become that anomaly despised
of the working world-a man in love.
IT'S no use shutting our eyes to
the fact, Jack" said Adams one even
ing when his chief was making ready
for his regular descent upon the Rose
mary. 1--WE shall have to put night
shifts at work on that shale-slide If
we hope ever to get past it with the
rails"
Hang the shale!" was the impa-
tient rejoinder. I'm no galley slave"
Adams slow smile came and went
in cynical ripplings.
1T is pretty difficult to say precise
ly what you are just now. But | can
prophesy what you are going to be
If you don't wake up and come alive"
Having no reply to this, Adams
went back to the matter Of night
shifts.
IF ysu will authorize it, I'll put
night gang on and boss It myself.
What do you say?"
81 say you are no end OF a good
fellow. Morty. And that's the plain
fact. I'll do as much for you some
time"
"Ill be smashed If you will-youll
never get the chance. When l let a
pretty girl make fool of me-"
But the door of the dinkey slammed
behind the outgoing one. and the
prophet Of evil was left to organize
his night assault on the shale-slide,
and to command it as best he could.
So, as We say. the days of stubborn
toll with the enthusiasm taken out,
slipped away unfruitful. OF the en-
tire Utah force Adams alone held him
self Up to the mark, and being only
second ia command, he was unable to
keep the bad example Of the chief
from working like a leaven of inert
ness among the men. Branagan
voiced the situation in rich brogue
one evening when Adams had ex.
hausted his limited vocabulary of
abuse on the force for its apathy
"'Tis no use. ava. Misther Adams. II
you was the boss himself 'twould be
you as would put the comether on
thin too quick. But it's like masther,
like mon The bys all know that
Misther Winton don't care a damn;
and they'll not be hurtin thimselves
wild the wurrk."
Aud the Rajah? Between his times
of smoking high-priced cigars with
WiutOn in the lounging-room of the
Rosemary. he was swearing Jubilates
in the privacy OF his working-den
staterOom. having trl-daily weather
reports wired to him by way of Car
Donate and Argentine station, and
busying himself in the intervals with
sending and receiving sundry mysteri-
Gus teiegrams in cipher.
Thus Mr.. Somerville Darrah. all
gaing well for him until one fateful
morning when he, made the mistake
of congratulating his ally. Then
bat we picture the scene: Mr. Oar
rah late TO his breakfast, being JUS
ia from an early morning reconnais-
sance of the enemy's advancings; vir-
ginia sitting opposite to pour his cof-
fee. All the others vanished to some
limbo OF their own
The Rajah rubbed his hands de-
lightedly.
We are coming on famously, IA.
1usiy, my deah Virginia Two
weeks gone, heavy SHOWS predicted
sor the mountain region, aud nothing,