The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-07

a regular degree in getting a s~atisfac-
tory connection HALEY himself real
lied that; moreover, he seemed reIuc-
tant to quit the mountains. He acted
K q man who has lost something
and who looks for it abstractedfy, as
one might feel in his pockets for a
dshpole or a burglar. But there were
lusty little Haileys over at h cottage
to be looked after, and Bucks, losing a
roadmaster about hat time, asked
HALEY CATER chewing it a long time
with Callahan) to Take the place and
stay on the star. He even went home
with HALEY and argued 1t.
II know it doesn't seem Just right
Bucks put 1t, but. Haley, you must
remember this thing at Omaha isn't
going to last. They can't run a road
like this with Harvard graduates and
Boston typewrtters, There'n be an en-
tire new deal down there some fine day
Stay here with me-. and I'll say this,
HALEY, If I go, aver, you go with me"
And HALEY, sitting with his head be-
tween his hands. listening to his wife
and to Bucks, said. n day, Enough
and the first Of the month reported for
duty as roadmaster.
Agnew. meantime. had stopped all
construction work not too far along to
discontinue. The bridge at the Spider
fortunately was beyond his mandate;
It was finished to a rivet as HALEY had
planned it. Three spans two piers and
q pair Of abutments-solid as the Te-
tons. But the Peace river canyon work
was caught In the air. Hailey's Gals
sons gave way to piles, which pulled
the cost down from 100000 to $780,
600, and incidentally 1t was breathed
that the day for extravagant expendi-
ftures on the West End was past, and
Bucks dipped a bit deeper than usual
into Callahan's box Of crosscut and
rammed the splintered leaf into his
brier a bit harder and said no word.
but If we lose just one more bridge
It's goodby n gone to the California
fast freight business muttered Gala
han. It's taken two a to get it
back as it is. Did you tell the president
that" he growled at Bucks, smoking.
Bucks put out his little wave.
Il told him everything I told him
we couldn't stand another tie-up. I
showed him all the records. One
bridge at Peace river. three at the
Spider in ten years.
What did they say?"
Said they had entire confidence in
Agnew's Judgment; very eminent au-
thority and that Sort; new blood was
making itself felt in every department
that. OF course, was fired at me, but
they heard all I intended to say, just
the same. I asked the blooming board
whether they wanted my resignation,
and"-Bueks paused to laugh silently
the president invited me UP to the
Willard to dine with him. Hello, Phi
Haley! ne exclaimed as the neN
roadmaster walked in the door. Hap
py New Year HoW's your culverts
old boy? Ed Peeto said yesterday the
piles were going in down at Peace
river"
Jus as good as concrete as long as
they stay in" smiled HALEY, "and
they do cost a heap less. This is great
bridge weather-and for that matter
great track weather"
We had no winter that year til
spring and no spring till summer, and
it was a spring of snow and a summer
of water. Down below, the plains were
lost in the snow after Easter even
the snow that brought the BlackwooC
disaster with three engines and a ro-
tary to h bad, not to speak of ole
man Sankey, a host in himself. After
that the snow let up; ii was then nc
longer a matter of keeping the track
clear; it was q matter Of lashing the
track to the right of way to keep II
from swimming clear. HALEY a his
hands fulE he caught it all the while
and worse than anybody. but he work
ed like two men, for in a pinch the
was. his way. Bucks irritable from re.
Epeated blows Of fortune, leaned on ths
wiry roadmaster as he did on Gala
han or Neighbor. HALEY knew Bucks
looked to him for the track. and ht
strained every nerve. making ready fol
the time the mountain SHOWS should gC
out.
There was nobody easy on the Yves
End, and least Of all HALEY, for thai
spring, ahead of the suns, ahead of the