The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-07-19
Copyright. 1901. by Harper {, Brother. -
CHAPTER /.
AK1.EY was alone in the bare
general offices of the Huckle-
By VAUGHAN KESTER

AE1nY Eanasa, was ooal alone ne in. in the .a7s bare
berry line, as the Buckhorn
and Antioch railroad was
commonly called by the public, which
it betrayed in the matter of meals and
connections. He was lolling lazily over
his desk with copy of the local pa
per before him and the stem of dis
reputable cob pipe between his teeth.
The business of the Gay was done,
and the noise and hurry attending it's
doing had given way to a sudden hush.
Other sounds than those that had filled
the ear since morning grew out of the
stiffness. Big drops of rain driven by
,ne wlnu sl,as.leu so1uy against lne
unpainted pine door which led into the
yards or fell with gay patter on the
corrugated tin roof overhead. No. Z.
due at $40, had just pulled out with
twenty minutes to make up between
Antioch and Harrison, the western
terminus of the line. The 6 o'clock
whistle had blown, and the men from
the car shops, dingy, one story build
ing that joined the general offices on
the east, We're struggling off home.
Across the tracks at the ugly little de-
pot the ticket agent and telegraph op-
orator had locked up and hurried away
under one umbrella the moment No. Z
was clear of the platform. From the
yards every one was gone but Milton
McClintock, the master mechanic, and
Dutch Pete, the yard boss. Protected
by dripping yellow oilskins, they We're
busy repairing a wheeZy switch engine
that had been incontinently backed in
to siding and the caboose of freight.
Oakley was waiting the return of
Clarence, the Office boy, whom he had
sent uptown to the postoffice Having
read the two columns of local and per-
sonal gossip arranged under the head
ing "People You Know he swept his
newspaper into the wastebasket and
pushed back his chair The window
nearest his desk overlooked the yards
and long line of shabby day coaches
and battered freight cars ON one of the
sidings They We're there to be rebuilt
or repaired. This meant a new lease
of life to the shops, which had never
proved profitable.
Oakley had been with the Huckle-
berry two months. The first intimation
the Office force received that the new
man whom they had been expecting
for over a week had arrived in Antioch
and was prepared to take hold was
when he walked into the Office and
quietly introduced himself to Kerr and
Holt. Former general managers had
arrived by special after much prelimi-
nary wiring. The manner of their go
ing had been less spectacular. They
one and all failed, and General Cor
nish cut short the days of their pride
and display.
Naturally the Office had been the
least bit skeptical concerning Oakley
and his capabilities, but within a week
a change was patent to every one con-
nected with the road. The trains be-
gan to regard their schedules, and the
slackness and unthrift in the yards
gave place to an ordered prosperity.
Without any apparent effort he found
work for the Shops a few extra men
even We're taken on, and there was no
hint as vet of half time for the sum-
mer months.
He was. broad shouldered, long
limbed, energetic young fellow. with
frank blue eyes that looked one square
1y in the face. Men liked him because
he was straightforward, alert and able,
with an indefinite personal charm that
lifted him out of the ordinary. These
We're the qualities Cornish had recog
nized when he put him in control of his
interests at Antioch, and Oakley, who
enjoyed hard work, had earned his sal
airy several times over and was really
doing wonders.
He put down his pipe, which was
smoked out, and glanced at the clock.
whats the matter with that boy?" he
muttered.
The matter vas that Clarence had
concluded to take a brief vacation.
After leaving the postoftice he skirted
a vacant lot and retired behind his fa-
theirs red barn, where he applied him
self diligently to cigarette.
When the cigarette was finished the
Erchin bethouSht him OF the purpose OF
his errand. This so worked upon his
fears that he bolted for TIL flee with
81! the speed of his short ss AS he
ran he promised himself notionally
that "the boss'' was likely to 'skin"
him. But whatever his fears he dashed
into Oalleys presence painting and in
hot haste. "Just two letters for you,
Mr.. Oakley!.' he gasped. "That was all
there was"
He went over to the superintendent
and handed him the letters. Oakley
observed him critically and with a dry
smile. For an instant the boy hung
his head s.eepishly, then his face
frightened.
.It's an awfully wet day; it's just
cnnninpW