The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-06-16

WIZ 'l'A ~ Nv I'''' - '''NS
the house good mules and bad mules,
plump mules and bony mules, mules
that had been bought for next to moth
ing and mules that had seemed much
too dear. But there they were. and
the countryside from Broadbury to
GrenrvillG was reasonably free from
superhuous mules.
Barker kept them hard at II until
midnight Saturday, and with the first
hour OF Sunday came the blessed Ger
tainty that the Champlin Mills order
could start on time.
That morning on every hand water
was running, snow disappearing; the
ground was an oo2e; Little Feathers
chatter had swelled to a faint roar.
Through the afternoon the shippers
pulled and tugged; the string OF cars
was loaded at last, and the machinery
OF the first lot had been settled for its
eastward ride. Twilight came and a
warm driz2le OF rain set in
Toward eight o'clock. Casey and his
fireman pulled out slowly, and a long
sigh of relief rose. I he days work was
done; the men began to scatter.
Then, abruptly. there came from the
west a dull booming, a heavy subdued
noise. as OF mufled thunder.
Barker hurried into the works and
through to the opposite side. He
opened Il window and thrust his head
out into the rain, seeking to penetrate
the darkness coward the brook; he
Couli see nothing; but very distinctly,
very Enthusiastically, through the gloom
came to his ears the gathering, clam
oring roar OF 4 notwithstanding fresh
ct.
Would 1t get TO the tracks? Barker
bit his lips. Pshaw. II couldn't! He
understood little of ~railroading, and
ii did seem risky. having the rails so
near the brook; and they had squeezed
every penny that went into the road.
But the engineers must have known
their business; the tracks were safe
enough.
Aad then came his answer, emphatic
and final. Out in the yards, rising
family above the voice of Little Feath-
er, startled shouts were audible, he
heavy putting OF a locomotive, a thud,
a scream of escaping steam. Casey
left by n door, his fireman by the
Other. Another roar, as water found
the tre-hOX, a great crashing splash
then .ilence. The rails had spread, and
the Dad was effectually out of COM
mission how.
Engineers came at dawn. The driz-
Zle If the night had settled 10 "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 or
more had Little Feather taken TO the
tracks, it whir!ed along cheerlly, the
irons boot-deep below the surface.
They prodded az the submerged rails
and smiled dryly.
Tho private spur was a wreck,
Could they repair it Immediately? In
a week, perhaps, or a month.
The proposition was absolutely, ut
terly unfeasible, the fact that Greer
Merrill's shipments positively must go
OUT uiu NOT dIltl INA Il piillN.t, ! nv
very best one could hope for was some
spot down the line, whore a temporary
platform could be knocked together
and cars run IA from B~rOadbury 10
take aboard the Champlin Mills ma
Chinery.
They found that spot five miles be-
low the works, and Barker, with a
sigh, half relief, half anger, accepted
the situation. II meant AT least a
day 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 halt
a dozen Of his minor executives and
instructed them 10 sally forth and
gather such mules and work horses
rare things in hat l~Ocality-as might
be obtained, on any terms.
One of the six was Abner Green, and
as they filed out Barker detained him