Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-10

life of me help thinking when they
struck hands. this grizzled mountaineer
and this contained, strong. soldierly ex-
ecutive who had come to command US,
Of another meeting I once saw when I
carried Crook out on a special and
watched him at Bear Dance strike
hands with the last of the big fighting
chiefs Of the mountain Sioux.
For three months Bucks sat his new
saddle without word or an act to
show what he was thinking; then there
came from the little room general Or
der that swept right and left from
trainmaster to wrecking boss. The last
one Of the old timers In the operating
department went except Dave Hawk.
The day the order was bulletined
Bucks sent for Dave; sent word by me
he wanted to see him.
"Come on" said Dave to me when
gave him the message.
"What do you want me forT
"Come on" he repeated, and. greatly
against my inclination, went up with
him. l looked for scene.
"Dave. you've been running here a
good while. haven't your" Bucks began.
"Long as anybody, l guess" said
Dave curtly.
"How many years?"
Nineteen"
There's been some pretty lively
shake-outs on the system lately" con-
tinued Bucks. The veteran conductor
looked at him coldly. II am trying to
shape things here for an entire new
deal"
Don't let me stand in your way"
returned Dave grimly.
THAT'S what l want to see you
about"
1T needn't take long," blurted Dave.
'1Then I'll tell you what want
II don't resign. You can discharge
me any minute"
II wouldn't ask any man to resign.
Dave, II wanted to discharge him.
Don't make mistake like that. sup
pose you will admit there's room for
Improvement in the running Of this
division"
Dave never twitched. "a whole lot
Of improvement" Bucks. with percepti-
BILE emphasis. added. 1t came from the
new superintendent as sort Of gaunt-
let. and Dave picked 1t up.
II 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. ! want
your friend. Burnes here. to take your
rum
A queer shadow went over Dawes
face. When Bucks began he was get
ting a thunderstorm on. Somehow the
way 1t ended. the way 1t was coming
about-putting me into his place-I. the
only boy on the division he cared any
thing about-it struck him, rs 1t struck
me, all in a heap. He couldn't say a
word. His eyes went out the window
into the mountains; something in 1t
looked like fate. For my part, ! felt
murder guilty.
What want you to do. Dave" add
ed Bucks evenly. "is to come into the
office here with Inc and look after the
train crews. Just ut present I've got to
lean considerably on a trainmaster.
Do you want the jObT"
The silent conductor turned to stone
"The men who own the road are new
men, Dave. They didn't steal 1t; they
bought 1t and paid for 1t. They want
new deal, and they propose to give a
new deal to the men. They will pay
salaries a man Gun live on honestly;
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 1t In the pay
| checks.
"But there's more than that In 1t.
They want to build up the operating
| force, as fast Us it can be built, from
the men in the ranks. I aim to make
q start now ON this division. If you're
with me, hang up your coat here the
list of the month and take the train
| crews"
Dave left the Office groggy. The best
| Bucks could do he couldn't get posi-
| tive answer out of him. He was over,
come and couldn't focus on the PROPOSE
ton. Bucks saw how he had gone to
pieces and managed automatically to
| leave the matter open, Callahan, whom
Bucks had brought with him as as
sistant. filling in meanwhile as train
| master.
The matter was noised. It was known
that Dave. admittedly the brainiest and
most capable of the old guard, had
been singled out. regardless Of his past
record, for promotion. "I'm not here
sitting in judgment on what was done
last year." Bucks had said plainly
.It's what is done this year and next
that will count In this Office" And the
conductors, thinking there was O
chance, believing that at last If they
did their work right they would gel
their share Of the promotions, began te
carry their lanterns as II they had
more important business than holding
up stray fares.
Meantime Dave hung to his run
Somehow the old run had grown par'
Of him, and he couldn't give 1t up
When he told Bucks at the end of tht
week that he would like another weel
| to make his decision the superintend
ent waved 1t to him. Everybody begar
to make great things Of Dave. Some Of
the boys called him trainmaster ant
told him to drop his punch and give
Tommie show.
He didn't take the humor the way
one would expect. Always silent, h'
grew more than that-somber and de
jected. We never saw smile on hi
face. "Daye is off," muttered Henr!
Cavanaugh, his old baggageman. :"
don't understand 1t. He's on. fo'
ought to talk to him, Tommie. Your
the only man on the division can do It.
I was ordered west that night +