Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-02
WOMAN BLUFFED A RAILROAD
Foreman, superintendent and Man.
ager, In Turn, Called Down
and Cooled on.

| The managers of the construction depart
ment of the Pleasant Valley electric road
was disturbed for the second time that
week when Jenkins the foreman Of the
gang came in and told him that he could
not so on with the work,
See here, Jenkins, you've made a mess Of
the thing, just the same as Tompkins did
Monday. He came back with the same sort
Of story. 1t made me mad then an your
story makes me made now. This road has
got to go through by hook or crook. What
is the obstruction you hint at, and why do
you not set the gang to work at onceT"
THE fellows will not strike a pick into
the ground nor lift shovel. They simply
will not face the music and start in. As for
the obstruction, well, two women and a
| baby"
Bah! And you cannot force the men to
work?'
IT cannot do a thing with them Italians
are queer fellows; they're a little supersti-
tious about the thing. guess the road will
have to go around the obstruction
go around nothingl Man, are you mad /?
This company will not stand for any such
fool business as this-and at this late day,
too. We have the right-of-way, and the
road goes through where she was sur
veyed."
Yes, that's all right; know all about
the law and that sort OF thing. / could
force a way throughput this new feature
| comes up and downs me. I'm ready to go
on with the construction of the roadbed-
but cannot
''Then I'll see what can do myself, that e
all. Good morning" :.
Jenkins went out with a smile on his face,
leaving the manager more disturbed and
| perlexed than ever. IS s 80
IT'S queer state, Of affairs II a corpor-
alton with barrels of money back OF 1t can
not run ten mile road without meeting
a snag. Two women and a baby! What
sort Of fool business is this? I'll soon find
out for myself" asu''
James Eldred, the young manager, found
out all about II when re arrived on the
spot with twenty lusty, olive skinned fell
lows behind him.
In front of a dilapidated structure was
seated young girl rocking a baby. The
girl was sleepy and tired. The baby was
cross and fretful. Back Of the girl, sitting
on the low step, was a weary looking
woman. About the women was a bevy of
yellow haired youngsters OF various ages,
all curious and open eyed.
Eldred approached the girl and said:
''You will have to move"
But the girl only looked at him with
sleepy eyes, cronned, and rocked the fret
full child more vigorously. Eldred looked
from the woman In the, doorway to the men.
She uttered not a word until he addressed
her:
Madam, are you aware that you are OBJ
structing the progress Of our work."
II reckon I am, stranger. That's what
Susan is there for; that's what and the
kids are here for It's all because we pro-
pose to shunt the thing of one side" came
from the bedraggled creature.
but, madam, the line has been surveyed.
You will have to move, Your place has
been condemned. You will be paid for It.
This property belongs now to the Pleasant
Valley road"
Yes. so folks say. know, stranger, that
your line goes through our kitchen. I saw
the surveyor shoot her with a spygiass. But
the road amt gin that way"
But the law. madam; you know we have
the right-of-way-".
Don't know any law nor don't want to.
know that your road, even II II was
backed by the president, couldn't run
through the kitchen and tear up our back
yard where Jimmie Is"
"Ah! SO there is a guard In the rear as
we'll as here? With your permission may !
interview the rear guard3"
IT reckon 'twon,t hurt you any. Step
round the corner of the house; Susan. rock
that childl'
Eldred passed around the structure and
entered the weed grown back yard Under
a stunted apple tree was a small marble
slab with few flowers growing about II.
He drew near. bent lower and read the
words carved upon the stone;
James slocum-Aged H.
He saved four hundred lives in
Pleasant Valley in 1900.
Jimmie was drowned
There was a wild look on Eldreds face
and soft tone in his voice when he reap
pesred at the front and said to the woman;
80 that is the reason for obstructing our
work. Your son was drowned, It seems"
Yes. Jimmie was drowned. He rode
Black Bess down the valley 10 warn ths
folks when the big dam busted up in ths
hills. Every man was saved-an'-an' while
he was crossin' the bridge It went down
with him an Black Bess. We amt ever
been able to buy a stone for Bess Tbs
apple trees that's over her seems like 9
likely thing in place OF q stone"
Madam. you need not move-that is moi
at present. But where il your husbandT'
Upstairs readin' the gospel SOS not e
let his temper sit the best OF him. He'l
got his shotgun, an"
well. good morning. Come. men. There's
nothing doing here"
Eldred laid the matter before the boart
that evening. And the Pleasant ValleS
Electric road takes a sharp turn TO the LET
and rounds a small structure with a mar
BILE slab In the back yard under a stuntec
apple tree-Chicago Tribune.
sigma M Elects OGeeru
CHICAGO. Jan. 1.-The following oficers
for 1907 were elected today at a session OF
the convention Of the Sigma M fraternity
In progress here; Regent Francis v. Kess
ling. California; vice regent, A Miller Bel
field. Chicago; grand recorder. C. Z. Woods