The Tupelo journal., 1909-07-16
IL.
At Smoky Creek.

Karg, S~inclair'S crew foreman, came
running over to him from a pile of
merchandise that had been set off the
right of way on the wagon road for
loot. That's the superintendent car
coming, amt it, Murray" he cried,
looking across the creek at the ap-
preaching train.
What of it," returned Sinclair.
"Why, we're just loading the team"
The incoming train, an engine with
a way car, two flats, and the Bear
Dance derrick, slowed up at one end of
the wreck while Sinclair and his fore
man talked. Three men could be seen
getting out of the way car-McCloud,
the superintendent, and Reed Young,
the Scotch roadmaster, and Bill Dan
cling. "A gang of trackmen filed slowly
out after them.
The leaders of the party made their
way down the curve, and Sinclair, with
Karg, met them at the point. Nc
Cloud asked questions about the
wreck and the chances of getting the
track clear, and while they talked
Sinclair sent Karg to get the new
derrick into action. Sinclair then
asked McCloud to walk with him up
the track to see where the cars had
left the rail. The two men showed in
contrast as they stepped along the
ties. McCloud was not alone younger
and below Sinclair's height; his broad
Stetson hat flattened him somewhat.
His movement was deliberate beside
Sinclair's litheness, and his face,
though burned by sun and wind, was
| boyish, while Sinclair's was strongly
lined.
Just a moment" suggested Nc
Cloud, mildly, as Sinclair FASTENED
past the goods piled in the wagon
road. Whose team is that, Sinclair"
The road followed the right of way
where they stood, and a f~our-horse
team Of heavy mules was pulling a
loaded ranch wagon up the grade
when McCloud spoke.
Sinclair answered cordially. That's
my team from yer IN the Frenchman.
1 picked them up at Denver. Nice
hlulOo, VuSSAOuu, oAhC lhCy +. 1lfC Ill
mules every time for heavy work. Ii
I had just a hundred more of 'em the
company could have my job-what?"
Eyes. What's that stuff they are
hauling?"
That's a little stuff mashed up in
the merchandise car; there's some to-
hacco there and a little wine, I guess.
The cases are all smashed"
Lets look at It."
"Oh, there's nothing there that's
any good, McCloud."
Lets look at it."
AS Bill Dancing and Young walked
behind the two men toward the wagon,
Dancing made extraordinary efforts to
wink at the roadmaster. That's q
good story about the mules coming
| from Denver, amt it," he muttered
Young, unwilling to commit himself
stopped to light his pipe. When he
and Dancing joined Sinclair and Nc
Cloud the talk between the superin
tendent and the wrecking boss had be
come animated.
Il always do something for my mer
out of a wreck when / can; that's the
way / get the work out Of them" Sin
clair was. saying. "A little stuff like
this" he added. nodding toward the
wagon, comes handy for presents
and the company couldn't get any sal
wage out of it, anyway. | get the
value a dozen times over In quick
work. Look there!v Sinclair pointed
to where the naked men heaved and
wrenched in the sun. Where couli
you get white mon to work like thai
II you didn't jolly them along ones
in a while? What? You haven't beer
here long, McCloud." smiled Sinclair
laying q hand with heavy affection OF