Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-10-01


"And In the meantime lose ny
market"
1T Is too bad, certainly, but l sup.
pose II will be several days before we
can get line across Smoky creek"
why weren't the cattle sent
through that way yesterday? What
have they been held at Point Of Rocks
for: call the thing badly managed"
I'VE couldn't get the empty cars up
fiom Piedmont for the transfer until
today; empties are very scarce every
where now"
There always have been empties
here when they were wanted until
lately. There's been no head or tail
to anything on this division for six
months
I'm sorry that you have that i'm
preston"
That impression is very general"
declared the stockman, with an oath,
"and II you keep on discharging the
only men on this division that are
competent to handle a break like this,
1t is likely to continued"
Just a moment" McClo1d's finger
-cse pointedly. MY failure to please
you in caring for your stock 10 an
emergency may be properly a matter
for comment; your opinion as to the
way l am running this division is, Of
course, your own; but don't attempt
to criticise the retention or discharge
OF any man on my pay roll"
Dunnin5 strobe toward him. I'm
shipper on this line; when 1t suits
me to criticise you or your metLOds,
Vr anybody else's, / expect to 90 So"
he retorted in high tones.
But you cannot tell me how to run
my buklness!" Numbered McCloud,
leaning over the table in front OF him
As the two men glared at each 9TH
er Rooney Lee opened the door. His
surprise at the situation amounted to
CONSERVATION. be Stuffed to the cor
ner of the room, and while McCloud
and Dunning engaged holly again,
Rooney. from the corner, threw a shot
OF his own into the quarrel. "On
tIme!" he roared.
The angry men turned. What's
on timer" asked McCloud, CURLY.
Number One; she's In and chang
Ing engines. | told themUou were go
ing west" declared Rooney in so deep
tones that his fiction would never
have been susnented.
Dunning, to emphasize, without a
further word, his disgust for the stu
alton and his contempt for tbs man
agement, tore into scraps the pass
that had been given him, threw the
scraps on the floor, took cigar from
his pocket and lighted It: insolence
could do no more.
McCloud looked over at the dis.
patcher. NO, / am not going west,
Rooney. But II you will be good
enough to stay here and find out from
this man just how this railroad ought
to be run, | will gO to bed. He can
tell you; the microbe seems to be
working in his mind right now" said
McCloud, slamming down the roll.top
Of his desk. And with Lance Dunning
gl0ring at him, somewhat speeches.,
he put on bis hat and walked out Of
the room.
1t was bur one Of many disagreeable
Incidents due to the loss Of the bridge.
Complications arising from the tie.up
followed him at every turn. 1t seemed
as If he could not get away from trou-
BILE following trouble. After 40 hours
further OF toll, relieved by four hours
Of sleep, Nc Cloud found himself, rath-
er dead than alive, back at Medicine
Bend and in the little dining room at
Marions. Coming In at the cottage
door on Fort street, he dropped into
chair. The cottage rooms we're
empty. He heard Marion's voice in
the front shop; she was engaged with
customer. Putting his head on the
table to wait a moment, nature as
serted itself and McCloud fell asleep.
He woke hearing a voice that he had
heard in dreams. Perhaps no other
voice could have vakened him, for he
slept for a few minutes q deatb-like
sleep. At all events, Dicksie Cunning
was in the front room and McCloud
heard her. She was talking with
Marion about the burning OF Smoky
Greek bridge.
Every one is talking about It yet"
Dicksie was saying. IF ! had lost
my best -triend couldn't have felt
worse; you know, my father built it.
| rode over there the day Of the fire,
and down into the creek, so / could
look up where It stood. / never
realized before how high and how
long 1t was: and when | remembered
how proud father always was OF his
work there-Cousfn Lance has often |
told mel sat down right on the
ground and cried Hev times have