Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-03
CHAPTER w.
Georae MecIoud.

McCloud was an exception 20 every
tradition that goes to make up a noun
tain railroad man. He was from New
England, with a mild voice and a hand
that Toughened very slowly. McCIoud
was a classmate Of Morris Blood's M
the Boston Tech" and the acquaint-
ance begun there continued after the
Two left school, with a scattering IRE
of letters between the mountains and
New England. as few and as far be
tween as mems letters usually scatter
after an ardent school acquaintance.
There were just two boys in the Nc
Cloud family-John and George. One
had always been intended for the
church. the other for science Some
how the boys got mixed in their era
dies, and John got into the church. For
George, who ought 20 have been q
clergyman. nothing was left but a long
engineering course for which, after he
got IL, he appeared 10 have no use.
However, IL seemed a little late To
shift the life alignments. John had
the pulpit and appeared disposed to
keep It. and George was left. like a
New England farm. TO wonder what
AtAN tNiOAlt OF ulMtGI.
1t is, nevertheless, odd how matters
come about. John McCloud a pros-
porous young clergyman. stopped on a
California trip az Medicine Bend to
see brother Georges classmate and
something OF a real western town. He
saw nothing sensational-it was there
out he did not see it-but he found
both hospitality and gentlemen, and.
II surprised, was too well-bred to ad-
NIT It. His one-day stop ran on 10
several days. In leaving, John McCloud.
in e seventh heaven OF enthusiasm
over the high country, asked Morris
Blood why he could not find some
thing for George out there; and Blood.
not even knowing the boy wanted TO
come, wrote for him, and asked Bucks
10 give him Job. Possibly. being
over-solicitous, George was nervous
when he talked TO Bucks: possibly
the impression left by his big. strong.
Dlun brother John made against the
boy; at all events, Bucks, after he
talked with George, shook his head.
could make a frst-class railroad
man out OF the preacher, Morris. but
not out of the brother. Yes. I've
talked with him. He can't do anything
but figure elevations, and. by heaven.
We can't feed our own engineers here
now. So George found himself
stranded in the mountains.
Morris Blood was cut up over 1t, but
George McCloud took II quietly. Pm
no worse off here than / was back
there. Morris" Blood. at that, plucked
up courage to ask George to take a
job In the Cold Springs mines, and
George jumped at IT, IL was limos
si0ie to get white man to live at
Cold Springs after he could save
money enough 20 get away, so George
was welcomed as assistant superin-
tendent at the Number Eight mine.
with no salary to speak of and all the
work.
One day. coming down Special
from Bear Dance. Gordon Smith, who
bore the nickname Whispering Smith.
rode with President Bucks in the
privacy of his car. The day had been
'ong, and the alkali lay Light on the
desert The business in hand had
been canvassed. and The Z. od5ios
aside for chicken. coffee and G. -as
when Smith. who did not smoke. fo.l
the story of something he had SEGA
the day before at Cold Springs th.s
pleased him.
The men In the Number Eight mine
had determined TO get rid Of some
Italians, and after a good deal Of
rowing had started in to catch one CT