Gilpin observer., 1909-07-01

bridge was sent back for feed and
water by my orders. 1t has all been
taken care of. You should have been
notified, certainly it is the business
of the stock agent to see to that. Let
me inquire about it while you are
here, Mr. Dunning." suggested Nc
Cloud, ringing for his clerk.
NDunning lost no time in expressing
himself. Il don't want my cattle held
at Point of Rocks!" he said, angrily
Your Point of Rocks yards are in
fected. My cattle shouldn't have been
sent there"
"Oh, no. The old yards where they
had a touch of fever were burned off
the face of the earth a year ago. The
new yards are perfectly sanitary. The
loss of the bridge has crippled us, you
know. Your cattle are being well
cared for, Mr.. Dunning, and if you
doubt it you may so up and give our
men any orders you like in the matter
at our expense"
You're taking altogether too much
on yourself when you run my stock
over the country in this way" ex-
claimed Dunning, refusing to be pla-
Gated. How am l to get to Point of
Rocks-walk there?"
4, Not at ALL" returned McCloud, ring
p, ing up his clerk and asking for pass,
Whicn was brought back in a moment
and handed to Dunning THE CATTLE"
continued McCloud, can be run down,
unloaded, and driven around the break
to-morrow-with the loss of only two
days"
And in the meantime 1 lose my
market"
1T is too bad, certainly, but / sup
pose it will be several days before we
can get a line across Smoky creek"
why weren't the cattle sent
through that way yesterday? What
have they been held at Point of Rocks
for: l call the thing badly managed"
I'VE couldn't get the empty cars up
fl ON Piedmont for the transfer until
to-day; 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 if you keep on discharging the
only men on this division that are
competent to handle break like this,
it is likely to continue
Just a moment" McCloud's finger
rose pointedly. MY failure to please
you in caring for your stock in an
emergency may be properly 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"
Dunnins strobe toward him. I'm
a shipper on this line; when it suits
me to criticise you or your methods.
or anybody else's, expect to do So"
he retorted in high tones.
But you cannot tell me how to run
my tusiness!" thundered 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. He shuffied to the cor
ner of the room, and while McCloud
and Dunning engaged hotly again.
Rooney, from the corner, threw a shot
of his own into the quarrel. On
tIme," he roared.
The angry men turned. Whats
on time?" asked McCloud, curtly
Number One; she's in and chang
ing engines. l told them you were 60
ing west" declared Rooney in so deep
tones that his fiction would never
| have been suspected.
Dunning, TO emphasize, without a
further word, his disgust for the stu
alton and his contempt for the man.
agement. tore into scraps the pass
that had been given him, threw the
scraps on the floor, took a 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 if 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
glaring at him, somewhat speechless,
he put on his hat and walked out of
| the room.
1t was but 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, McCloud found himself, rath.
er dead than alive, back at Medicine