The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-06
CHAPTER II.
At Smoky Creek.

At Smoky Creek. 49,.
karg, Sinclair's crew foreman. came
running over to him from a pile OF
merchandise that had been set OF the
right of way on the wagon road 70,
loot. That's the superintendent ca,
coming, amt it,. Murray?" he cried
looking across the creek at the an
preaching train.
What of it," returned Sinclair.
why, we're just loading the team
The incoming train, an engine with
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 I'm
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 fattened 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 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 1 fourhorse
team Of heavy mules was pulling !
loaded ranch wagon up the grade
whom McCloud spoke. Z.
( Sinclair answered cordially. That's
my team from over on the Frenchman
I picked them up at Denver. Nice
mules, McCloud, amt they? Give me
mules every time for heavy work. II
had just . hundred more of 'em the
company could have my job-what %
Yes. What's that stun they are
hauling?'
That's a little stun mashed up In
the merchandise car; there's some to
bacco there and q little wine, guess.
The cases are all smashed."
Lets look at IT,
sOh. there's nothing there that's
any good, McCloud.'
Lets look at It."
Az Bill Dancing and Young walked
behind the two men toward the wagon,
Dancing made extraordinary efforts To
wink at the roadmaster. That's Z
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 men
out of wreck when can; that's the
way get the work, ont Of them" Sin.
clair was saying. IA little stun 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 dozen times over IN apicl
work Look thers!. Sinclair pointed
to whore the naked men heaved and
wSenched IN the sun. where could
you ct white men to work IKE TIA,
II you didn't jolly them along oncs
lin . while? What? You haven't been
here long. cCloud. !" smiled Sinclair
laying : hand With heSyy affection on