Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-15
CHAPTER u.
At Smoky Creek.

Karg, Sinclair's crew foreman, came
running over to him from pile Of
merchandise that had been set off the
right of way on the wagon road for
loot. "That's the superintendent's 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
q way car, two fats, 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-McC Cloud,
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 fattened him somewhat.
His movement was deliberate beside
6inclair'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 four-horse
team of heavy mules was pulling
loaded ranch wagon up the grade
when McCloud sroHe.
Sinclair answered cordially. That's
my team from over on the Frenchman.
picked them up at Denver. Nice
mules, McCloud, amt they? Give me
mules every time for heavy work. If
had just 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-
bacco there and little wine, guess.
The cases are all smashed"
Lets look at it,
"Oh, there's nothing there that's
my good, McCloud" g.
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 a
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 a wreck when can; that's the
way 1 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 I get the
value q dozen times over in quick
work. Look there!" Sinclair pointed
to where the naked men heaved and
wrenched in the sun. Where could
you get white men to work like that
II you didn't jolly them along once
In while? What? You haven't been
here long, McCloud," smiled Sinclair.
laying hand with heavy affection on
the young mans shoulder. ASK any
man on the division who gets the
work out of his men-who gets the
wrecks cleaned up and the track
cleared. Amt that what you want?"
Certainly, Sinclair; no man that
ever saw you handle a wreck would
undertake TO DO it Detter.''
Then what's all this fuss about"
We've been over all this matter be-
fore, as you know. The claim de-
partment won't stand for this footing:
that's the whole story. Here are ten
or twelve cases of champagne on your
wagon-soiled little, but worth a lot
of money"
That was mistake loading that
up; admit 1t; It was Karg's careless.
ness"
Here is one whole case Of cigars
and part OF another" continued Nc.
Cloud, climbing from one wheel to
another of the wagon. There is .
thousand dollars in this load! I know
you've got good men, Sinclair. II
they are not getting paid as they
should be, give them time and half
or double time, but put 1t In the pay
checks. The freight loss and damage
account increased 200 per cent. last
year. No railroad company can keep
that rate up and last. sincla:.-=."
Hang the company! The claim
agents are pack of thieves" cried
Sinclair. Look here, McCloud. what's
pay check to man that's sick, com.
pared With bottle Of good ,wine?"S
When one Of your men IL sick and
needs Wine, let me know" returned
McCloud; I'm see that he gets It.
Your men don't wear silk dresses. do
they? he asked. pointing to another
case OF goods under the drivers seat.
Have that stuR all hauled back and
loaded into box car on track"
Not BY damned sight!" exclaimed
sinclair. He turned to his ranch driv.
er. Barney Rebstock. "You haul that
stun where you were told to haul It.