Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-18
CHAPTER ".
george Mccloud,

SttsNt ~ we
George Mccloud.
AcCloud was an exception to every
tradition that goes to make up a noun
tain railroad man. He was frem New
England, with mild voice and hand
that roughened very slowly. McCloud
was classmate Of Morris Blood's at
the Boston "Tech." and the acquaint-
-ance begun there continued after the
two left school, with scattering Ere
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
Ales, and John got into the church. For
George, who ought to have been
clergyman. nothing was left but long
engineering course for which, after he
got 1t, he appeared to have no use.
However, It seemed little late to
shift the life alignments. John had
the pulpit and appeared disposed to
keep it. and George was left, like
New England farm, to wonder what
had become of'himself.
It is, nevertheless, odd how matters
come about. John McCloud, a pros
porous young clergyman, stopped on a
California trip at Medicine Bend to
tsee brother Georges classmate and
something Of real western town. He
saw nothing sensational-it was there,
but he did not see it-but he found
both hospitality and gentlemen, and,
II surprised, was too wellbred to ad-
init it. His one-day stop ran on to
several days. In leaving. John Nc Cloud,
in 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
ito give him Job. Possibly, being
sover-solicitous, George was nervous
when he talked to Bucks: possibly
the impression left by his big, strong,
blum brother John made against the
boy: at all events, Bucks, after he
talked with George, shook his head.
'T could make frstclass railroad
man out Of the preacher, Morris, but
mot out Of the brother. Yes, I've
talked with him. He can't ddanything
but figure elevations, and, by heaven,
I'VE can't feed our own engineers here
now" So George found himself
stranded in the mountains.
Morris Blood was cut I'D over Il. but
George McCloud took it quietly. "Tm
no worse OF here than was back
there, Morris" Blood, at that, plucked
up courage to ask George to take
Job in the Cold Springs mines, and
George jumped at 1t. It was impos-
sfble to get white man to live at
Cold Springs after he could save
money enough to 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 Especial"
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
long, and the alkali lay light on the
desert. The business in hand had
been canvassed, and the troubles put
aside for chicken. coffee and cigars,
when Smith, who did not smoke, told
the story of something he had seen
the day before at Cold Springs that
pleased him.
The men In the Number Eight mine
had determined to get rid of some
Italians. and after q good deal Of
rowing had started in to catch one Of
them and hang him. They had chosen
a time when McCloud, the assistant
superintendent Of the mine, was down
with mountain fever. It was he who
had put the italians into the mine.
: He had already defended them from
injury, and would be likely. it was
known, to do so again IL he were able.
On this day mob had been chasing
the dagos, and had at length captured
one. They were running him down
the street to telegraph pole when
the assistant superintendent appeared
In scant attire and stopped them.
Taking advantage of the momentary
confusion. he hustled their victim into
the only place Of refuge at hand, q
billiard hall. The mob rushed the
hall In the farthest corner the I'M
lucky Italian, bleeding like bullock
and insane with fright, kneit, clinging
to McCloud's shaky knees. In trying
to make the back door the two had
been CIT OF, and the sick boss had
got into . corner behind pool table
to make his stand. In his pocket he
had a pistol, knowing that to use It
meant death to him as we'll as to the
wretch he was trying to save. Fifty
men were yelling in the room. They
had rope, hatchets. a spTtnkling of
guns. and whisky enough to burn the
town, and In the corner behind a pool
table stood the mining boss with
mountain fever, the dago and broken
billiard cue.
Bucks took the cigar from his
mouth, leaned forward in his chair,
and stretched his heavy chin out Of
his neck as II the situation now
promised . story. The leader, Smith
/ continued, was the mine blackHmith.