The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-09-09
CHAPTER I.
The Wreeklno Boss.

Rocks az 1--WE O'Clock. Sinclair. IN per
son, was overseeing the making up o.
his wrecking train. and the yard, usD
ally quiet al that hour Of the morning
was alive with the hurry OF men anc
engines. In the administers room ol
the weather.b beaten headquarters build
ing nicknamed by railroad men The
Wickiup." early comers-sleepy-faced
keeneyed trainmen-lOunged on the
tables and IN chairs discussing the re
ports from Point OF Rocks, and among
them crew-callers and messengers
moved in and out Two minutes after
trey had their orders and were pulling
OUT 81 the upper yard. with right Of
way srar everything 10 Point OF
Rocks.
Inc Wrs.z sad occurred Just west
OF the creek. A e=st east-bOund freight
train. double-headel Lad left the
track on the long cursN ground the
hill and when the wrecklng train
backed through Ten Shed cut the sun
streamed over the heaps Of damned
and twisted cars strung all the way
from the point of the curve to the foot
Of Smoky hill. The crew OF the train
that lay IN the ditch walked slowly
up the track TO where the wreckers
had pulled up. and the freight conduc-
tor asked for Sinclair. Men rigging
the derrick pointed TO the hind car.
The conductor. swinging up the ca
boose steps. made his way inside
among the men that were passing out
tools. The air within was BLUSH
thick with tobacco smoke. but
through the haze the freightman saw
facing him. In the far corner OF the
denlike interior. a man seated behind
an old dining-car table. finishing his
breakfast; one glimpse was enough TO
identify the dark beard OF Sinclair.
foreman Of the bridges and boss OF the
vrecking gang.
Beside him stood a steamlng coffee
tank. and in his right hand he held an
enormous tin cup that he was about 10
raise to his mouth when he saw the
freight conductor With laugh. Sin
clair threw up his left hand and beck
Oned him over. Then he shook bis
hair just little, tossed back his head,
opened an unusual mouth, drained the
cup alta guip, and eurEing the freight
man fraternally, exclaimed: How
many cars have you ditcbed this
timet~
The tralnman. soberfseed fellow,
answered. dryiy: IAN had"
Running TOO fast. eh?" glsred Sin
clair.
With the box cars piled 40 feet high
on the track, the conductor was too
old a baud 10 begin a controversy.
'our times fast" was all he said.
Sinclair rose and exclaimed: Come
on" And the two, leaving the car,
started up the track The wrecking
boss paid no attention 10 his com
panion as they forged ahead, but
where the train had hit the curve he
scanned the track as be would a blue
print They'll have your scalp for
this" he declared. abruptly.
Il reckon they will"
whats your name?"
stevens"
Looks like all day for you. doesn't
TT No matter; guess can help you
out"
Where the merchandise cars lay,
below the switch. the train crew knew
that tramp had been caught. At
intervals they heard groans under the
wreckage. which was piled high there.
Sinclair stopped at the derrick, and
the freight conductor went on to
where his brakeman had enlisted two
OF Sinclair's giants TO help get out the
tramp. A brake beam had crushed the
mans legs, and the pallor OF his face
showed that he was hurt internally,
bet he was conscious and moaned soft
ly. The men had started 20 carry him
20 the way car when Sinclair came
up asked what they we're doing, and
ordered them back % the wreck. They
hastily laid the tramp down. "But he
wants water" protested a brakeman
who was walking behind. carrying his
arm In a sling.
"Waterl" bawled Sinclair. Have
my men got nothing 10 do but carry
tramp to water? Get ahead there
and help unload those refrigerators.
Hell find water fast enough. Let the
damned hobo crawl down TO the creek
after g."
The tramp was too far gone for re-
sentiment; he had tainted when they
laid him down. and his halfglazed
eyes. staring at the sky. gave no en-
dcnce that he heard anything.
The sun rose hot. for In the Red
desert sky there Is rarely cloud.
Sinclair took the little hill nearest
the switch 10 below his orders from,
running down among the men when
ever necessary 20 help carry them out.
Within 20 minutes. though apparently
no impression had been made on the
great heaps Of wrenched and splin.
tered equipment. Sinclair had the Job
IN haLd.
The freight conductor. Stevens,
sfrald ~ no man, had come up 10
speak 20 Sinclair. and Sinclair, with
smile. laid a cordial hand on his
shoulders. ~6ievens. it's all right. I'll
get you out Of this. Come here" He
Led he conductor down the track