Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-15

Aere," he said, as McCloud walked
to the head Of the mules.
"By all means, and I'll begin bv
countermanding that order right now.
Take your load straight back to that
car" directed McCloud, pointing up
the track. Barney, a ranch hand with
a cigarette face, looked surlily at Nc.
Cloud.
Sinclair raised a finger at the boy,
"You drive straight ahead where told
you to drive. don't propose to have
my affairs interfered with by you or
anybody else, McCloud. You and /
can settle this thing ourselves" he
added. walking straight toward the
superintendent.
Get away from those mules!"
yelled Barney at the same moment.
cracking his whip
McCloud's dull eyes hardly lightened
as he looked at the driver. Don't
swing your whip this way, my boy"
he said, laying hold quietly of the near
bride.
drop that bridle!" roared Sinclair.
I'LL drop your mules in their tracks
II they move one foot forward. Dan
cling, unlock those traces" said Nc
Cloud, peremptorily. Dump the wine
out of that wagon box, Young" Then
he turned to Sinclair and pointed to
the wreck. Get back to your work"
The sun marked the five men rooted
for an instant on the hillside. Dan.
cling jumped at the traces, Reed Young
clambered over the wheel, and Sin
clair. livid. faced McCloud With a
bitter denunciation Of interlopers.
claim agents, and fresh" railroad men
generally, Sinclair swore he would not
go back to work, and case Of wine
crashing to the ground Infatuated hisA
He turned on his heel and started for
the wreck. Call OFF the men," he yelled
to Karg at the derrick. The foreman
passed the word The derrickmen,
dropping their hooks and chains in
/ some surprise, moved out of the wreck
age. The aXmen and laborers gathered
around the foreman and followed him
toward Sinclair.
Boys" cried Sinclair, we've got a
new superintendent, college guy.
You know what they are; the COM
pany has tried 'em before. They
draw the salaries and we do the work.
This one down here now is making his
little kick about the few pickings we
get out of our jobs. You can go back
to your work or you can stand right
here with me till we get our rights.
What?"
Half dozen men began talking at
once. The derrickman. from below, a
hatchet-faced wiper, with the visor of
a greasy cap cooked over his ear,
stuck his head between the uprights
and called out shrilly: Whats er
matter, Murray?" and a few men
laughed. Barney had deserted the
mules. Dancing and Young, with small
regard for loss or damage, were
emptying the wagon like deckhands,
for in fight such as now appeared
imminent, possession Of the goods
even on the ground seemed vital to
prestige. McCloud waited only long
enough to assure the emptying Of the
wagon, and then followed Sinclair to
! where he had assembled his men.
Sinclair, put your men back to work"
mot till we know just how we
stand" Sinclair answered, insolently.
He continued to speak, but McCloud
turned to the men. Boys, go back to
your work. Your boss and Lean set.
tie our own differences. I'll see that
you lose nothing by working hard"
"And you'll see we make nothing,
won't you?" suggested Karg.
''1ll see that every man in the crew
gets twice what is coming to him-all
except you, Karg. I discharge you
now. Sinclair, will you go back to
i work?"
moi"
"Then take your time. Any men
that want to go back to work may
step over to the SWITCH" added Nc.
Cloud.
Not man moved. Sinclair and Karg
smiled at each other, and with no ap-
parent embarrassment McCloud him.
self smiled. II like to see men loyal
to their bosses" he said, good-natured-
ly. Il wouldn't give much for a man
that wouldn't stick to his boss II he
thought him right. But question has
come up here, boys, that must be set
tied once for all. This wreck-looting
on the mountain division is going to
stop-right here-at this particular
wreck. On that point there is no room
for discussion. Now, any man that
agrees with me ON that matter may
step over here and I'll discuss with
him any other grievance. II what I say
about footing is grievance, 1t can't
be discussed. Is there any man that
wants to come over?" No man
stirred.
Sinclair, you've got good men,"
continued McCloud, unmoved. "You
are leading them into pretty deep wa
ter. There's chance yet for you to
get them out Of serious trouble II you
think as much of them as they do of
you. Will you advise them to 20
back to work-all except Karg?
Sinclair glared In high humor. "Oh,
couldn't do that! I'm discharged"
he protested. bowling low. ,
Il don't want to be overhasty," re-.
turned McCloud. This 10 serious
business, as you know better than
they do. and there will never be as
good q time to fix 1t up as now.
There 10 chancellor you, I say. Sin.
clair, to take hold II you want to
now"
stVIyh~, ri, xoy,. aAys 4. .,,,