Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-06

There you are." snarled McCloskey.
wheeling upon Lidgerwood. They
couldn't let you get your chair warmed
the first day.
With the long run from Copah to
Angels to his credit. and with all the
headquarters loose ends still to be gath
cred up, Lidgerwood might blamelessly
have turned over the trouble call to his
trainmaster. But a wreck was as good
starting point as any, and he took
command at once.
Go and clear for the wrecking train,
and have some one in your Office notify
the shops and the yard" he said, briskly,
compelling the attention of the one-eyed
dispatcher; and when Callahan was gone:
Now, Mac, get out your map and post
me. I'm little lame on geography yet.
Where is Gloria siding?'
McCIOSkey found a blueprint. map of
the line and traced the course of the
western division among the foot hills to
the base of the Great TimanyOniS, and
through the Timanyoni canyon to a park
like valley. shut in by the great range
on the east and north. and by the Little
Timanyonis and the Hophras on the west
and south. At point midway of the
valley his stubby forefinger rested
That's Gloria" he said. and here S
Little Butte, twelve miles beyond
Good ground?" queried Lidgerwood.
las pretty stretch as there is any
where west of the desert; reminds you
of a Missouri bottom, with the river on
one side and the hills a mile away On
the other. l don't know what excuse
those hoboes could find for piing a
train in the ditch there
We'll hear the excuse later" said
Lidgerwood. Now. tell me what sort
of a wrecking plant we have?'
1.-The best in the BUNCH asserted the
trainmaster. "Gridley's is the one de-
partment that has been kept up to date
| and in good lighting trim. We have one
wrecking crane that will pick up any OF
| the big freight pullers. and lighter one
that isn't half bad
Who is your wrecking boss?
"Gridley-when he feels like going out
| He can clear a main line quicker than
any man we've ever had
He will go with us today?''
Il suppose SO. He is in town and he's
sober"
The new superintendent caught at the
hesitaalt word.
Drinks, does hep
Not much while he is on the job. But
he disappears periodically and comes
| back looking something the worse for
over in Copah.'
Lidgerwood dropped the master-me.
chanic as he had dropped the offending
trainmen who had put train II In the
| Closkey there should be no ditcn.
III go and run through my desk mail
and fill Hallock up while you are max
ing ready" he said. Call me when the
| train is made up"
Passing through the corridor on the
way to his private Office back of Hal
locks room, Lidgerwood saw that the
| wreck call had already reached the shops
A big. bearded man, with a SOFT nat
pulled over his eyes. was directing the
| makeup of a tram on the repair track
and the yard engine VS. pulling an enor,
nous crane down from its spur beyond
| the coal chutes. Around the man In the
| soft hat the wrecking crew was gathering
l-shopmen for the greater part, as crew
/ of a mastermechanic's choosing Woulo
be.
| AS the event proved. there was little
time for the doing of the preliminary
work which Lidgerwood had meant to do
| In the midst of the letter sorting NC
Closkey put his head in at the door OF
the private office.
! Were ready when you are. Mr.. Lid
| gerwood." he interrupted; and with Few
hurried directions to Hallock Lidserwood
| Joined the trainmaster on the Crow s
Nest platform. The train was backing
up to get its clear-track orders. and on
| the tool-car platform stood the big man
whom Lidgerwood had already identified
presumptively as Gridiey.
| McCloskey would have introduced the
new superintendent when the train
Watchers window. but Gridiey did not
vail for the formalities.
come aboard. Mr.. Lidgerwood." he
called. genially. Its too bad We have
10 give YOU sweat-box welcome. II
there are any of seventy-one's crew left
alive. YOU ought to give them thirty days
for calling you out before you could
shake hands with yourself"
Eeinr by nature deliberate in forming
friendships, and proportionately tenacious
~ them when they were formed. Lidger-
woods impulse was to hold all men at
arms length until he was reasonably as
sured of sincerity and common ground
But the genial master-mechanic refused
| to be nut on probation. Lidserwood made