Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-14

all the line lying west OF the Gloria
bridge?" he asked. pointedly.
Every foot of 1t. up one side and down
the other. No, hold on. there is that old
spur running up on the eastern side Of
Little Butte: it's the one that used to
serve Flemister's mine when the workings
were on the Eastern slope Of the butte.
didn't go over that spur. 1t hasn't been
used for years; as l remember 1t. the
switch connections with the main line
have been taken out"
You're wrong about that" said Lidger-
wood. definitely. "McCloskey thought so,
too. and told me that, the frogs and point
rails had been taken out at Silver switch
at both of the mainline ends of the
'Y'-but the last time / was over the line
/ noticed that the old switch stands were
there, and that the split rails were still
in place."
Benson had been fitting comfortably in
his chair smoking his pipe, but at this
he got up quickly and looked at his
watch
Say. Lidgerwood, I'm going back to
leave in about five minutes" he said, hur-
riedly. Tell me half a dozen things in
just about as many seconds. Has Flem-
lister used that spur since you took charge
of the road?"
Have you ever suspected him of being
mixed up in the looting?'
Il haven't known enough about him to
form an opinion.
Benson stepped to the door COMMUNE
eating with the outer office and closed it
quietly.
Your man Hallock out there-how is he
mixed up with Flemister?'
II don't know. Why?''
Because the day before yesterday.
when / was on the Little Butte station
platform, talking with Goodoe, saw
Flemister and Hallock walking down the
new spur together. When they saw me
they turned around and began to walk
back toward the mine
"Hallock had business with Flemister,
| know that much. and he took half a
day off Thursday to go and see him."
said the superintendent.
DO you happen to know what the
business was?"
Yes. do. He went at my request"
Him. said Benson, another string
broken. Never mind; I've got to catch
that train
Still after those bridge timbers?'
Still after the boards they have prob
ably been sawed into And before l get
back l am going to know what's at the
upper end of that old Silver switch "
spur"
The young engineer had been gone less
than half an hour. and Lidgerwood had
scarcely finished reading his mail, when
McCloskey opened the door. Like Ben
son, the trainmaster also had the light OF
discovery in his eye.
More thievery." he announced. gloom
lily This time they have ben lootng
my department. l had ten or twelve
Thousand feet of high-priced, insulated
copper wire. and a dozen or more tele-
phone sets in the storeroom. Mr.. Cum
berley had a notion of connecting up all
the Angels departments by telephone.
ard 1t got as far as the purchasing of
the material. The wire and all those
telephone sets are gone"
"Well?' said Lidgerwood, evenly. The
, temptation to take 1t out upon the near
est man was still as strong as ever. but
he was growing better able to resist it.
I've done what l could" snapped Nc
Closkey. seeming to know what was ex-
pected of him, but nobody knows any
thing of course. So far as l could find
out, no one of my men has had occasion
to go into the storerom for week.
Who has the keys"
81 have one, and Spud1ock. the line
chief has one. Hallock has the third"
always Hallock." was the half-impa-
tient comment II hope you don't sus-
pect him of stealing your wire
| McCloskey tilted his hat over his eyes,
and looked truculent enough to fight an
entire cavalry troop
..That's Just what I do. he gritted.
i've got him dead to rights this time.
| He was in that storeroom day before
Yesterday, or rather night before last.
| Callahan saw him coming out Of there. 4"
CTo be continued tomorrow)