The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-13

cisely, since Van Lew came \ \ almost Immediately to tap on the door of the superintendent's pri- vate room.
 Miss Eleanor said you wanted to see me-" he began when Lidgerwood had admitted him, adding, Il was just about to chase out to see what had become of her."
 The frank confession of solicitude was not thrown away upon Lidger- wood. and 1t cost him an effort to put the athlete on a plane of brotherly equality as a comrade in arms. But he compassed it.
 "Yes; I, asked her to send you up" he replied, then, 'I suppose you know what we are confronting, MT. Van Lew?"
 Mrs. Brewster told us as soon as we came back from the hills. Is it likely to be seriousr
 "Yes. I wish could have persuad- ed Mrs. Brewster to order the Nadia out of it. But she has refused to go and leave MT. Brewster behind"
 'T know" said Van Lew. "We have all refused.''
 "So Miss Brewster has just told me-" frowned Lidgerwood. That being the case. we must make the best of it. How are you fixed for arms in the presidents carp
 "I have a hunting rife, a A maga- zine, and Jefferis has a small armory of revolversNboyltke."
 Good! The defense of the car, if riot materializes, will fall upon you two. Judge Holcombe can't be count ed in. I'll give you all the help I can spare, but you'll have to furnish the brains. I suppose I don't need to tell you not to take any chancesT'
 Van Lew shook his head and smiled.
 aNot while the dear girl whom, God willing, I'm going to marry is mem Der of OUT car party. I'm more likely to be overcautious than reckless. MT. Lidgerwood."
 Here, in terms unmistakable, was a phantom of hope which might have survived, but Lidgerwood did not ad- vertise the funeral.
 ''She is altogether worthy of the most that you can do for her and the best that you can give her, Mir. Van Lew" he said gravely. Then he pass ed quickly to the more vital matter. ''The Nadia will be placed on the short spur track at this end of the building, close in, where you can step from the rear platform of the car to the station platform. I'll try to keep watch for you, but you must also keep watch for yourself. If any firing begins get your people out quietly and bring them up here. Of course none of you will have anything worse than a stray bullet to fear, but the side walls of the Nadia would offer no protection against that"
 Van Lew nodded understandingly.
 Gall it settled" he said. Shall I use my own judgment as to the proper moment to make the break, or will you pass us the word?"
 Lidgerwood took time to consider Conditions might arise under which the Crows Nest would be the most unsafe place in Angels to which to flee for shelter.
 Perhaps you would better sit tight until I give the word," he directed after the reflective pause, then in a lighter vein: "All of these careful pre- figurirgs> may be entirely beside the mark. Mir. Van Lew hope the event may prove that they were. Don't let the women worry any more than they have to-
 "Yos can trust me for that" laugh ed the athlete, and be went his way to be- T the keeping up of appear. ances.
 At o'clock, just as Lidgerwood was finishing the luncheon which had been sent up to his office from the cation Kitchen, train 203 pulled in from the east. and little later Dawsons be- lated wrecking train trailed up from the west. bringing the ''cripples'' from the Little Butte disaster. Lidgerwood summoned McC1oskey.
 "I wish you would go downstairs and see if Gridley came in on POS. If he did bring him and Benson up here. and we'll hold a council of war. If you see Dawson send him home to his mother and sister. He can report to me later if he finds it safe to leave his womankind.''
 The door of the outer office had bare ly closed behind McCloskey when that opening into the corridor swung upon its hinges to admit the master me chanic. He was dusty and travel stain ed, but nothing seemed to stale his genial good humor.
 "Well, we'll, Mir. Lidgerwood. So the hoboes have asked to see your hand at last. have they?" he began sympatheti- cally. "I heard of it over in Copah just in good time to let me catch 203. You're not going to let them make you show down, are youf"
 "No," said Lidgerwood.
 That's right. That's precisely the way to stack it up. Of course you know you can count on me. I've got a beautiful lot Of pirates over in the shops, but we'll try to hold them lev el." Then in the same even tone: They tell me we went into the hole again last night over at Little Butte. Pretty bad?' Every bad. Six killed outright and as many more to bury later on, I am