The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-09-26
CHAPTER XIII.

TT was bit Of common human per-
verseness that kept Lidgerwood
from thanking Judson when the
4 engineer overlook him at the cor
ner of the plaza. Uppermost in his
thoughts at the moment was the keen
sense of humiliation arising upon the
conviction that the plucky little man
had surprised his secret and would de-
spise him accordingly; hence his first
thority.
go back to Schleisinger and have
him swear you in as deputy consta-
ble," he directed tersely. when you
are sworn in, come down here and
serve this" and he gave Judson the
warrant for Hallock's arrest. ARREST
him wherever you can find him and
take him over to Copah on the first
train that serves. He'll have to clear
himself IL he can; that's all.''
When Judson, with his huge cowboy
pistol sagging at his hip, had turned
back to do the first part Of his err
rand Lidgerwood went on around the
Crows Nest and presented himself at
the door Of the Nadia. Happily for
his purpose, he found only Mrs. Brew.
ster and Judge Holcombe In possession,
the young people having gone to climb
one Of the bare mesa hills behind the
town for an unobstructed view of the
Timanyonis.
The superintendent left Judge Hol'
oovo1>o r,,k ne which ho
urged earnestly upon Mrs. Brewster.
Telling her briefly of the threatened
strike and its promise Of violence and
rioting, he tried to show her that the
presence of the private car party was
a menace alike to its own members
and to him. Would she not defer to
his Judgment and let him send the
Nadia back to Copah and to safety
while there was yet timer
Mrs. Brewster, the placid. let him
say his say without interruption, but
when he finished the placidity became
active opposition. The presidents wife
would not listen for moment to an
expedient which did not, could not,
include the president himself.
II merely wished to state the case
and to give you chance to get out
and away from the trouble while we
could get you out" Lidgerwood said,
a little stiff1y. then: "It Is barely pos
sible that the others may agree with
me instead Of with you. VIII you tell
them about it when they come back
to the car and send word to my office
after you have decided in open coun'
Gil what you wish to do? Only don't
let it be very late. A delay Of two or
three hours may make 1t impossible
for us to get the Nadia over the Des'
ert division"
Mrs. Brewster promised, and the su'
perintendent went upstairs to his OF
fee. A glance into Hallock's room in
passing showed him the chief clerks
boxlike desk untenanted, and he won
dered II Judson would find his man
somewhere in the town. He hoped so
It would be better for all concerned II
the arrest could be made without toe
many witnesses. True, Hallock had
few friends In the railroad service, al
least among those who professed loyal
ty to the management, but with explo
sives lying about everywhere under
foot one could not be too careful OF
matches and fire.
The superintendent had scarcely
closed the door upon his entrance into
his own room when it was opened
again, with McCloskey's hand on the
latch. The trainmaster came to re
port that a careful search Of Gala
hans. files had not disclosed any mes
sage to Leckhard: also he added thai
Dix, who should have come on duty al
8 o'clock. was still absent.
what do you make out Of thatr
queried Lidgerwood.
McCloskey's scowl was grotesquely
horrible.
Bullying or bribery" he said short
~. They've got Dix hid away up
town somewhere. But there was {
message, all right, and with your name
signed to it. Callahan saw it on Dix't
hook this morning before the boy came
down. 1t was in code-your private
code. I got Orion little while agt
on the Copah wire and pumped him
He says there was a code message an6
that Dix sent it. But when l asked
him to repeat it back here he said b.
couIdn't-that Mr. Leckhard had taker
1t with him somewhere down the MAR
line"
Lidgerwood's exclamation was pro
fame. The perversity Of things. ami
mate and inanimate. was beginning te
wear upon him
"Go and tell Callahan to keep after
Orion until he gets word that Mr.
Leckhard has returned Then have
him get Leckhard himself at the other
end of the wire and call me-" he di.
rected Since there is only one man
besides myself in Angels who knows
the private Office code Id like to know
what that message said"
McCloskey nodded You mean Hal.
lockY'
"Yes"