The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-17

v
in the freight yard. round the switch
shanties or up at Biggs'-anywhere nc
can get half dozen of the men to-
gether. l haven't found man yet
that l could trust to keep tab on him,
and don't know what he's doing, but
i can guess"
as that alp" said Lidgerwood
quietly.
mo, II isn't. That switch engine
dropped out two weeks ago last Tues
day night. I've been prylng into this
locked up puzzle box every way could
think of ever since. Hallock knows
where that engine went"
what makes you think SOP
"I'll tell you. Robinson, the night
crew engineer, was little late leaving
her that night His fireman had gone
home, and so had the yardmen. After
he had crossed the yard coming out he
saw man sneaking toward the shift
er, keeping In the shadow Of the coal
chutes He was just curious enough
to want TO know who IL was, and he
made little sneak OF his own. When
he found il was Hallock he went home
and thought no more about II till / got
him to talk"
Lidgerwood had gone back to the
pencil and the blotting pad and the
making of squares. but the motive,
Mac?" he questioned without looking
up. How could the theft or the do
struction of locomotive serve any
purpose that Hallock might have In
view?"
McCloskey did not mean any disre-
spect TO his superior officer when he re-
torted: I'm no cyclopedia. There are
lots of things l don't know. But un-
less you call it Off I'm going to know
q few more of them before / Quit"
II don't call il off, Mac. Find out
what you can. But can't believe
that Hallock is heading this organized
robbery and rebellion"
Somebody is heading it to a dead
moral certainty, Mr.. Lidgerwood. The
licks are coming too straight and too
well timed"
"Flnd the man, If you can. and wen
eliminate him. And. by the way. II 1t
comes to the worst. how Will Hep
burn. the town marshal, stand?"
The trainmaster shook his head.
Il don't know. Jacks got plenty of
sand, but he was elected out of the
shops and by the railroad vote. If 1t
comes to showdown against the
men who elected him
THAT is what mean." nodded Lid
gerwood. 1T will come TO q show
down sooner or later IL we can't min
the ringlcadcrs. Young Runrord and
n dozen more OF the dropped employees
are threatening to get even. That
means train wrecking. misplaced
switches, arson-anything you like. At
the first break there are going to be
some very striking examples made Of
all the wreckers and looters we can
land on"
Where had McCloskey fallen upon
the idea that this carefully Numbered
who never missed his daily
plunge and scrub and still wore i'm
linen, lacked the confidence
Of his opinions and convictions? The
trainmaster knew and he thought Lid
gerwood must also know that the first
blow OF the vengcfu ones would be
directed Mt the man rather than at
the company's property.
II guess maybe Hepburn will do his
duty when it comes TO the PINCH" he
said finally. And. the subject having
exhausted itself. he went
about his business. which was to call
up the telegraph operator ut Timan-
yoni to ask why he had broken the
rule requiring the conductor and en-
gineer. both Of them. to sign train or
ders I'm his presence.
1t was after dark that evening when
Lidgerwood closed his desk on the pen.
ciled plotting pad and CROPPED his way
down the unlighted stair to the Crows
Nest platform.
The day passenger from the east was
In. and the hostler had Just coupled
engine 26G to the train for the night |
run to Red Butte. Lidgerwood mark |
ed the engines number and saw Daw- |
son talking to Williams, the engineer.
as he turned the corner ut the ms
senger station end of the building.
Later, when he was crossing the open |
plaza separating the railroad yard |
from the town. he thought he heard |
the draftsman's step behind him and |
for Dawson to come up.
The rearward darkness. made black
nr by contrast with the white beam of /
The 26Gs headlight, yielding no one
ma no further sounds, he went on.
past the tar paper covered hotel. past
me Ranking Of saloons and the false
Ironted shops. past the Arcade with
Us crimson sidewalk eye setting the
LANCER signal for all who sbould on
er Redlight Sammy's. and so up to the
mesa and to the cottage Of z o'clock
dinners.
Ills hand was on the latch of the
looryard gate when q man rose out of
me gloom-out of the ground at his
leet us 1t appeared to Lidgerwood-
and In the twinkling of an eye tho
night and the starry dome of II were
snaced for the superintendent I'm n
lash or red lightning and a thunder.