The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-16

mean it all Inc time. and you'll win
out all right" said he.
In the small headquarters staff Hal
lock was the only nOncombatant.
From the beginning of hostilities he
seemed to have made pact with him.
self not to let it be known by any act
or word of his that he was aware Of
the suddenly precipitated conflict. The
routine duties Of a chief clerks desk
are never light. Hallock's became 80
exacting that he rarely left his Office
or the pen-like contrivance in which
he intrenched himself and did his
work.
When the fight began Lidgerwood
observed Hallock closely, trying to
discover If there were any secret signs
of the satisfaction which the revolt of
the rank and file might be supposed
to awaken in an unsuccessful candi-
date for the official headship Of the
Red Butte Western. There were none.
McCloskey. being Of Scottish blood
and desert seasoned. was a cool in
fighter who could take punishment
without wincing overmuch. But at
the end of the first fortnight Of the
new time card he cornered his chief in
the private office and freed his mind.
Its no use. Mr. Lidgerwood: we
can't make these reforms stick with
the outfit we've got" he asserted. in
sharp encouragement. ''The next
thing on the docket will be a strike.
and you know what that will mean In
a country where the whisky is bad
and nine men out of every ten go
fixed COR trouble"
II know Nevertheless the reforms
have got to stick" returned Lidger-
wood definitiveiy I'VE are going to
run this railroad as 1t should be run
or hang 1t up in the air. Did you dis
charge that operator at Crow Canyon
the fellow who let train 76 get by
him without orders night before last?
"Dick Rufford? Oh. yes; I fired him,
and he came In on 2O2 today, Juggling
piece Of artillery and shooting of
his mouth about what he was going
to do to me-and to you. l suppose
you know that his brother Bart, the
killer they call him, Is the look
out at Redlight Sammy's faro game
and the meanest devil this side Of the
Timanyonis:"
81 didn't know it, but that cuts nc
figure" Lidgerwood forced himself
to say 1t. though his lips were curious
ly dry 1--WE are going to have disci
pline on this railroad while we stay
here. Mac; there are no two ways
about that"
McCloskey tilted his hat to thu
bridge Of his nose. his characteristic
gesture of displeasure.
81 promised myself that l wouldn''
join the gun toters when l came out
here" he said, half musingly. "bu'
I've weakened on that. Yesterday
when I was calling jeff Cumming!
down for dropping that new shifting
engine out of an open switch in broad
daylight he pulled on me out OF hi!
cab window What | had to take
while he had me hands up IS more
than III take from any living maj
again"
81 wouldn't get down to the deser
lever IL L we've Scu- MAJ. sAAo >AA'
superintendent.
I'm down there right now. in sell
Defense" was the sober rejoinder
land if you'll take a hint from mi
you'll heel yourself. too. Mr.. Lidger
wood
It was an hour or two later in TIT
same day when McCloskey came int
the private office again. hat tilted Il
nose and the gargoyle face portrayinl
/ fresh soul agonies.
| "They've taken TO pillaging now" b
/ burst ont. The $40. that new saddle
| tan. shifting engine. has disappeared
| l saw Frederick using the 80. ant
! when | asked him why he said b.
| couldn't find the TO-
| Couldn't find it," echoed Lidger
| wood.
NO. nor can't either"
where was it at last accounts?"
"Standing on the coal track unde
| chute No 3. where the night crew LEI
| It at midnight or thereabouts."
"But certainly somebody must know