The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-03
THE TANNING OF RED BUTTE WESTERN
Copyright, 1910, By Charles Scribner's Sons
(Continued.l

don't ike that, Mac. It's a dirty business to be shadowing a man who has right to suppose that you are trusting him. I can't do it."
 You mean you won't do it I re spect your scruples, MT. Lidgerwood But it is no longer personal matter between you and Hallock. The com pany's interests are involved"
 Without suspecting it the trainmas- ter had found the weak Joint in the superintendent's armor. For the com. pany's sake the personal point of view must be ignored.
 Tt is such a despicable thing" he protested. as one who yields reluctant ly. And If, after all, Hallock is in nocent"-
 That is just the point,' insisted McCloskey. 'If he is innocent no harm will be done, and Judson will become a witness for instead of against him. '' ."Well." said Lidgerwood, and what more he would have said about the conspiracy was cut off by the shrill whistle of downcoming train. That's Williams with the special, '
  him leave. "Is youf flag out?'
 Sure. It's up around the hill with a safe man to waggle it."
 The main line was cleared before Williams swung cautiously around the hill with the private car. In obedience to Lidgerwoods uplifted finger the brakes were applied. and the Nadia came to a full stop. with it's observa- ton platform opposite the end of the wrecking track.
 A big man in a soft hat and loose box dust coat, with twinkling little eyes and a curling brown beard that covered fully three-fourths of his face, stood at the handrail.
 Hello, Howardw he called down to Lidgerwood. By George, I'd totally forgotten that you were out here! What are you trying to do? Got so many cars and engines that you have to throw some of them away?"
 Lidgerwood climbed up the embank- ment to the track, and McCloskey carefully let him do it alone. The ~HeIlo, Howard" had not been thrown away upon the trainmaster.
 'Tt looks little that way, must ad- init, Cousin Ned. We tried pretty hard to get it cleaned up before you came along, but we couldn't quite make it. Coming over to camp with us awhile? If you are hope you carry your com missary along. Angels will starve you otherwise"
 AA1Donat tell me about that tin canned tepee village, Howard. I know. I've been there before. How are we doing over in the Timanyoni foothills-get- ting much ore down from the Copper cite? Climb up here and tell me all about it, or, better still, come on across the desert with us. They don't need you here"
 The assertion was quite true. With Dawson, the trainmaster, and an un- derstudy Judson for bosses, there was no need of a fourth. Yet intuition or whatever masculine thing it is that stands for intuition prompted Lidger- wood to say:
 e1 don't know that ought to leave. I've just come out from Angels. you know"
 But the president was not to be de- nied.
 -'Climb up here and quit trying to find excuses. We'll give you better luncheon than you'll get out of the dinner pails, and if you carry your self handsomely you may get dinner invitation after we get in. That ought to tempt any man who has to live in Angels the year round"
 Ldgerwood marked the persistent plural of the personal pronoun. and a great fear laid hold upon him. None the less, the presidents invitation was a little like the king's-it was in some sense a command. Lidgerwood mere 1y asked for a moments respite and went down to announce his intention to McCloskey and Dawson. Curiously enough, the draftsman seemed to be trying to ignore the private car. His back was turned upon it, and he was glooming out across the bare hills, with his square jaw set, as if the ig- noring effort were painful.
 "Tm going back to Angels with the president" said the superintendent. speaking to both of them. "You can clean up here without me-"
 The trainmaster nodded, but Daw- son seemed not to have heard. At all events. he made no sign. Lidgerwood turned and ascended the embankment, only to have the sudden reluctance as- sail him again as he put his foot on the truck of the Nadia to mount to the platform. The hesitation was only rnomentary this time. Other guests MT. Brewster might have without in- ciuding the one person whom he would circle the globe to avoid.
 Good boyr' said the president when Ldgerwood swung over the high hand rail and leaned out to give Williams the starting signal. And when the scene of the wreck was withdra wing into the rearward distance the presi- dent felt for the doorknob, saying, Let's go inside, where we shan't be obliged to see so much of this God for saken country at one time''
 One-half minute later the superin- tendent would have given much to be safely back with McCloskey and Daw- son at the vanishing curve of scrap heaps. Tn that half minute MT. Brew ster had opened the car door and Lid gerwood had followed him across the threshold