The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-09-01
CHAPTER XIII.

He says be has quit drink
/ / ing. and | believe him this
time. But this job I've given him isn't
pulling trains.
No, and If you have cooled of
enough you may remember that | have
not yet disapproved your action. l
don't disapprove. Give him anything
you like where a possible relapse on
bis part won't involve the lives of other
people. Is that what you want me to
say?'
Il was hot" said the trainmaster.
gruhy apologize. We've got none
too many friends to stand by US when
the pinch comes. and we were losing
them every day you held out against
Judson-''
I'm still holding out on the original
count Judson can't Sun an engine
for me until be has proved conclu-
sively and beyond question that he
has quit the whisky Whatever other
work you can find for him
McCloskey slapped his thigh. by
George, I've got a job right now!
Why on top of earth didn't | think of
him before? Hes the man to keep
tab on Hallock."
But now Lidgerwood was frowning
again.
Il don't like that. Mac. It's dirty
business to be shadowing a man who
has a right to suppose that you are
trusting him. l can't do it."
You mean you won't do it l re-
spect your scrupIes. Mr. Lidgerwood.
But it is no longer a personal matter
between you and HaIlock. The CON-
pany's interests are involved"
Without suspecting it the trainmas-
ter had found the weak joint in the
superintendent armor. For the com
panys sake the personal point of view
must be ignored
ut is such a despfcable thing" he
protested. as one who yields reluctant.
ly. And if. after all. aallock is in
nocent"-
THAT is just the point" insisted
McCloskey. III be is innocent no harm
will be DONE and Judson will become
witness for instead of against him.
"Well." said I.idgerwood. 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"
he announced when the whistle gave
him leave us your flag out?"
Sure. It's up around the hill with
q safe man to waggle it,
The main line was cleared before
Williams swung cautiously around the
hill with the private car. In obedience
to Lidgerwood's uplifted finger the
brakes were applied. and the Nadia
| came to full stop. with its observa.
ton platform opposite the end of the
wrecking track.
! A big man In a soft hat and loose
! box dust coat. with twtnkling little
| eyes and curling brown beard that
covered fully three-fourths Of his face,
| stood at the handrail.
"Hello. Howardv' he called down to
Lidgerwood. by George. I'd totally
| forgotten that you we're out here
What are you trying to do? Got SC
| many cars and engines that you have
to throw some of them away2"
Lidgerwood climbed up the embank
/ ment to the track, and McCloskey
carefully let him do it alone. The
"Hello, Howardr had not been thrown
away upon the traihmaster.
"It looks little that way. must ad
NIT. Cousin Ned We tried pretty hare
to get 1T 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 yor
otherwise"
Don't tell me about that tin canned
tepee village. Howard know. rv'
been there before. How are we dom,
over in the Timanyoni foothills-get
ting much ore down from the Copper
hette? Climb up here and tell me al
About 1t. or. better still. come on across
the desert with US. They don't neet
you here"
The assertion was quite true. Will
Dawson. the trainmaster. and an un
derstudy Judson for bosses. there wa
no need Of a fourth Yet intuition o
whata1er masculine thing 1t is tina
stands for intuition prompted Lidger
wood to say:
81 don't know that | ought to leave
I've just come out from Angels. yo'
i know"
I But the president was not to be de
| Med.
| Climb up here and quit trying t
find excuses Wen give you bette
! luncheon than you'll get out Of til
i. dinner pals. and II you carry your
. self handsomely you may get a Dime
| invitation after we get in. That ough
to tempt any man who has to live i
Angels the year round"
h Lidgerwood marked the persister
plural Of the personal pronoun. and
great fear laid hold upon him. Non
the less. the presidents invitation wa
!, little like the king's-it was in som
!. sense a command. Lidgerwood mer
" asked for a moments respite an
went down to announce bis intentio
to McCloskey and Dawson. Curious
Z enough. the craftsman seemed to
trying to ignore the private car H
back was turned unon it. and be VS.
glooming ont across the bare hill