The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-22

FLASH OF RED LIGHTNING.
.nagerwood looked at McCiosKey
and at the trainmaster's almost i'm
perceptible nod, said That's ALL" and
Hallock disappeared and closed the
door.
"Well?' queried Lidgerwood sharply
when they had privacy again.
McCloskey was shifting uneasily
from one foot to the other.
you've got a man for your chief
clerk who has kept this whole town
guessing for two years, Mr. Lidger-
wood. Some say he isn't all to the
bad, some say he Is a woman killer,
but they all agree that he's as spite
full as an Indian. He wanted your
job. Supposing he still wants it?'
"Stick to the facts, Mac" said the SUI
perintendent you're theorizing now,
you know"
"Well, by gravels, willv' rasped
McCloskey. "Hallock puts in his day
time scratching away at his desk out
there. But when that desk is shut UP
you'll find him at the roundhouse, over
in the freight yard, round the switch
shanties or up at Biggs'-anywhere he
can get half dozen Of the men to
gether I haven't found a man yet
that could trusr to keep tab on him
and don't know what hes doing, but
I can guess"
"Is that all?" said Lidgerwood
quietly.
mo, it isn't. That switch engine
dropped out two weeks ago last Tues.
day night. I've been prying into this
locked up puzzle box every way 1 could
think Of ever since. Hallock knows
where that engine went"
What makes you think SOP
"1'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 a man sneaking toward the shift
er, keeping in the shadow Of the coal
chutes. He was just curious enough
to want to know who it was, and he
made little sneak Of his own. When
he found it was Hallock he went home
and thought no more about it 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 de
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 I don't know But IN
less you call 1t off I'm going to know
a few more Of them before quit"
81 don't call it 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 deat
moral certainty, Mr.. Lidgerwood TIL,
ticks are coming too straight and too
| well timed"
Find the man. if you can. and vel
| eliminate him. And, by the way, if i
comes to the worst, how will Hep
burn, the town marshal, stand?'
| The trainmaster shook his head
| L don't know. Jacks got plenty O
| sand, but he was elected out of tn.
! shops and by the railroad vote If /
| comes to showdown against tn.
! men who elected him
| THAT is what | mean" nodded Lid
| gerwood. 1T will come to a show
| down sooner or later if we can't nil
| the ringleaders. Young Rufford ant
| q dozen more of the dropped employee
are threatening to get even. Tha
means train wrecking. misplaced
switches, arson-anything you like A
the first break there are going to b.
some very striking examples made o
| all the wreckers and looters we cal
| land on
Where had McCloskey fallen upoi
the idea that this carefully launderet
gentleman, who never missed his dali.
! plunge and scrub and still wore i'm
maculate linen. lacked the confidenc,
of his opinions and convictions? TIL
| trainmaster knew and he thought Lid
gerwood must also know that the frs
! blow of the vengeful ones would b.
directed at the man rather than a
| the company's property.
Il guess maybe Hepburn will do hi
duty when il comes to the PINCH b
said finally. And the subject havin;
| apparently exhausted Itself. be wen
about his business. which was to cal