Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-02-29
CHAPTER \\lll
THE COpE MESSAGE.

verSeneSs that kcpt ildScrwood
from thanking ludSon when the
= engineer overlook him at the cor
ner of the plaza CpptrmoSt in his
thoughts at the moment was the Keen
sense of humiliation arising upon the
conviction that the pIucky little man
had surprised his secret and would de
spise him accordingly; hence his FIRST
word to Judson was the word of an
thority.
GO back To SchleSiuger and have
him swear you in rs n deputy conSta
BILE" he directed tersely When you
are sworn in. come down here and
serve this" and he gave Judson the
warrant for Hallock's arrest Arrest
him wherever you can find him and
take him over to Copah on the first
train that serves. Hen have TO clear
himself If he can: that's all,
When hudson. with his huge cowboy
pistol sagging at his hip, had turned
back to do the first part of his err
rand Ldgerwood Went on around the
Crows Nest and presented himself at
the door of the Nadia Happily for
his purpose, he found only Mrs Brew
ster and Judge Holcombe in possession,
the young people having gone to climb
one of the bare mesa hills behind the
town for an unobstructed view OF the
TimanyoniS
The superintendent left Judge Hol
combe out of the proposal which he
urged earnestly upon Mrs. Brewster
Telling her briefly of the threatened
strike and its promise of violence and
rioting, he tried to show her that the
presence of the private car party was
a menace alike to It's own members
and to him Would she not defer to
his judgment and let him send the
Nadia back to Copah and to safety
while there was yet timer
Mrs. Brewster. the placid, let him
saw his say without interruption. but
when he finished the placidity became
active opposition. The presidents wife
would not listen for moment to an
expedient which did not, could not
include the president himself,
II merely wished to state the case
and to give you a chance to get out
and away from the trouble while we
could get you out" Lidgerwood snid
a little stif1ly. then: at is barely pos
sible that the others may agree with
me instead of with you. Will you tell
them about 1t when they come back
to the car and send word to my office
after you have decided In open coun
Gil what you wish to do? Only don't
let 1t be very late. A delay of two or
three hours may make II impossible
for us to get the Nadia over the Des-
ert division
Mrs Brewster promised. and the su-
perintendent went upstairs to his of
fee glance into Hallock's room IN
passing showed him the chief clerks
boxlike desk untenanted. and he won
dered If Judson would find his man
somewhere in the town He hoped so,
1t would be better for all concerned II
the arrest could be made without too
many witnesses. True. Hallock had
few friends in the railroad service. al
least among those who professcd loyal
ty to the management. but with eXplo
sives lying about everywhere under
foot one could not be too careful OF
matches and fire
The superintendent had scarcely
closed the door upon his entrance into
his own room when IL was opened
again. with McCloskey's hand on the
latch The trainmaster came to re
port that careful search OF Gala
hans files had not disclosed any mes
sage TO Leckhard also he added that
Dix. who should have come on duty at
O'Clock. was still absent
What do you make out OF thatr'
queried Lidgerwood.
McCloskey's scowl was grotesquely
horrible
Bullying or bribery" he said short
ly They've got Dix hid away up
town somewhere But there was a
message. all right. and with your name
signed TO IL Callahan saw il on Dix's
hook this morning before the boy came
down II was in code-your private
code. got orion a little while ago
on the Copah wire and pumped him
He says there was a code message and
that Dix sent II But when ! asked
him to repeat II back here he said he
couldn't-that Mr. Leckhard had taken
IT with him somewhere down the main
line"
Lidgerwood's exclamation was pro
fame The perversity of things. ami
mate and inanimate. was beginning to
wear upon him
Go and tell Callahan 70 keep after