The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-11

one, long enough to coal up and take
water. That was the intention, but
it was just then that something hap
pened The night operator at Wilson's
Siding wired to Irvine:
Trestle at mileage S73 On fire; rush
out the bridge-gang; hold all trains.
The superintendent gave those or
ders Immediately and then hurried
over to the special which was on
the point of moving out. Vandusen
vent his disappointment in vigorous
language; but even a railway presi
dent must sometimes make virtue
of necessity. He ordered the yard
engine to hitch up and side-track the
Yahoo, and then all on board turned
in for the night.
There was a more than usual Sun
day quiet in the air next morning
Only a few of the employees NkneW
that the Yahoo was lying over on
track five. Irvine was out and around
quite early. 1t was interesting to
study the expression on his face when
it dawned on him that the ''presi
dents special was held up on his
division for hours by such a really
preyentable accident as that of a
trestle on fire. Irvine himself was
not to blame, but the affair produced
in him an uneasy feeling. 1t is al
ways oppressive to have a railway
president in bad humor and half q
dozen directors in similar humol
prowling for hours around a divisional
point, seeing things that were never
meant for their eyes.
But the present case was really ar
exception 1t was common tall
among the men that Vandusen was
not built that way. Even during con
struction he had the reputation alone
the road of being "big man" in the
generous sense, and not given to petty
meddling Joe Wilder, who brought
the special in, and who knew hin
well, remarked that the president. was
a "whiteman,' and would be a poo
addition to any '.nosing committee"
They were at breakfast on the va
hoo when bell began to toll
rs that a freight or a work-tran
jake" asked the president, address
ing the porter.
Neither one nor de other, sab,
was the reply; 'dats Father Barker
calling his people to service, l sup
pose, sah."
Barker, did you say?" exclaimed
the president. "The old sky-pilot wht
followed this line during construction
Is he alive yet?'
Eyes, sah,' answered the negro
grinning through his ivory molars
de old man is still at it. He wa
aboard de train on my last trip east
OATS his church over dere on de hill
sab, and dat bell you hear, sab, is
cast-off from de old engine heap"
The president pondered. Turnin;
to his companions at table he re
marked quietly: Gentlemen, that oil
priest Barker is one Of natures noble
men. He followed our camps on thes
divisions during construction, and h
and few others Of his cloth di
more to preserve order among on
thousands of foreign workmen tina
a squad Of policemen cGald have don
By Jove! if | have time I must Sc
him before | leave. Jake, III
turned to the porter-"telI Irvine t
get us out of here as soon as he cal
Ask the dispatcher when the trestl
at wilson will be fixed up"
| In few minutes the porter had r.
turned. About five o'clock dis ever
ing, sah."
There was nothing to do but wait
I'VE have to kill time somehow
remarked Vandusen to a couple {
directors who had lit their cigars an
were about to stroll out into the COO
bracing air
The morning sun had not yet tim
to Danish the light mist from the hill
sides, but the bluest of blue skie
hung over Bluff Creek. The tire
wandered slowly across the track
and followed the shallow rayine {
the foot of the hill on the right, wher
the water that supplied the pun
house came rushing over the rock
They stopped and listened to tn
music which, much to their surpris