Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-03-26

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railroad man, also rising.
mo, he wasn't" denied the super
intendent, putting on his overcoat
THE old mar and Tom fixed 1t up be
tween them to keep the matter quie'
and give Burton another chance.
"He wrote to a friend of his some
where out West that he wanted Et
placed, and in a week or so Ed packed
up his wife and baby and followed
the letter. l never heard of him aft
er that. Well, good.by; I'm glad te
have met ,you."
Same to you. Guess I'll 60 to bed
returned the ex-railroad. man. follow
ing him out into the passage.
The superintendent descended tc
the platform and walked toward the
tall frame building that housed the
division headquarters. At the foot
of the long stair he halted a moment
and looked at the big mogul that was
standing on a siding attached to a
long train Of all sorts and conditions
that made up No. IS, then turned and
climbed to the Office on the second
foer.
"No. IS going to get out on time?"
he asked of the night dispatcher, who
was bending over the train sheet at
the long instrument table.
She's following No. 3 out on time,
but l don't know how long she'll stay
that way, with a green fireman trying
to feed that ten-wheeler. Kelly says
Gordon's kicking like q bay steer at
the NJ. NJ. for turning his engine into
a family kindergarten, and l don't
blame him much, for John Sharkey
was a good mar and had been with
Gordon going on three years. H
Kelly says it's open gossip at the
%roundhouse that the old man let
Sharky out just to make a place for
his brother"
Il can't say as to that" Officials
can be supremacy noncommittal at
times. Better give IS a slow-up or.
der past Camden; there's two cars OF
dynamite on the siding there" he con.
cluded as he passed into his Office.
No. 3 stopped at Camden long
enough to permit the portly gentleman
to alight from the rear Pullman, and
then her red tail-lights were blinking
away like two baleful eyes in the dis.
lance. The portly gentleman looked
up at the darkeaed station, down the
siding at the dim outlines Of two box
cars, then scanned with a quick turn
Of his head the few scattered houses
that had managed to get close enough
together on the hill behind the sta
ton to call themselves a town.
He picked up his grip and started
toward them, when he noticed q dark
form skulking in the shadow of the
building. He was well able to take
care Of himself, but he felt curious to
know what the fellow was up to. .
Hastily crouching at the end Of the
high platform, he saw a man steal
down to the track, cast a furtive
glance about him, and then move eau.
tiously to the switch-stand, where he
deliberately smashed the lock with a
coupling.pin.
He had thrown the switch and was
turning the light so that a white
CLEAN aickered to the rails, when the
portly gentleman leaped upon him
and %pinioned his arms in q powerful
grasp. ~
The portly gentleman pushed him
backward to the edge Of the platform,
where he lay moaning. He sat up
presently and looked at his captor.
Il must have been mad to think Of
such a thing he said brokenly, with
q helpless wave Of his hand toward
the hill. I've been shaving for five
long years to make good to, that lit
tie woman up there who believed in
me, and then to get showed out to
make room for the old mans rela-
tions-I-it-Oh, you can't under
stand! And now-now, l suppose I'll
have to go over the road for it"
The strong arm that held him in
its viselike grip now stole gently
across his shoulders, and the voice
that spoke was unsteady with emo.
ton.
'Oh, yes, I do, my boy l know all
about it, and l guess the only road
you'll go over will be the Transconti-
mental. when you 90 back West with
me. ! have some mines out. there, and
a few miles of railroad that are all
my Owl l guess we can find a place
for you where you can make good, all
right. I'm visiting some friends here
for a few days, and we can get to-
gether and talk it over"
The long, wailing shrek Of a loco
motive was heard far down the track,
and the trembling CLEAN of a head.
light transformed the rails into glis.
tening ribbons of. steel.
Get down there quick and fix that
switch, and then we'll 60 and find the
little woman"
my names John Sharkey," said the
man, as they moved slowly toward the
bill. MAY l ask yours?"
Burton" said the. other shortly.
They turned and watched the train
pull carefully by the station. The
light from the open fre-box fell upon
the begrimed face of q fireman show.