The Colorado statesman., 1915-03-06

i'eAo . where L get on, ne SAID.
Il suppose Burton was a guest of
the state for a term pursued the ex-
railroad man. also rising.
No, he wasn't" denied the super.
intendent, putting on his overcoat.
THE old man and Tom fixed it up be-
tween them to keep the matter quiet
and give Burton another chance.
HE wrote to a friend of his some.
where out West that he wanted Ed
placed, and in 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 to
have met you''
Same to you. Guess III go to he'd"
returned the ex-railroad man. follow
ing him out into the passage
The superintendent descended to
the platform and walked toward the
tall frame building that housed the
division headquarters. At the foot
of the long stair he halted moment
and looked at the big mogul that was
standing on siding attached to a
long train of all sorts and conditions
that made UP No So, then turned and
climbed to the Office on the second
| floor.
No. 50 going to get out on timer"
he asked of the night dispatcher, who
was bending over the train sheet at
the long instrument table.
She's following No. 8 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 a bay steer at
the M. M. for turning his engine into
a family kindergarten, and | don't
blame him much, for John Sharkey
was good man and had been with
Gordon going on three years.
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 supremely noncommittal at
times. Better give IS 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. 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
tance. The portly gentleman looked
up at the darkened 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 30 get close enough
together on the hill behind the sta
tion to call themselves a town.
He picked up his grip and started
toward them, when he noticed a 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 furtive
glance about him, and then move eau
tiously to the switch-stand, where he
deliberately smashed the lock with
coupling-pin.
He had thrown the switch and was
turning the light SO that a white
CLEAN flickered to the rails. when the
portly gentleman leaped upon him
and pinioned his arms in a 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
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
it's viselike grip now stole gently
across his shoulders, and the voice
that spoke was unsteady with emo
tion.
"Oh, yes, do, my boy. know all
about it, and l guess the only road
you'll go over will be the Transconti-
mental, when you go back West with
me / have some mines out there, and
a few miles of railroad that are all
my own. l guess we can find 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 head
light transformed the rails into glis-
tening ribbons of steel.
Get down there quick and fix that
switch, and then we'll go and find the
little woman"
My names John Sharkey," said the
man, as they moved slowly toward the