The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-10-29

Why, that old treStle Squeaked and
shook and gave every evidence of be-
ing about to buckle in the center. My
engineer threatened to quit if sent
him in again."
very well. ] suppose I'll have to
wait until the switch-engine comes
out of the shop" Bryce replied re-
signedly. and hung up. He turned a
troubled face TO Ogilvy. Check
mated!" he announced. whipped to
a fragile. The colonel is lying, Buck,
and I've caught him at it. AS a mat
ter of fact, the mogul didn't kick those
fats in at AL. The switch-engne did
and / know it. Now I'm going to
send q man over to snOop around PEN
nington's rOundhouse and verify his
report about the switch-engine being
in lie shop"
He did ST. Half an hour later the
messenger returned with the informa-
ton that not only was the switch-en-
CINE not in the shop but her fire.
box had been overhauled the week be-
fore and was reported to be in ex-
cellent condition.
"That settles It." Buck Ogilvy
mourned. "The Colonel is as suspicious
as rhinO. He doesn't know anything,
but he smells danger just the same"
Exactly, Buck. So he is delaying
the game unit! he can learn something
definite" He drummed idly on his
desk for several minutes. Then:
"Buck, can you run locomotives"
"With one hand, old man."
Fine business! Well, l guess Wen
put in that crossing tomorrow night.
The switch-engine will be in the roundz
house at Pennington's mill tomorrow
night, so we can't steal that; but we
can steal the moguI. I'll just send
word up to my woods boss not to
have his train loaded when the mogul
comes up late tomorrow afternoon to
hau! 1t down 10 our log landing. OF
course. the engine crew won't bother
to run down TO Sequoia for the night
that is. they won't run the mogul
down. They'll just leave her at our
log landing all night and p:2. up for
the night at our camp"
''But how do you know they will put
up at your camp all night. Bryce"
"My men will make them comfort
able, and it means they can lie abed
until seven o'clock instead of having
to roll out at five O'Clock, which would
be the case if they spent the night at
this end of the line. There is a slight
grade at our log landing. I know
fiat, because the air leaked out of
the brakes on a log train was on
short time ago. and the train ran
away with me. Now, the engine crew
will set the airbrakes on the ,mogul
and leave her with steam up to throbS
all night: they'll not blow her down.
for that would mean work firing her
in the morning. Our task, Buck. will
be TO throw off the airbrakes and let
her glide silently out Of our log land
ing. About a mile down the road
We'll stop, get up steam. run down to
the junction with the main line. back
in on the Laurel Creek spur. couple
onto those fat cars and breeze mer-
rily down to SeQuoia with them.
They'll be loaded waiting for us: our
men will be congregated in our dry
yard Just off Water street near r.
waiting for lis to arrive with the rails
and bingO-we go to 1t. After we
Crop the flats. we'll run the engine
back to the woods. leave 1t where we
found 1t. return a-flying. You can get
back in ample +imeNto superintend the
cutting of the crossing!"
spoken like a mani" quoth Buck
Ogilvy. you're the one man I'm this
world for whom I'd steal Iocomo-
tive. 'At-a-boy!"
Had either Of the conspirators
known of Pennington's plans to enter
tain Mayor Poundstone ut dinner on
night, il is probable they
would not have cheered until those
flat cars were out of the woods.
Mayor PoundstOne and his wife ar
rived Mt the Pennington home In Red
wood boulevard at six forty-five Thurs.
day evening. 1t was with profound
feeling of relief that his honor lift
ed the lady from their modest little
'flivver," for once inside the Penning-
ton house. he felt. he would be free
from peculiarly devilish brand of
inaugurated by his wife
about three months previously. Mrs.
CoundStona wanted n new automobile.
And she had entered upon cam
paign of nagging and complaint hop
Ing to wear Poundstone's resistance
down to the point where he would he
willing to barter his hope of saliva
lion in return for guarantee of peace |
m earth.
81 feel like a perfect fool. calling |
npon these PEOPLE In this filthy rattle |
trap" Mrs Poundstone protested
Mayor roundstone paused. I'm |
PHYS name. woman" he growled, |
stalk about something else. Give me |
,ne night of peace. Let me enjoy my |
dinner and this visit
can neip VI. MIS-. r. retOrteH
with asperity. She pointed 70 Shirley |
Summers car parked under the porte !
rochere. IF had sedan like that.
could die happy. And 1t only cost |
thirty-two hundred and fifty dollars"
Il paid six hundred and fifty for the |
and couldn't afford that"
&c almost whimrered "You were
happy with ii until | was elected |
mayor
You forget oar social position. my |
lear she purref, sweetiy.
He COULD have struck her. "Han- /