The Republican journal., 1920-06-03

switch-engine over it and have no
fears"
Il happen to know, Colonel that the
big mogul kicked those flats in to load
the railsl"
81 know it. And what happened?
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 I sent
him in again.
Every WELL I suppose I'll have to
wait until the switch-engine comes
out Of the shop" Bryce replied re-
signedly, and hung up. He turned
troubled face to Ogi1vy. 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
flats in at all. The switch-engne did
and I know it. Now I'm going to
send man over to snoop around Pen
nington's roundhouse and verify his
report about the switch-engine being
in the shop"
He did SC. 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.
DIV nui1vu
mourned "The Colonel is as suspicious
as a rhino. He doesn't know anything,
but he smells danger just the same"
Exactly, Buck. So he is delaying
the game until he can learn something
definite" He drummed idly on his
desk for several minutes. Then:
"Buck, can you run locomotiveY'
"With one hand, old man."
Fine business! Well, l guess We'll
put in that crossing tomorrow night
The switch-engine will be in the round
house at, Pennington's mill tomorrow
night, so we can't steal that but we
can steal the mogul. 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
haul it down to 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 put 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 know
that, because the air leaked out of
the brakes on a log train was on a
short time ago, and the train ran
away with me. Now. the engine crew
will set the airbrakes on the mogu
and leave her with steam up to throb
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 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
rily down to Sequoa 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 us to arrive with the rails
and bingO-we go to 1t. After we
drop the flats, we'll run the engine
back to the woods leave it where we
found it, return a-1ying. You can get
back in ample time to superintend the
cutting Of the crossing!''
Spoken like mani" quOth Buck
Ogilvy You're the one man in this
world for whom I'd steal a locomo-
tive. 'At-a-boyT
Had either Of the conspirators
known of Pennington's plans to enter
tain Mayor Poundstone at dinner on
Thursday night, it is probable they
would not have cheered until those
fiat cars were out of the woods
Mayor Poundstone and his wife ar
rived at the Pennington home in Red
wood boulevard at six forty-five Thurs.
day evening. 1t was with a profound
feeling of relief that his honor lift
ed the lady from their modest little
"fivver," for once inside the Penning-
ton house. he felt he would be free
from peculiarly devilish brand of
persecution inaugurated by his wife
about three months previously. Mrs.
Poundstone wanted a new automobile.
And she had entered upon a cam
paign of nagging and complaint. hop
ing to wear Poundstone's resistance
down to the point where he would be
willing to barter his hope of saliva
ton in return for guarantee of peace
on earth.
Il feel like perfect fool. calling
upon these people in this filthy rattle
trap" Mrs. Poundstone protested.
Mayor Poundstone paused. I'm
PHYS name. woman" he growled.
talk about something else. Give me
one night Of peace. Let me enjoy my
dinner and this visit"
II can't help It," Mrs. P retorted
with asperity. She pointed to Shirley
Summers car parked under the porte.