Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-06-01


ter of fact. the mogul didn't kick those
flats in at all. The switch-engine ala
and know 1t. Now I'm going TO
send man over to snoOp around Pen
nngtons roundhouSe and verify hiH
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.
THAT settles It," Buck Ogilvy
mourned "The Colonel is as suspicious
as rhino. lie 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 locomotive"
"With one hand, old man."
"Fine business! Well, l guess well
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
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 Mt our log landing. know
I that, because the air leaked out Of
the brakes on log train l was on a
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 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 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 flat 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 it. After we
drop the fats. we'll run the engine
back to the woods. leave 1t where we
found 1t. return a-flying. You can get
back in ample time to superintend the
cutting OF the crossing"
spoken like a mani" quoth Buck
Ogilvy. you're the one man in this
world for whom I'd steal a locomO-
tive. 'At-a-hoy!"
Had either Of the cOnSplratOrs
known Of Pennington's plans to enter.
tain Mayor POundstone at dinner on
Thursday night, it Is probable they
would not lave cheered until those
fiat cars were out Of the woods.
Mayor POundstone and his wife mr..
rived at the Pennington home in Red.
wood boulevard at six forty-fve Thurs
day evening. 1t was with profound
feeling Of relief that his honor lift
ed the lady from their modest little
OLIVER" for once inside the Penning-
ton house. he felt, he would be free
from peculiarly devilish brand Of
persecution inaugurnted by his wife
about three months previously. Mrs.
Poundstone wanted new automobile.
And she had entered upon cam
paign OF nagglng and complaint. hop
ing to wear Poundstone's resistance
down 70 the point where he would be
willing TO barter his hope Of saliva
ton in return for guarantee of peace
on earth.
~ feel like a perfect fool. calling
upon these people In this filthy rattle
trap" Mrs. Poundstone protested.
Mayor Poundstone paused. I'm
PHYS name. woman" he growled.
stalk 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
cOchere. If ! had sedan like that.
] could die happy. And 1t only cost
thirty-two hundred and fifty dollars"
~ paid six hundred and fifty for the
rattletrap. and couldn't afford that"
he almost whimpered. "You were
happy with 1t until | was elected
mayor"
"You forget our social position. my
dear" she purred sweetly.