The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-21
The The Wreckers
Francis Lynde
CContinucd FROM Yesterday

II was sure the funniest strike |
ever saw or heard Of and guess
the boss thought so. too-~with all
this good.nstured bargaining back
and forth; but there was nothing
more said. and | carried the word
to Mr., Perkins directing him 10
have arrangements made for the
running Of onc-car special from
stratheona for the hurry folks.
Past that. things rocked along
until the hands OF the big standa I'd
umo clock In tho dispatcher's room
pointed to midnight. Mr.. Norcross
and l were both at ponohue's elbow
when the man AZ the wires. east and
west. clicked in their Good mig ht. .
which WINS the signal that the Pho.
neer Short Line had laid down on
the job and gone out OF business
couldn't compare II TO anything
but a funeral bell. and that's about
what II was No matter how short
the strike might be. /, was going
10 smash US good and plenty. And
whatever else might come OF Il. II
was n cinch that II would squeexr
the last little breath OF life out OF
the Norcross management for good
and alt
As n TO confirm that sort Of
doieful forcboding of mine, Norris.
who was holding down the CONNER.
caal wire, came over to the counter
railing Just then with a New York
message. saw the boss eyes
flash and the little bunchy muscle.
swciIiugs OF anger come and go on
the edge Of his tax az he read IL.
and then he handed II to me.
You may indorse that NO An.
swer' and file u when you 20 back
to the office he said shortly. and
then he went on talking to Dono.
hue. telling him how TO handle the
trains which were stili GU, and
moving to their ue-up destinations
OF course. l rad the message: I
knew there was nothing private
about II 80 far as was concerned.
since Il had been given me 20 pu,
away In the files. II was dated
from the waidorf,AstoriA a, mid
night, which. allowing for the dIf.
ference In time between New York
and Portal City. meant that u had
been sent at . o'clock by cur time
Somebody In cur neck of the woods
was evidently keeping In close wire
touch with Mr.. Dunton. for tho thu
strike vote was only a little NOR.
than an hour old when he sent the
telegram. he evidently knew all
about II. This IL what I read:
To q, Norcross. q. ~.
Portal City.
Your administration has been a
conspicuous failure from the begin.
ming. Compromise with employees
on any terms offered and proven,
strike at all costs That done. you
are hereby directed 20 wire your
resignation 10 take effect one week
from today.
"B. DCNToN. President
II bad hit US al last. not . de-
cent request. mind you. but . blunt.
brutal demand Tho boss was fired.
No word had coma from Mfr. chad.
wick. and there coul be but one
reason for his silence In some
way. perhaps thru the late boosting
Of the stock. the New Workers. had
squeezed him out We were shot
dead In the trenches.
I didn't understand how the chief
could take IL so quietly. unless II
was because he had been hammered
so long and so hard that nothing
rnattered any more. Anyhow. he
Was just standing there. talking
soberly 10 Donohut. when once
more the Strashcona branch sound
err began TO click furiously, snlpplns
out the headquarters call.
Donohue cut In and We all heard
the strathcona mans new bieai
The way he told u. II seemed that
one member OF the party that had
chartered. the special TO come q
Portal City had got left. and this
man was now in the strathcona
wire office. bidding high for an en-.
zine to chase the train and put him
aboard.
At first the boss said NO" short
off. just like that. adding that 1,
wouldn't be keeping faith with the
strike COMMITTEES. But at that mo.
menf Hoskins blew In again. and
when he was told what was on the
cards. he took a little responsibility
Of his own.
Go TO II. Mister Norcross, II
there's any more money In n II
the railroad" he told the boss. ~IT
stand fr II with the boys" And
then 10 Donohue: who'll be run
min this chaser engine7"
It'll be John Hoga- and IN.
Four-Slxteen." said Donohue. There
nobody else a. that end Of thu
branch"
The arrangement. such az n was
was fixed up quickly. The mar
who was putting up the none,
seemed 20 have plenty OF IT, VI.
was offering five hundred dollar
for the engine. and a thousand Il
It should ovcrtlke the special thai
side OF Bauxite Junction.
guess the bleat unraveled ftselt
pretty clearly for all OF us: or nj
least. II seemed plain enough. A
mining deal Of some kind was on
and this man who was left behind
was going TO be left In another
sense of the word II he couldni
butt in soon enough to break what
ever combination the others were
stacking up against him.
In just a few minutes we got the
word from the Strathcona operator
that the money was paid and ths
chaser engine was out and gone
The special train had fully a half
hours start. and with the hazard
Gus grades Of Slide mountain and
Dry canyon TO negotiate. II dldnt
seem probable that the light engine
could overtake It anywhere nortf
Of Bauxite. That wasn't up 10 us
however. Kirgan had come I'm IL