New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-07-22

say, he didn't say it, for at that mo
ment a telegraph boy calne in and
handed him Il message. He put or
his other glasses and read the tele
gram, with his big goatee looking more
than ever like Il dagger and the fierce
white mustaches twitching. At the
end of things he folded the message
and put 1t into his pocket, saying, sOrt
Of sOberly:
Graham. there are times when
Sheila's intuhferences are mighty
neah uncanny; they are, for a fact
sub, This wire is from her. What DC
you suppose it says"
OF course, the boss said he couldn't
suppose anything about it, and the
major Went on.
"She tells me, in just seven words,
not TO let you 90 to Strathcona tonight
Now what do you make OF that? How
on top of Gods green earth did she
know, away off yondeh at the capital,
that you were meaning to go to Strath-
o M tOnight?"
Mr.. NorcrOss shook his head. Then
he said: There are wires-both
kinds-though | don't know why any
body should telegraph or telephone the
capital that | expect to attend a mine
owners meeting tomorrow morning in
the big gold camp. That's why I'm
going, you know"
"But this warning" the major in
sisted. There's a reason for it, Ora
ham, as sure as you are bawnF
Again the boss shook his head.
Between you two, you and Sheila.
I'm due to acquire a case of nerves.
| don't know what she has heard, but
| can't afford to dodge a business ap-
pointment. Sheila has merely over
heard an echo of the threats that are
constantly being made by the Hatch
sympathizers. It's the aftermath of
the election, but it's all talk. They're
down and out. and they haven't the
nerve to strike back, now
That ended matters at the club, and
the boss and | walked down to the
headquarters. The special, with Buck
Chandler, was waiting, and at the last
minute | thought | wasn't going to
get to go.
There's no need of your putting in
a night on the road, Jimmie" said
the boss, with the kindly thought for
other peoples comfort that never
failed him. But after | had begged a
little, telling him that he'd need some
body 10 take notes in the mine meet
;.,. 10 .niJ ak1l riuht ~ and un 0nt
aboard and gave the word to Maclise.
the conductor, to get his clearance
and go.
A few minutes later we pulled out
and the night run was begun. Like
every other car the boss had eve
working office, and since he had me
along. he opened up "A lot of claim
papers upon which the legal depart
ment was giving him the final say-so,
and we went to work.
For the next two hours | was so
busy that | didn't know when we
passed the various stations. At half
past nine, Mr.. N%orcross snapped a
rubber band over the last Of the claim
files, lighted Il pipe, and told me ]
might go to bed If | wanted to; said
that he was going himself after he'd
had a smoke. Just then, Chandler
whistled for n STATEN, and, looking
out of a window, | saw that we were
pulling into BauXite, the little wind
blown junction from which the Strath-
coma branch led away into the north
ern mountains.
Wanting a bite Of fresh air before
turning In, ! got off when we made
the stop and strolled up to the en-
CINE. Macllse was in the Office. get
ing orders for the branch, and
Chandler was squatting in the gang
way Of the Sl5 and waiting. Up ahead
of us. and too far away for me to
read the number on her tender. there
was a light engine. | thought at first
it was the pusler which was kept ut
Bauxite TO help heavy freights up the
branch grades. and | wondered what
II was doing out on the branch "Y"
and in our way.
whats the pusher out for, Buck?"
I asked.
Chandler grinned down at me.
"You amt so much of a railroad
man as you might he. Jimmie" he
said. THAT amt the pusher. It's
our first section, runnln' light 10
Strathcona."
Maybe Chandler was right. that /
wasn't much of a railroad man. but /
sawed the Short Line operating rules
well enough to know that 1t wasn't
usual TO run a light engine, deadhead-
ing over the road. as a section of a
special. Also, I knew ;hat Buck
knew il.
with that last little talk over the
club dlnnertable fresh in mind, I he
gan to wonder, but instead Of asking
Chandler any more questions about
the engine out ahead. ! asked him If
| might ride a piece with him up the
branch; and when he said "Sure." I
climbed up and bumped myself on the
fireman's box.
Maclise got his orders in due time
and We pulled out. noticed that
when he gave Chandler the word. he
also made motions with his lantern
10 the engine up ahead and il prompt
ly steamed away. speeding up until ii
had about a half-mile lead and then
holding II. That seemed funny. too.
Though II is a rule that is often
on all railroads. the different
sections Of a train are supposed to
keep at least five minutes apart. and
first" wasn't much more than a
away from US at any time.
Another thing that struck me as be-