Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-08-04

to be left in another sense Of the
word II he couldn't butt in soon
enough to break whatever combination
the others were stacking up against
him.
In Just few minutes we got the
word from the Strathcona operator
that the money was paid and the
chaser engine was out and gone Kir-
gan had come in to say that our good
natured strikers had thrown guard
into the shops and were patroling the
yard. when Fred May showed up, max
ing signals to me. heard him when
he edged up to the boss and said !:
There's lady in the Office, wanting
to see you. Mr.. Norcross."
"Holy Smoked" said l to myself.
Iknew 1t couldn't be anybody but Mrs.
Sheila, at that time Of night, and I
saw seventeen different kinds Of bloody
murder looming up again when 1
tagged along after the boss on the
trip down the hall to our offices.
The guess was right, both ways
around. 1t was Mrs. Sheila, and she
had the major with her. And the air
Of the private Office was so thick with
tragedy that It made the very cleo
tries look dim and ghostly. Mrs.
Shefla didn't have a bit Of color in
her face, and her eyes had big hor-
ror in them that was enough to make
your flesh creep. "a.
won't attempt to tell all that was
said. partly by the good old major and
partly by Mrs. Sheila. But the glst Of
1t was this: Collingwood had con-
tinued his booze fight in his rooms at
the .Bullard until he had worked him
self up to the crazy murder pitch.
Then he had gone on the warpath.
hunting for Hatch. He learned that
Hatch and a bunch of his Red Tower
hackers had gone to Strathcona on a
mining deal, and had started to drive
to the gold camp IN an auto to get his
man.
Before leaving Portal City he had
written a letter to Mrs. Sheila. tell
ing her what he was going to do, and
that when he got through with it.
had been left at the hotel. hao ,een
delayed in delivery-had. in fact. just
been sent out to the majors house by
the night clerk who had found it.
Long before the story could get It,
self fully told, the different gaps in
it were filling themselves up for me-
and for Mr.. Norcross, as we'll, guess.
When Mrs. Sheila came to the auto
drive part Of it, the boss whirled and
shot an order at me.
"Jimmie. chase into the dispntcher's
Office and find out the name Of the
man who chartered that following en-
gine!" he snapped; and went on the
run, remembering that in the strike
excitement and hustle it hadn't Oc-
CURED to anybody to ask the mans
Eame or that of the particular mine
owner" who had chartered the special
train.
Donohue got the Strathcona opera
tor in less than half minute after
fired my order at him. and the an
swer came almost without break:
-"Charter of special train was to r.
Hatch, of Portal City, and of engine
416 to man named Collingwood."
Gosh! but this did settle It.! didn't
run back to the Office with the news
flew. 1t was like firing a gun amongst
the three who were waiting, but It
had to. be done. The major groaned
and said, "Oh, good God!" and Mrs.
Sheila sat down and put her face in
her hands. The boss was the only
one who knew what to do and he did
it: vanished like shot in the direc-
ton of the dispatcher's office.
In about fifteen of the longest min
utes ever lived he came back. shak-
ing his head. I knew what he had
been doing. or trying to do There
was one night telegraph station on
the branch.-at a mining-camp half
way down the grade on Slide Noun
tain-and he had been trying to get
word there to stop the wild engine.
HE has either bribed or bulied
his engine crew." he told the major.
Il wired, and had a stop signal set
for them at the Antonio mine. but
they overran it. going at full speed
down the HILL"
It was plain enough now what Col
lingwood was trying to do. The MUIR
der mania had got firm hold Of It's
weapon. Collingwood knew that
Hatch was on the special, and he was
going to chase that one-car train. until
It made a stop somewhere and then
smash into 1t for blood. After Mr..
Norcross had talked hurriedly for q
minute or two with the major he went
back to the dispatcher's room and
went with him. &
The boss grabbed up an official
time-card and began to study It hur-s
riedly and to jot down figures. won
dered IL he wasn't tempted-just the
least little bit in the world. you know.
Here was a thing itself up a thing
for which he wasn't in the least re-
sponsible and II 1t should work out to
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