The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-18
The Wreckers
Francis Lyade
CONTINUED Fron, Yesterday
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Nath'A NA'u wv way fsiii' ~ w
say that a delegation of the payroll
men was outside and wanting 10 have
word with the rig Boss" Mr.,
Norcross stopped with his desk eur.
tain half drawn down.
what L. u. f>rede" he asked.
Il don't know" said the Pitts.
burger. Il should call q a gricv.
ance committee. n II wasn't so big.
And they don't seem to be mad about
anything. Bart Hosilns Is doing the
talking for them"
Send them In" was the curt com.
mand. and minute later tho inner
office was about three fourtha filled
up with a shuffling crowd OF Il. :. l.
men.
The chief looked the crowd over.
There was bunch OF train.and en-.
gine men. squad from the shops.
and bigger one from the yards.
Also. the wire service had turned
out a gang OF iinemen and half
dozen operators.
gwen. men. let's have IT. paid Mr..
Norcross. not too sharply. My din.
ner's getting cold"
Wen not be kecpln' you above
the hollow half OF a minute. Mister
Norcross." said the big. bearded
freight conductor who acted as
spokesman. About this c. s. & w.
strike that went on today: we'd like
20 know. straight from you. II It's
anything In the railroad company's
pocket 10 have all these old men fired
out and lot Of scabs put in on
starvation wages 90 hall us all up
when we try 20 work with EN-
ITS nothing TO Us. or rather. I
should say. we are on the other sida. ="
was the short reply. you probably
all know that C 8. q W. has changed
hands. and the old Red Tower syndi.
cate. with Mr.. Rufus Hatch at ita
head. Is now in control"
Hoskins nodded That's about
what We allowed. and we've come up
here 10 say that we're almighty sorry
for these poor cusscs that have been
dumped out o. their Jobs. We ain't
got no kick comm with you. mr. with
tho company. Mister Norcross. but II
looks like it's up TO us 10 do some.
thin. and We didn't want TO do II
without, hittin' square out from the
shoulder"
I'm listening said the chief.
The union locals have called a
meetin' fr tonight There Amt no
body knows yet what's goln' 20 be
done. bat whatever II IL. We want
you 40 know that I, Amt done ag'inst
you mr. tAe railroad company"
The boss had handled wage earners
too long not 20 be able to suspect
what was In the wind.
You men don't want 20 ie, your
sympathies carry you too far" he
cautioned. when you take up an.
other fellows quarrel you want TO be
pretty sure that you're not going 10
hit your friends In the scrap
Hoskins grinned undcrstanstngfy
and guess tho boss was a little puz-
xiesf By the mods and winka that went
around among the silent members Of
the delegation: at least, I know was.
That's all right Hoskins said.
''Bcin' tho Big Boss. you've got 20
talk that way. They might reach out
and grab you FIRM New York II you
didn't But what was Amin 20 say
il that there'il be train.ioad r. two
OF strik~br~akerS a-carc~rin' along
here In a day r so. and we Amt fig
urin' on lettin' 'em get past Portal
City. II that far"
That's up to you" said Mr.. Nor.
cross brusquely. IF you start any.
thing in the way Of riot"
Excuse me. There Amt roin' 20
be no riotin'. and no company proper
ty mashed up. Mr.. Van Britt. he"
II was right here that an odd thing
listed freight engineer standing di.
rectly behind Hoskins. reached an
arm around the speakers neck and
chicken him 70 suddenly that Hos.
kins' sentence ended in a Rasping
chuckie- When the garro,ing arm
was withdrawn the conductor looked
around sort OF foollshiy and said.
Tin thinking that's about all we
wanted TO say. ain't II. boys7'' and the
dcputation filed out as solemniy as II
had come in.
guess Mr.. Sorcross wasn't left
wholly I'm the dark when tho tramp
ing footballs OF tho committee died
away In tn. corridor. That uninten-
tional mention OF Mr.. Van Britt's
name looked as IL IL might open UP
some more possibilities. tho what
they were couldn't imagine. and
don't believe the general manager
could. either.
After that. things rocked along
pretty easily until after dinner. In
stead Of going right back TO tho OF.
flee from the club. Mr.. Norcross
drifted into the smoking room and
filled a pipe. In the course Of a few
minutes. Maj. Kendrick dropped in
and pulled up a chair. don't know
what they talked about. but after
little while. when the boss got up 10
70. heard him say something that
gave the key 10 the most Of what
had gone before. I guess.
Have you seen or heard anything
Of coIlingwood since yesterday"
The good old major shook his head.
II haven't seen, but / have heard. i"
he said, sort OF soberiy. They're
telIIn' me that he's oveh in his rooms
at the Bullard. drinkin' himself 10
death. IL he wasn't altogether past
redemption. sub. he would have had
the decency TO get out Of town bcfo'
he turned loose all hollis that way;
he would. for fact. Graham"
At that, Mr. Norcross explained in
Just a few words why CoIlingwood
hadn't gone--why he couldn't go.
the old Kentuckian look
I'd graver than ever.
THAT thah spells trouble, Graham.
Hatch Is simply invitin' the unde'-
takeh. HOWE isn't what you'd call
dangerous man. but he In totally ir-
responsible. even when he's sobeh."
I'VE ought TO get him away from
here" was the boss decision. He