The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-07-14
The
Wreckers
B,
FRANCIS
LYNDB
IN. Nan al the Window
oopyrssia br cl.ss sorssssrs su1s
(Continuedl
CHAPTER X

or cotfse. tile first thing I did. the
morning after that adventure IN the
coal yard. was 10 tell the boss all
about II, and was Just foxy enough
10 DO IL whsn Mr. Ripley was present.
Mr.. Norcross didn't say much; and,
for that matter. neither did the law
yer. though he did ask the boss a
question or two about the real facts
IN the Midland right-of-way squabble.
But ! noticed. after that, that cur
man Tarbel was continually turning
up at all sorts Of times. and In all
sorts Of odd places. so took II that
Ripley had given him his tip, and
that he was sort Of body guarding Mr..
N0rcross on the quiet. though | am
sure the boss didn't know anything
about that part OF it--he was such a
square fighter himself that he prob
ably wouldn't have stood for II IL he
had.
Meanwhile, things grew warmer and
warmer IN the tussle we were making
90 pull the old Short Line out OF the
mud; warmer in number Of ways,
because. In addition 10 the fight for
the public confidence. We began just
then 10 have perfect. epidemic Of
wrecks
The boss turned the material trou-
bic over 10 Mr.. Van Britt and devoted
himself pretty strictly to the public
side Of things. Everywhere. and on
every occasion-at dinners at the diff
ferent chambers of commerce. and
public banquets given to this, that, or
the other visiting big-wig-he was al
ways ready 10 get on HIS feet and tell
the people that the tue prosperity OF
the country carried with II the pros
perity of the railroads; that the two
things were one and inseparahle; and
that when II came right down to basic
facts, the railroads were really part
OF the progress machinery Of the coun-
try az large and should be regarded
not as alien tax-collectors. but as con-
trihutors TO the general prosperity and
welfare.
By this time, also, Red Tower Con-
soiidated was beginning to find out
what II meant 10 have active com
petition. The C. $. 4 ". people were
hammerlng their new plants into work
ing shape. and they were getting the
patronage. both Of the producers and
consumers, hand over fist Track facIl-
titles and yard service were granted
freely: and while no discrimination
was permitted as against the Red
Tower people. tie friendly attitude of
the road counted for something. as II
was bound 20.
During those few prediction weeks
the New York end Of us seemed 20
have petered out completely. We heard
nothing more from President Dunton.
worse than an occasional wire COM
plaint about the number OF wrecks
We were having. though the stock
was stll going down, point by point
aud. 80 far as man up tree could
see. we were making no attempt 70
show net enrnings-were turning all
our money into betterments a. fast as
n came IN. knew that couldn't 20
on. Without a furry Of some sort the
New Workers would never be able 20
break even. t. say u0thiuS - pr1tt.
and looked every day for a howl
that would tear things straight VI the
back.
While all these threads were weav-
ing along. Tn sorry 70 say that ]
hadn't yet drummed mp the courage
20 tell the boss the truth about Mrs.
Sheila He kept on going 70 the
majors every chance he bad. and
Aiaisie Ann was making life miserable
for me because / hadn't told him
calling me a coward and everything
under the sun. / told her O. tell him
herself. and she retorted that I knew
she conldnt; that il was my JOB and
nobody else's We fused over Il a
lot: and hecause ! most always con- I
trived some excuse % chase out {, f11 Z
Kendrick house AZ the boss heels
merely TO help Tarbell keep cases "a 1
him-thers were plenty q chances f5r 1
the fussing
Il vas On one q these chasing trips i
- -KeuWooi~ thar the rspf feii n 4
Tie mAior had gons 0at sones here-- /
TO The fheaier. suess-taklng his Wiff 4
and Maisse Am. and the huss an
Mrs. Shella uere sitting fogether in i
the majors DEN with a little Goa /
blanc n ,hs basket crate because the ]
nights wer~ beginning 70 get . BIT
chilly
] had butied IN with > teiegrzm-
which might Just a. Hsll have stool /
ever Until the next morning II you
Naai . sn9w After had delivers