Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-04-29

awe slfted This Blame Outfit Through
an Eiohty.Mesh Screen"
at about the same time were In some
way connected with each other. It
was no use the idea refused to let CO.
Look here, Kirgan." showed in /;
"can you think Of any possible reason
why Mr.. Norcross should write Mr.
Van Britt letter saying that he had
quit and was going east On the mid
night train and then should change
his mind and come down here and 60
somewhere on that engine7"
After had said 1t, 1t sounded 90
foolish that wanted to take 1t back.
But Kirgan didn't seem to look at 1t
that way.
"Well, I'll be shot !" he exclaimed.
II never once thought Of that! But
where the devil would he go? And
how would he get there without some
body finding out7 And why In Sam
Hill would he do thing like that,
anyway? Why, sufferin' Moses! II
he wanted to 60 anywhere, all he had
to do was to order out his car and
tell the dispatcher. and 60.
II can't figure 1t out any better than
you cam" confessed. "Mr. Norcross
Is gone, and the Ten-Sixteen is gone,
and they both dropped out between
ten and twelve o'clock on the same
night. Mart, don't believe Mr.. Nor
cross went east at ALL I believe,
when we find that engine, we'll find
himI"
Kirgan got out Of his chair and be-
gan to walk up and down In the little
space between his desk and the draw.
ing-board. Besides being the best boss
mechanic In the West, he was first
class fighting man. with a clear head
and nerve to burn. When he had got
as far as he could 60 alone he turned
on me.
Jimmie, do you reckon this Red
Tower outfit was far enough along in
Its scrap with the boss to put up Job
to pass him out Of the gamer he de-
manded.
I told him It didn't seem to At into
any notwithstanding scheme of
things, and past that I mentioned the
fact that the Hatch people had taken
the back track and were now offering
to sell out and stop checking the
wheels Of reform.
II know" he put In. but I've been
readin' the papers, Jimmie. and 1t
amt all Red Tower. not by a jugful.
The big graft In this neck-a woods is
political, and the Red Tower gang Is
only set-a cogs In the bull-wheel Mr..
Norcross was gettin' himself mighty
pointedly disliked; you know that.
The way he was amin to run things.
It was beginnin' to look as II maybe
the people Of this state might wake up
some day and turn in and help him."
VI know all about that" threw In.
"But where are you trying to land,
MartT'
Fright here. Mr.. Norcross was the
whole show. Take him out Of It and
the whole shootin'.natch would fall
to pieces-as it's dom, right now.
They didn't need to slug him or shoot
him up or anything like that: II 1t
could be made to look as II he'd
jumped the job, quit. chucked 1t all
up. why, there you are. A new boss
would be sent out here. and you could
bet your sweet life he wouldn't be
anybody like Mr.. Norcross. Not 90
you could notice II. The New York
people would take blamed good care-a
that"
"You think the Dunton people are
standing In with the graftr
'Nobody could've grabbed OF the
motive-power Job on this railroad, as
I did. Jimmie, and not think it-and
be d-n' sure Of It. Why. Lord o.
Heavens, the Red Tower bunch was
usin' us Just the same as II we be-
longed to 'em ordering our men to
do their machinery repairs, helpin'
themselves to any railroad material
that they happened to need, usin' our
cars and engines on their loggin' roads
and mine branches"
"You stopped all this?'
"You bet l did-between two days
They've been maxim seventeen differ
ent kinds Of roar ever since, but I've
had Mr.. Van Britt and the big boss
behind me, so just showed ahead"
What Kirgan said about the Red
Tower people using eur rolling stock
on their private branch roads set a
bee to buzzing in my brain. What II
they had stolen the 1O16 to use in that
way?
You have blueprint Of the Portal
division here. haven't your asked.
dig 1t up and let's have a lock at It,"
At first the facts threatened to bluff
us. The blueprint engineers map was
an old one, but 1t showed the spurs and
side-tracks, the stations and water
tanks. Since the lost engine had been