Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-04-29
CHAPTER discontinued.

Mr.. Norcross told what we had seen,
and how we had come to be where we
were able to see it, but that didn't
help out much, either. From any point
OF view 1t seemed perfectly foolish,
and the boss made mention Of that
II we hadn't happened to be there to
bring the engine back, the worst that
could have befallen Mr.. Chadwick and
the crew of the special would have
been q few hours bother and delay.
In the course Of time the conductor
would have walked out and got to
wire station somewhere, though it
might have taken him all night, and
then some, to get another engine.
Naturally, Mr.. Chadwick was red
bot about it, on general principles. /
guess he wasn't used to being kid
mapped.
II can't help thinking that 1t is con-
nected with what is due to happen
tomorrow morning, Graham" he said,
at the end Of things. There are some
certain scoundrels in Portal City at
the present moment who wouldn't stop
Mt anything to gain their ends, and !
am wondering now II Dawes wasn't
mixed up in It"
'Who is DawesT
stDawes is a mining man In Portal
City, and before I'd been an hour in
town yesterday he hunted me up and
wanted me to go over to StrathcOnn
TO look at some gold prospects he's
irving TO finance. / said No at first,
because / was expecting you, and
thought you'd reach Portal City this
morning. When you didn't show up,
] knew / had twelve hours more on
my hands, and as Dawes was still
hanging on, had our tralnmaster
give me a special over to Strathcona,
on a promise that I'd be brought back
early this evening, ahead OF the
FLYER from the west--the train you
were on"
MIR. Norcross nodded. "And the
promise wasn't kept"
"No promise is ever kept on the
Pioneer Short Line" growled the big
magnate. And then, with beauu-
full disregard for the mixed figures
of speech: "Once in blue moon the
chapter Of accidents hits the Bulls
eve whack in the middle, Graham
When Hardshaw wired me from Port
land. l knew you couldn't reach Portal
CITY before this morning. at the very
earliest. That was going to cut my
time pretty short, with the big gun
due to be fired tomorrow morning
and you cut it still shorter by losing
twelve hours somewhere along the
road-they told me in the dis
patcher's office that your train was
behind a wreck somewhere up II
Oregon. But it has turned out al
right, in spite of everything. You're
here, and we've got the night before
u.s." Then l suppose he nodded to
ward me, for the boss said;
"Oh, Jimmie's all right; he knew
what had for dinner this evening
and he'll know what I'm going to hav
for breakfast tomorrow morning"
with the bride off, the big mai
went ahead abruptly, cutting out al
the frills.
"You finished your building cor
tract on the Oregon Midland, Ora
ham. and after the road was opene
for business you refused an offer Q
tina general managership. Would 20
mind telling me why you did that1
@Not in the least. There is nothin
IN il. An operating head is no
nothing more than score-keeper fc
4 national gambling game. The hos
Oamblers around the railroad post
the Stock exchange tell him what h
has to do and where he has to g
~ Stock gambling, under whatev'
name it MISUNDERSTANDING Vaiue
hnving and selling margins, reorgal
Ezat,ons with their huge rake-oifs +
4ho underwriters-is the incuD'
which is crushing the life out OF u
nations industries, especially In u
railroad field. 1t makes me wish
never seen a railroad track"
"Yet It is your trade, isn't 1t
asked the wheat king.
at is; but luckily can build ra
roads as we'll as operate them; a.
there are other countries besides u
United States Of America. I'm on
way home TO Illinois for a little vi
with my mother and sisters; ana AT
that / think l shall close with !.
offer I've had from one Of the :
madam companies"
"Good boyl"l ehuckled the Chica
magnate. qIn due time we mig
hope to be reading your name IN I
newspapers-'Sir Graham Norcro
D.S.O.' or something Of that sor
Then, with a sharp return, to the 8
of grftting seflonshesst You've be
riding over the Pioneer Short u
since early this morning. Grahal
what do you think of it,"
| couldn't see the boss smile bu
cDald figure It pretty well when
..,. IA rraYsca fnnEAQ