Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-06-24
The WreckerS
4 Blu FRANCIS LYNDE
Copyrigh: by Charles Scribners Sons.

"mine owners" the operator called
them-had Just heard of the impend-
ing railroad tie-up. They had been
meaning to come In on the regular
night train. but that had been aban-
doHed. SO now they were offering
all kinds Of money for special to
bring them to Portal City. 1t was
represented that there were millions
at stake Couldn't we do something's
Mr.. Norcross had kept Hoskins and
few Of the other local strike lead
ers where he could get hold Of them,
and he put the request up to them as
matter that was now out of his
hands. Would they allow him to run
one-car special from the gold camp
to Portal City after midnight? 1t was
for them to say.
Hoskins and his accomplices went
of to talk 1t over with some Of the
other men. When the big freight con-
ductor came back he was alone and
was grinning good-naturedly.
eve amt Amin to make the COM
pany lose any good money that comes
a-rolling down the hill at It. Mister
NOrcrOss," he said. "Cinch these here
Strathcona hurry-boys rr all you can
get out o. them. and II you'll lend us
the loan Of the wires, We'll pass the
word to let the special come on
through"
It was sure the funniest strike I
ever saw or heard Of. and I guess the
boss thought so. too-with all this
good-natured bargaining back and
forth: but there was nothing more
said, and I carried the word to Mr..
Perkins. directing him to have arrange
ments made for the running Of one
car special from Strathcona for the
hurry folks.
Past that, things rocked along until
the hands Of the big standard-time
clock In the dispatcher's room pointed
to midnight. Norris, who was hold
ing down the commercial wire, came
over to the counter railing just then
with New York message. saw the
boss eyes fash and the little bunchy
muscle-swellings Of anger come and
60 on the edge Of his jaw as he read
It, as,d then he handed 1t to me.
'vot may indorse that mo Answer
and file 1t when you 60 back to the
Office" he said shortly. and then he
went on talking to Donohue. telling
him how to handle the trains which
were still out and moving to their tie
W. destinations.
way; he would. for a fact, Graham"
AT that. Mr.. Norcross explained in
Just a few words why Collingwood
hadn't gone-why he couldn't CO.
WhereupOn the old Kentuckian looked
graver than ever.
THAT than spells trouble, Graham.
Hatch is simply invitin' the unde'.
takeh. HOWE isn't what you'd call a
dangerous man, but he Is totally ir-
responsible, even when he's sobeh."
1--WE ought to get him away from
here" was the boss decision. HE
Is an added menace while he stays"
didn't hear what the major said
to that, because little Rags, Mr.. Per
kins' Office boy. had just come In with
q note which he was asking me to
give to Mr.. Norcross. I did It; and
after the note had been glanced at, the
chief said. kind Of bitterly, to the
major:
you can never fall so far that you
can't fall little farther; have you
ever remarked that. major7" And then
he went on to explain: "Perkins, our
Desert Division superintendent. says
that the locals Of the various rail-
road labor unions have just notified
him Of the unanimous passage Of q
strike vote-the strike to go into ef-
feet at midnight"
"A strike?-0n the railroad? Why,
Graham, son, you don't mean it!'
1.-THE men seem to mean it--which
Ii much more to the purpose. They
are striking in sympathy with the
G. s. &. W. employees. fancy that
settles our little experiment in good
railroading definitely. major. Dunton
doesn't want receiversllip, but he'll
have to take one now. The bottom
will drop out Of the stock and break
the market when this strike news gets
on the wire, and that will end 1t. I
wish to God there were some way in
which could save Mr.. Chadwick: he
has trusted me. major. and 1--we
failed hint"