Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-05-27

he didn't want to. He sat on the
fireman's seat, with an arm back Of
me to hold me on, just as Kirgan had
sat on the way up. and never opened
his head except once to ask me what
was the matter with my wrapped-up
hand. When l told him, he made no
comment, and didn't speak again until
we had stopped on the leg Of the "Y"
to let Kirgan and his three helpers
put the borrowed rails back into place.
"You say it's Friday" he began abb
ruptly. whats been going on since
Monday night. Jimmie7"
l boiled 1t down for him into just
as few words as possible about the
letter he had left, for Mr.. Van Britt,
how everybody thought he had re-
signed, how Mrs. Sheila and the major
were two of the few who weren't will
ing to believe It. how Mr.. Chadwick
had been out Of reach, how the rail-
road outfit was Topping around like a
chicken with its head chopped off,
how President Dunton had appointed
a new general manager who was ex-
pected now on any train, how Gorcher
had discovered the lost 1016 on the
old disused gravel-pit track mile be-
low us, and, to wind up with, slipped
him Mr.. Chadwick's telegram which
had come just as was finishing my
supper in the Billiard grill-room, and
those two others that had come on
the Knockout night, and which had
been in my pocket ever since.
He heard me through without say
ing a word, and when | gave him the
kilograms he read them by the light
Of the gauge lamp-also without say
ing anything. But when the men had
the "Y" rails replaced he took hold
of things again with jerk.
"Kirgan, you'll want to see to get
ting that dead engine out Of the gravel
pit yourself. Take one of the tiremen
and 90 to 1t. It's a short mile and
YOU can walk in. Jimmie and / want
to get back to Portal City in hurry,
and Gorcher will take us" And then
to Gorcher: "Well run to Banta ahead
of Number Eighteen and get orders
there. Move lively, Billy; times pre-
cious."
We made Banta at record clip.
While he was In the Banta wire office.
getting orders for Portal City, Mr. Nor
cross took the time-card out of its
cage in the cab and fell to studying
it by the light of the gauge lamp.
Gorcher came back pretty soon with
his clearance, which gave him the
right to run to Arroyo as first section
of Number Eighteen.
The boss blew up like Roman
candle when he saw that train order.
1t meant that we we're to take the
siding at Arroyo with the freight that
was just behind us, and wait there
for the westbound "Flyer," the "Flyer"
being due in Portal City from the east
at 9:15, and due to leave there, COM
ing west, at $40. l didn't realize at
the moment why the boss was so
sizzling anxious to cut out the delay
which would be imposed on us by the
wait at Arroyo, but the anxiety was
there, all right.
"Billy, it's eighteen miles to Portal,
and you've got twenty minutes to make
it against the Flyers leaving time"
he ripped out. Can you do it,"
Gorcher said he could, If he didn't
have to lose any more time getting
his order changed.
"Let her got" snapped the boss.
I'm taking all the responsibility"
That was enough for Gorcher, and
the way we hustled out of the Banta
yard was a caution. In exactly eight
minutes out of Banta we tore over the
switches at Arroyo. That left us ten
miles to go, and twelve minutes in
which to make them. 1t was easy.
A yardman let us In on the spur at
the end of the headquarters building,
and the boss was Off in half iiffy.
Come along with me, Jimmie" he
commanded quickly, and l couldn't
imagine why he was In such tearing
hurry. Pushing through the platform
crowd, made up Of people who were
getting off the FLYER" and those who
were waiting to get en-, he led the way
straight upstairs to our offices.
OF course, there was nobody there
at that time of night, and the place
was all dark until we switched the
electrics on. There was little lava
tory off the third room of the suite,
and Mr.. Norcross went in and washed
his face and hands. In minute or
two he came out, put on his office
coat, opened up his desk, lighted a
cigar and sat down at the desk as
though he had just come In from a
late dinner at the club. And still he
had me guessing.
The guess didn't have to wait long.
While was making bluff at uncov-
ering my typewriter and getting ready |
for business there was heavy step |
in the hall, and a red-faced. portly |
gentleman with fat eyes and little
close-cropped English side-whiskers
came bullying in. He had light top |
coat on his arm, and his tan gloves
were an exact match for his spats.
"Good evening"" he said, nodding
sort of brusquely at the boss. "I'm