The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-09-15
Carter Crime
T.
BY c. D. BOOTH
BY c. D. BOOTH

BY c. D. BOOTH
(Copyright.)
Franklin Carter. the Junior partner
of the Keene- Carter Cotton company.
stared hOpelesSly at the ceiling. In
his face one could read perplexity,
even dependency.
Hang it ALL" he cried wrathfully,
kicking an unoffending waste basket
across the room and striking the desk
with his fist. Lets see. We can't
ship before tomorrow, and the South
ern ships tonight" And Carter
groaned in the anguish of his spirit.
The Keene-Carter Cotton company
and the Southern Cotton company
were rival firms, both shipping to New
York from Patski, Ga. The fate of
these firms depended upon which got
the big MARYLAND contract, and the
man who shipped the first trainload of
cotton into New York got the contract.
Carter ground his teeth savagely.
at was low, dirty trick" he NUT
tered. 'The Southern knew we'd beat
'em through, and they bribed our en-
gineer to break the engines and delay
us. Wonder if we couldn't pay 'em
back in their own COIN"
He picked up the morning paper and
glanced vacantly at the printed pages.
AS his eye travelled up and down the
columns short paragraph arrested
his attention.
1t read:
Discharged Man Derais Train.
Thomas Flynn, discharged brakeman
on the N. Y. & G., derailed northbound
passenger train No. IA last night to get
even" Flynn was drunk at the time and
the railroad will not prosecute. Little
damage was done. No one injured. but
traffic was stopped for several hours
Carter, after gazing earnestly at
the floor for some time, slapped his
hand and his knee and laughed softly.
"I'll do it," he chuckled. "Well
spoil their game. Why didn't 1 think
of it before? Oh, it's so easy!"
After hurriedly arranging his papers
he fastened out of the office and went
over to the shipping station.
Jackson" he said to the foreman,
what time will you get through load
ing?"
The burly foreman wiped the PER
spiration from his brow. "B' toGlor-
rer mornin'," he said.
Couldn't you get through by to-
night?" asked Carter in dismay.
might get through by ten b. work
in hard 'nough, but tn men amt ham
KERN arter workin' at night" growled
the foreman.
Look here" said Carter, offering a
cigar, I'll give the men five dollars
an hour to get through by ten; and
will give you a cool thousand"
Jackson's jaw dropped and the cigar
fell from between his fingers. zone
thousand dollars" he cried question
ingly, "an' five dollars an hour fer TIL
men,
That's what 1 said,' replied Carter
'But-but TIL Southern ships at nine.
and they have the shortest line" STAN
mered Jackson, bewildered.
You get through by ten and Will
hand YOU check for a thousand j"
said Carter quietly.
well do it," shouted Jackson.
'Here, boys, work like the. devil. It's
five dollars an hour t. get through
b. ten"
Carter heard the pulIeys creak. saw
bale after bale of cotton swing into
the cars. Faster and faster worked
the men, the perspiration rolling down
their faces.
When darkness came Carter began
preparations. He found an old mack
intosh, and he slipped revolver into
convenient pocket. He secured a
heavy hammer from the Toulouse
and was ready.
At ten minutes before nine Carter
way to the yards Of the N. Y & G. He
climbed the fence and dropped silent
ly into the yards. Quickly he found
his way to the track which led to the
Southern's shipping station. In the
distance he could hear, but family, the
cries of men at the Southern's works
while the shrek of a locomotive ant
the changing Of bell mingled discorc
with diScOrd.
Carter raised the heavy hammer ant
dealt the switch lock powerful blow
which broke it apart. Then he turned
the switch. 1t creaked Justify, and the
culprit glanced around in alarm; the
noise, it seemed to him, was lou
enough to be heard for a mile. Afte
being certain that no one was neal
he reversed the light.
"That'll fix EN-" he muttered. 81
will take them six or seven hours t,
get the car on the track, and with gu
train started by ten, we will beat then
by five or six good hours. Southern
Cotton company, l see thy fate!" ant
Carter laughed softly.
He regained the outside of the yard
and walked swiftly back to his office
"We'll get through b'fore ten,
grinned Jackson when he saw Garter
"Oh, we're workin' fer five dollar
an hour" yelled the chorus.
Carter saw the last car filed am
sealed. He saw the engine puff out o.
it's way to New York. '"The victory i
ours" he thought exultantly.