The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-06-23

sun, This wire Is from her. nat 40
you suppose it says"
OF course. the boss said tie couldn't
suppose anything about it, and the
major went on.
"She tells me, in just seven words,
not TO let you 60 to Stralhcona tonight.
Now what do you make Of that? How
on top Of GODS green earth did she
know, away off yondeh at the capital,
that you were meaning to 60 to Strath-
coma tonight"
Mr.. NOrcr0SS shook his head Then
| he said: "rhpre are WireS-both
kindS-thOugh don't know why any
| body should telegraph or telephone the
capital that expect to attend 4 mine
owners meeting tomorrow morning in
the big go|A camp. That's why Pm
going, YOU EnoW.'
"But this warming" the major in
sisted. "Thcre'S a reason for it, Ora
ham, as sure as you are baWn"
Again the boss shook his head.
"BctWecn you two, YOU and Shrlia,
I'm due to acquire case Of nerves
| don't know what she has heard. but
can't afford to dodge business an-
pointment. Shcila has merely over
heard an echo Of the threats that are
constantly being made by the Hatch
sympathizerS. It's the aftermath OF
the election, but it's al talk. They're
down and out. and they haven't the
nerve to strike back, now.
That ended matters at the club. ana
the boss and | walked down to the
headquarters. The special. with Buck
Chandler, was waiting. and at the last
minute | thought | wasn't going to
get to 60.
"There's no need Of your putting in
a night on the road, Jimmie,' said
the boss, with the kindly thought for
other peoples comfort that never
failed him. But after had begged a
little, telling him that he'd need some
body TO take notes in the mine meet
ing, he said, "All right" and we got
aboard and gave the word to MacliSe,
the conductor, to get his clearance
and 20.
A few minutes later we pulled out
and the night run was begun. Like
every other car the boss had ever
owned, the "05" was fitted up as a
working Office. and since he had me
along. he opened up lot of claim
papers upon which the legal depart
ment was giving him the final say,so,
and we went to work.
For the next two hours l was so
busy that I didn't' know when we
passed the various stations. At half
nast nine. Mr.. Norcross snapped a
rubber band over the last Of the claim
files. lighted a pipe, and told me |
might go to bed if | wanted to; said
that he was going himself after he'd
had a smoke. Just then, Chandler
whistled for a station, and, looking
ont of a window, | saw that we were
pulling into Bauxite, the little wind
blown junction from which The Strath-
coma branch led away into the north
ern mountains.
Wanting bite Of fresh air before
turning in, | got off when we made
the stop and stroled up to the en-
CINE. Maclise was in the Office, get
ing orders for the branch, and
Chandler was squatting in the gang
way of the S15 and waiting. Up ahead
of us. and too far away for me to
read the number on her tender, there
was a light engine. I thought at first
# was the pusher which was kept at
Bauxite to help heavy freights up the
branch grades and I wondered what
if was doing out on the branch ''Y"
and in our way.
"What's the pusher out for, Buck"
| asked.
Chandler grinned down at me.
"YOu amt so much of a railroad
man as you might be, Jimmie" he
said, "That amt the pusher. It's
our first section, runnin' light to
Strathcona."
Maybe Chandler was right, that l
wasn't much of a railroad man, but /
sawed the Short Line operating rules
we'll enough to know that it wasn't
usual to run light engine. deadhead-
ing over the road, as section of
special Also, l knew that Buck
knew it.
With that last little talk over the
club dinner-table fresh in mind, | be-
gan to wonder, but instead Of asking
Chandler any more questions about
the engine out ahead, | asked him II
| might ride piece with him up the
branch: and when he said Sure |
climbed up and bumped myself on the
tireman's box.
Maclise cot his orders in due time
and we pulled out. ! noticed that
when he gave Chandler the word, he
also made motions with his lantern
TO the engine up ahead and it prompt
" steamed away, speeding up until it
had about a half-mile lead and then
holding it. That seemed funny. too.
Though it is a rule that is often
broken on all railroads, the different
sections of a train are supposed to
keep at least five minutes apart, and
our 'frst" wasn't much more than a
minute away from Us at any time.
Another thing that struck ne as be-
ing funny was the way Chandler was
running. 1t was only sixty mountain
r,iloc un tho branch TO the big gold