The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-01-25
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde

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/ bell had a nerve OF iron. but could
see his hand shake as II lay ON the
glass.topped table. The boss was
cool enough outwprdly. but knew
that in his brain there was heart
breaking picture OF those two fast
passenger trains rushing together IN
the night among the hills with no
hint OF warning 60 help them save
/ themselves. MIR. Van Britt couldn't
keep stili lie had his hands lam.
med In the side pockets Of his coat
and was pacing back and forth In
the little space between the train
desk and the counter railing.
Al the different tables in the room
the saunders were clicking away as
II nothing were happening or due
90 happen. ana above the spattcr
Ing ain and clatter you could hear
the escapement OF tho big standard
time clock on the wall. hammering
out the seconds that might mean
life or death 20 two or three hun
dred innocent people.
In that horrlble suspense the stx
minutes pulled themselves out 10 an
eternity for that little bunch OF as
In the dispatcher's office. who could
do nothing but wait on the stroke
OF l0Is. the time shcn Five was
due at Crow Guioh ON her SEIZED.
ule. Tarbell tuned his relay 20
catch the first faint tappings from
the distant day station. Another
sounder was silent. There was hope
in tho delay. and Morris voiced g.
Hes there. and he's too busy TO
talk 10 US" he suggested. in a
hushcd voice: and Dlsbrow. the car.
record man. added. That's Il. itd
take minute or two 70 get them
10 on the siding"
The second minute passed. and
then a third. and yet there was no
word from Bertram. "Call him.
snapped the boss 20 Tarbcil. but
before the cx.cowbOy's hand could
reach the key. the sounder began TO
rattle out string Of dots and
dashes: ragged Morse u was. but we
could an read IL only too plainly.
TOO late mule threw me ana !
had 70 crawl and drag a game les
Five passed fun speed at iOIs--l
couldn't make tt
/ I saw the bass hands shut NJ ~
tho the finger nails would cut into
the Palms
/ THAT ends III he said. with a
sor, OF swearing Troan In his voice.
and then TO Tarbeii. "You may a.
well call KlrRan and tell him 20
order out the wrrcklng train. Thee
have Perkins make up n relief train
while you're calling the doctors
Van Britt. you 30 and notify the
hospital over your own office wire.
Have my private car put into the
relief. and see TO II that II has all
the necessary supplies. And you'd
better notify the undertaksrs. too
Great Joashi but II was horrible
for US 10 be hustiing around and
making arrangements for the fun.
eral while the people who were 20
be gathered up and buried were still
swinging along live and well. half
OF them In the crookings among the
Timber mountain foothills and the
other half somewher. In the desert
stretches below SAND Creek
Tarbcii had sent Disbrow 10 the
/ phone 20 call Kirxan. and SIR. Van
Britt was turning away 10 go %
his own office. when the chair IN
the corner by the car-record table
fell over backwards with a crash
and Durgin came staggering across
the room He was staring strRlEh,
ahead OF him ns " he had gone
blind. and the sweat was running
down his face 10 lose Itself In the
struggling beard.
4 when ne spoke his voice seemed
to come from away off somewhere,
and he was still staring AZ the blank
wall beyond the eountcrrailing.
ibid did I hear somebody any
you're sending for the under,akers7
he choked. with a dry rattle In his
throat. and then. without waiting
for an answer. while you're az t.
you'd Dtter get one for me
there's the money 10 pay him" and
he tossed a thick roll Of hank bills
wrapped around with a rubber band
over 10 Tarbell at the train desk.
Naturally the little grand stand
play with the bank roll made a d.
version. and that ls why the muffled
crash OF pistol shot came with
a startling shock 20 everybody
when we turned 70 look. the mis-.
chief was done. Durgin had
erumpled down into misshapen
heap on the floor and the sight We
saw was enough to make your blood
run cold.
You see, he had put the muzzis
Of the pistol into his mouth. and
but It's no use; can't tell about IL.
and the very thought Of that thing
that had just a minute before been
man. lying there on the floor
makes me see black and want TO
keel over. What he had said about
sending for an extra undertaken
was right as right. With the top
OF his head blown off, the poor devil
didn't need anything more In this
world except the burying.