Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-09-01
THE BIG MUSKEC
VICTOR ROUSSEAU
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He spent the morning in his ONCE,
writing a report for the directors. The
news would reach Clayton as soon as
II could be telephoned, but at least ne
would have another chance. 1t was
too ate now to think of changing the
route without throwing the company
into liquidation. And Kitty held on
troll.
The thought Of that strengthened his
resolve. He could not bring himself
TO go to Molly with the dependency
upon him, but busted himself that az
ternoon examining the wreck.
For about a month he had had a
strange protege. One evening Jules
Halfhead, the deaf-mute, appeared at
the door of hrs shack, and quickly as
sumed the care Of 1t. He was nearly
always to be found there in Wilton's
absence. Sometimes, however, he
would betake himself back to the port
age, and he was free Of the camp,
where he ran errands and messages FOR
the engineers, and was the butt OF mild
practical jokes.
Wilton came to the conclusion, now
ever, that the Muskegon's min was as
acute as any mans, and that his appar-
ent simplicity was nothing but the put
ward aspect of his infrmity.
When Jules had cooked Wilton's sup
nor that evening he came into the Office
In a state Of excitement. The man had
loved the work. He was often to be
seen on the trestle, cllnging for dear
life to a plank as the trucks rumbled
past within an inch Of his head. When
he saw the wreck Of the embankment
that morning, the foreman said that he
had burst into tears. Now he was evil
IDENTIFY trying to describe something 10
Wilton in pantomime; but Wilton could
not follow his meaning.
Suddenly he seized q pencil from the
desk and, STOPPING, began to draw a
picture Of the trestle upon the wall
= with remarkable skill.
Wilton,s interest was at once
aroused. EYES," he said, nodding to
Jules. "What about itT'
VI It was his habit to talk, although the
Ct deaf-mute could not hear his voice.
n. Jules had an instructive faculty of I'M
m derstanding. He looked at Wilton and
[r nodded back.
He next drew four uprights-the
long, heavy trunks of considerable
girth that were driven into the ground
to support the trestling. Then he made
a smudgy line across each. Then hi
~ drew a Ratchet. He looked up at VIII
~ ton In pathetic e%agerness, and nodded
of again.
"You mean that some one tamperet
=, with the t~restling2' shouted Wilton.
." Jules, who had watched his lips
nodded eagerly. But, as he always nod
CO ded when he was spoken to, Ettl
Is. meaning could be attached to that.
e Wilton wondered If that was VIVA
he did mean. If the uprights had bee
US tempered with before they were set In
:. TO the ground, by ax-cuts or otherwise
the weight Of the ballast would ur
~. doubtedly have broken them. In
leu break would not have been immediate
,aa ly apparent, but the trestling would
lat such case be practically imposed upo
ose the surface of the swamp, without SUI
ne mort. The ballast would have sprea
rec over the muskeg, causing the EMIL
structure to Subside.
re- "Who did It'll" asked Wilton, speaI
'oi- ing slowly and carefully.
Jules, who was still watching hir
suddenly turned and, with lightnir
ust- movements, drew a caricature OF Ii
was Chambers on the woodwork OF u
wall.
INK Wilton looked at 1t and drew In h
FOL breath. Then he nodded. Jules no
'urs ded In return, smiled, and left Il
not room. Wilton reflected deeply.
kun II Chambers was a spy Of Bowyer
why had he shown him the bedrock
was all? On the other hand, assuming tn
the Wilton must eventually discover
ight himself, Bowyer might have Sc
nee. Chambers to make q virtue Of a nee
sity and to secure a position at
left ,rhor. no could he of service
camp, WlcIe ut SOuiu y
e him.
aiat- In any case, Wilton could afford
hihu take no further chances with him.
ei'e would serve no purpose to accuse j
y. of having tempered with the trestli
: NC He would give him a post somewh'
oeeh where he could do no harm, and Il
-, get rid Of him.
nau Fighting down the burning rage
!e'ch his heart, he vent down the road
LOCO, ward the shack which the engineer
'sSeu cupied. This was a ~reconstruc
was shed. There was only one room In
Inc but Chambers had asked to have
cner- rather than share the quarters of
ICE other engineers.
The men were back In the bu
nave houses, but the door Of the shed
me padlocked. Thinking that Chant
might might be In the camp, he made
su- way toward the other quarters.
) DOT presently he heard some one cal
'wn d him and, turning, saw Andersen
ming after him.
"a Were you looking for Mr. On
e~ bers. sir?" asked the foreman.
~ ayes. Where Is her
Wins, uUhv no went hack 20 Clayton