Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-02-09

- mt o0pSliNiSHUc1I
/ and he walked stiffly. on feet thai
struck the packed snow heavily.
II was Ellen calling. and her voice was
weary and faint
Things stirred In him. He wanted
TO talk to her gently, to reassure her
70 faugh al the situation te-defs
chance 10 do them up In this round
But a man must be fresh for that,
mustn't he? A man must have his
wits and his strength to belitfle such
gravity, and he felt himself sway a.
he stood there, wondering what to say.
Going good. vas all he could mum
Bile. Going great The boys are
wonders. When?r All. when
could he tell her? God knows" be
muttered YEARLY. and hung up the re-
eeiver.
John forced Tiny to turn In and the
fireman as well. He set Saunders with
a crew tearing up a switch point. get
ting ready. He swore at them when
they took him by the arms and forced
him to a cot In the crossing tenders
tiny parlor. He awoke after noon.
The locomotive was up Almost up
on her feet! They had crib work on
the other side to hold her from going
on over before they were ready. Rails
were torn up; ties In place. The
switch points were going In against
the main line to set her back where
she belonged.
Slowly she settled into place. wheels
taking the n rail. Up she went N
the other side. a fraction OF an inch
al d time. The other rail went In !.
spikes sunk home. the Jacks pulled In
their necks- She sat there. square on
the rails. and the fireman had steam
on her.
Night again; and more fires. But
they had something to work with this
time.
Dawn 1t was. when they made On
their train again. and as Tiny backed
down TO couple on to the wav-car
John ended bis talk with Tucker
He had come In an h0ur before.
when he knew that the Job was done.
when Way-BiIl and Saunders and TINY
could handle the detail without his
help.
Tucker was there alone. poking at
the fire, and looked up quickly as John
closed the door behind him.
The superintendent did NOT speak at
first He took off his zap, unbuitoned
his coat, fumbied In his pocket for a
cigarette and then. with the tobacco
burning, sat down across the car from
his roadmaster.
He pulled a moment In silence:
neld the cigarette In his fingers. and
eyed the glowing coal at Its tip.
you didn't forget. you know" he
said almost casually.
what 7" The mans cry was star
tied; but the quality did not ring just
true u didn't what?"
You didn't forget, Tucker. A man
who built this road wouldn't forget
that switch. You deliberately ditched
us, Tucker. | think you've sold ont
to Belknap X Gorbel. | think you're
/. a skunk
Quietly still. and Tucker rose to his
feet.
Don't you say a thing like that to
me-
SIT DOWN." Bite and sting In the
tone; and fire In Johns eyes and
anger In his gesture. "Sit down." he
repeated lowly, with contempt. and the
man settled to the bench from which
he had risen with such a show Of out
rage. His face twitched; guilt sat
heavily upon him.
when ] first heard of this whole
situation here IT sounded like some.
thing a writer had made up." John
said evenly. @From the minute |
came on the Job | knew 1t was real.
We've speeded up we should be
showing a margin of safety. but we're
lAtA@ Lively biNfG htilt , UEtI iidfiE 0n
this operation has been checkmated
by a move from Belknap x Gorbel un.
til we're about where we started.
Every move that has slowed us up has
been made deliberately, with design.
"This thing"-with a curt gesture
was the most serious of air.
He sat very straight and his eyes
burned.
you're on your way. Tucker. Have
1t that you forgot. Well and good
you forgot And you're fred because
yon forgot. but you can take a mes
with you TO deliver to Burke or
to Gorbel or to whoever bought your