Show I BY ILLUSTRATIONS ANDRE BOWLES W v H I S P E R I N G 6 S M I T H Copyright BY FRAMK UN 1 by Chas H S SPEARMAN EARMAN Son tt i iBY I f l CHAPTER I IThe IThe i iThe The Wrecking Boss Bos t w wreck V at Smoky Creek Bend nd from Point of oC oCI r i M I I 3 I Ic ne ii k I a dOik ock ick Sinclair hi iR person per on c r rC c g the th making up of ot ote I Ir and the be e r hill UK i tram train yard t 1 that I hour of ot the Mt morning d ith the hurry of or men and andt w 11 the t lie trainmasters room of ot ott build II aU t r beaten headquarters P 1 k by men menThe The C 11 k comers kl kil I Ir rally 1 rf 1 i lounged on the 1 III 1 chairs chain discussing the re ft r Int 1 nt of or Rocks and among n allers and messengers nm m iq f j tn n ii l out but Two minutes minute alter after alteri i r orders orden and aDd were pulling t P c t upper inner pr X yard rd with ri right ht of o I f to Point of JV J h k had iad occurred Just juat west westA 1 A V fast ast eastbound freight t iP 1 1 had bad left the thet around the curve 01 t T 1 long I h the wrecking train Shed cut the sun n kl i i l Ten 1 mer er r the th heaps heel of Jammed J t ora ani ar strung all the way wayt 1 mt i 1 t of f the curve cure to the foot f h n mil hill The crew cre of the train n in the ditch walked stow slowly Is IsM M 4 K Ii to tt t where the wreckers it d j 1 ui up I and the freight conduct r f P p fr r Sinclair Men Ken rigging i nl h h pointed to the hind car carr cari the ca ea eat caI r i swinging up t I made his hie way inside i I e men n that were W passing pas out TIp n r p air within was bluish I h h ith th I tobacco smoke but butz z the thc haze the saw sai sawing alog I ing r I I In I fl the far corner of or the ld ik it nor a man seated H ted behind rl old d lining car table his hiB Yi t one nl glimpse was wu enough to tot toe e tt t he ii dark beard of Sinclair rn nar t or f r the hip bridges bridgM and boss boH of ot th the ph ing II gang ging him stood mood a steaming coffee hard liard h be held an ann 8 hk k i i ui It in his liw right t be he about te in teH tep n us tin tm cup eUp that was H p e t to his h hi mouth when he be saw the tM ther r gH With a laugh Sin SinI nr I U Or up his left hand and beck iI J hun him nm over nver rl r Then he be shook his hisa hisT hI hIlr tossed toed Md back his head a lr r T i IM 1 A little to mouth drained the thep ther nod rt I M 1 p r gulp guip and cursing the exclaimed How Hown v V 1 fraternally ditched this 1 n have hae you TV 11 trainman a fellow i vil dryly Inh All I r had Running too tAll i fast fUt eh oh glared Sin Sint SinI t ir r nth the I P box hix ears cars piled forty feet C gh z h on th h track the conductor tor was wall oi M old olli 1 a hand nand to begin a controversy i nur r times fast fasl was wu all aU he nAti tN hir rose and nd e Come H And nd Ni the two leaving the car ear up lip the track The MM vM paid ald no attention to te his earn eera e n arnI as they for ahead but ll the t he lC train had bad hit bit th the curve he Ite her r the track as aa he be a blue bluer Vr nt Int r The II have ve your Ir scalp cl for h he declared I they will wL I s Tour name namer n I 1 k all day for you ou N o matter I I can help you youit it f Where the he 1 merchandise cars ears lay layt lAYo laythe t nw o the switch UM tile train crew Clew knew ai ar a tramp had been b caught At rv they the heard groans groan under the I k ge which was WIlS piled high there theres s i air ar stopped at the derrick and f 0 freight conductor went weRt on to tol l hi his brakeman had enlisted ted two twoS tw S ir lair h 4 giants to help get out the thep theA p u A brake beam had d the thea a i x legs 1 rC and the pallor p of or his face wed i m f i that ho he h was hurt Internally Jt t t it 1 was a ks conscious and moaned soft SOt t The Th rh men had started to carry C JT him himI tl tit I a II ay car ar when Sinclair came eme camer r d what hat they were doing doln and andI I them back to the Ute wreck They tL Jy laid nd the tramp down But ut he heris ris ater tir protested a brakeman v as d a walking hiking behind carrying his hie hiern V rn em Ill i t d a t ling hug WatH bawled Sinclair Have Hae HaveL 1 i L KOI L nothing to lo do tk but oarl to 1 n water Get ahead there n I PH h II unload those u refrigerator refrigerators H l i h I water ater fast enough Let the nf d i hobo bobo crawl down to te th the creek 1 p it ith Ti h tramp tamp was wall too far tar gone none for re rei i nh lie Ii h had fainted when they i I hin down 1 wu and h tams arn tr nc at the sky gave no evl evi OJ 1 thaI tat T Il ie Ii heard anything ln 1 n un lilt fl rose ise hot bot for In the Red Sert kv In there thelt Is Ja rarely a cloud cloudt n i took t k the little hilt hill nearest h ii to In bellow Jail his orders from fromi i voi l among the men IDen when whenn n ci iry to help carry earry them out lirt thirty minutes minute though t appa apa apaT 1 repression T lIr had baen JeeR made nade on Cr td ap of f wrenched and nd spUn pUn Ml nt Sinclair Sl had Md the Job run rf conductor Stevens Steven 1 f no III man nan had d come came ne up to ton tor r I n and Sinclair with mi 1111 lai lahl l a cordial hand bind on his Sevens its It I all iii right Ill Illi i 1 it lit l f this Come eoe here He HeI I down do the U MI track where h Hiked in the morning He Het t I T flange marks mark on the ties IT theres where the Arat ft the th I h track and they the left on l of f the curve a thin flange Ii ti titS t 1 refrigerator ref tor broke rye C i oi 1 1 back there for evi cv f y cant talk fast running HI Damn a private car line un una a I iv I 1 v me y a cigar got goti got i t cun Iun man theres theft a aU ease calle callet l I t U open up ahead abe go 80 AH 1111 II k I t and your grip rip Dont be beu f f u ye f e got cot friends hien on the di dl dire n f U It are re rc Irish eh ell r 11 Illy I j dont smoke said aid Ste Sin Stev v th Ih diplomacy I II i u drink dont dot yop YOl Theres Th lf brandy open at the switch f naj I cask uk stood upended near pf butt and the men dtp dipped out 11 ith tl t cups UIL u were working af at the wreck The sun sua lung g I a sky the air was wasa 0 k alon r g tb the e ot of wy huge huger pat a T Ii 1 added to the theu T r I t from the water butt buu lay Jay u n I H n Ihk C k H man nass of T rags 8 w C Crusted rus ted tod in I n nI nand a blood mod and dirt crushed by byM i I am and Ild 15 wheels h I OUt Of hU ho huh hot M h e and left now nw an aim h t hn it c thin the tramp w Stevens teens talt fott tOo as he passed I P Hello old bo how ho w thi dId y OU OUe I ex e i alarm t ens treat j tr I d to t the butt and filled d r I amp mp s eyes ejes were closed Stevens poured the water over his face tace then he lifted the mans head hood and put puta a cupful to his lips lipsIs lipsIs Is r that hobo altye alle yet asked aked Sin Sinclair Sinclair clair coming back smoking a cigar What hat does her he want new now Water Dont waste te any time on him Its It bad luck refusing mut muttered muttered Stevens Steve holding h the t e cup Hell be dead in a minute growled Sinclair The sound Hund of his voice roused reused the failing ailing man fl toa to a fury tul He opened his hii bloodshot h t eyes and with the dregs dreg of an ebbing vitality cursed cur ed Sinclair with n I I i I i l S Water Bawled Sinclair Have my Men Got Nothing to do but Carry Tramps to Water a frenzy that made Stevens draw back If Jl Sinclair was startled he gave gate no no sign Go 00 to hell he exclaimed harshly har hl With a ghastly gha tl effort the man made his retort He held Up tip his blood Im going all right I know I that he lie gasped gaped with a curse but Ill come tome om e back for you Sinclair unshaken stood his ground Ha H repeated his more vie vio violently but Stevens swallowing stole out of af hearing As he be disappeared a atrain atrain atrain train whistled In the west weaL CHAPTER II i At Smoky Creek Karc Kait crew foreman came running ever aver to him from fr a pile of merchandise that had hail been set sot off the right of way wayon on the wagon road ro d for far loot the superintendents car com corn coming comIng ing lug aint a t it Murray he across the creek at the approaching i train What of it returned Sinclair Why y were Just loading the team The incoming train an engine with a away away way WB car two to fiats flats and the Ute Bear Dance derrick slowed up u at one end of the wreck while Sinclair and his foreman talked Three men could be seen get getting getting ting out of the way car McCloud the superintendent and Reed Young the Scotch and Bill Dancing A gang of at filed slowly out aut after them The leaders of ot the party part made their way down dawn the curve curte and Sinclair with ith Karg met them at the point P McCloud asked questions about the wreck and the of getting the track clear and while they talked Sinclair sent Karg to get et the new derrick into action Sinclair then asked Mc McCloud McCloud Ic Cloud to walk with him up the track to see Bee where the cars had left eft the rail The two men showed in contrast as they the stepped along the ties McCloud was not alone younger and bow below height his ils broad br ad Stet Stetson Stetson son lIOn hat bat flattened fl him somewhat His movement was deliberate beside be ide Sin clairs litheness and his face though burned by b sun and wind nd was boyish while was strongly lined Just Juat a moment suggested McCloud mildly as Sinclair hastened past p st the goods piled plied In the wagon road Whose Those team Is that Sinclair The road fol followed followed followed lowed the right of ar way was wa where they stood steed and a team of heavy mutes mules was pulling a loaded ranch wa wagon wason Wagon gon son up the grade In le when McCloud spoke Sinclair answered cordially my 11 m team from over on tm the Frenchman I picked them up at Denver Nice mules McCloud aint they Give me mules mule every time for foz heavy work If It I 1 had Just a hundred more mare of em the company could have bave my Job what Yes hats the tile stuff they are haul baul hauling baulIng ing lag Thal a little stuff mashed up in inthe Inthe Inthe the merchandise car ear theres tI s some to tobacco tobacco tobacco bacco there andA andt and d little wine I guess g e eThe The cases are all smashed I Lets look at It ItOh ItOh ItOh Oh theres nothing there that any good McCloud I Lets Let look at it IL ILAs I As Bill Dancing D and Young walked behind the two men toward the wagon Dancing made extraordinary efforts to wink at the a good story about the mules mui s coming from aint it he muttered Yount Youn unwilling to commit himself elt stopped to light his hi pipe When he be and Dancing DancIn joined Sinclair and McCloud the talk between the superintendent and the wrecking boss bog had bad become ani ant animated animated mated I always alway do something for my m men out of a wreck when I r can the way I tt et t the U work out aut of them Sin Sinclair Sinclair clair was WM saying A little Mule stuff like this he added nodding toward the wagon handy baad for presents pr and the company get any salvage out oat of It anyway anway I 1 get the value a dozen docen Um tUnes m s over In quick work Look there Sinclair pointed to where the naked men man heaved and wrenched in the I sun lUlL Where here could you get white men mento meno to to o work like that If you ou Jolly joIl them along once in a while What You been here long lang McCloud smiled Sinclair laying a hand with heavy affection on the young mans shoulder houlder Ask an alt any man on the divi division division sion slon who wh gets sets the work out of his bIB men who gets the wrecks cleaned up and the track cleared Aint that what you yau youa want a ant Certainly Sinclair no man that eer ever saw you handle a wreck would undertake to do do it better Then all this fuss about We Weye Weve e been o over er all this matter be before before before fore as you know The claim depart department department ment wont stand for this looting that thatIs la Is the whole hole story stor Here are ten or twelve eases cases of champagne on your I wagon soiled a little but worth a lot lotof lotof of ot money That was a mistake loading that up I admit It it was carelessness Here is one whole whale case of at cigars and pert part of another continued McCloud climbing from one wheel to another of ot the wagon wagan There Them is a thousand dol lars Jars in IR this load I know youve got good men Sinclair If It they the are not get ting paid as aft a they the should be give them time and a half or double time but put It in m the pay checks check The freight loss and damage account increased Inere sed per percent percent percent cent last year No railroad can tan keep that rate up and last Sin Sinclair Sinclair Sinclair clair Hang the company The claim agents are an a pack of thieves cried Sinclair Look here McCloud a pay check to a man sick corn com compared pared with a 2 bottle of af good wine When one of your men is sick and I I needs wine let me know returned I McCloud Ill see ee that he gets It Your men dont wear silk dresses do they be asked pointing to another case oase of goods P under lInder the Ute drivers seat seaL Have that stuff ture all hauled haul d back and loaded into a box car on track Not by b a damned sight r exclaimed Sinclair He turned to his ranch dri driver driver ver Barney Barn y You haul that stuff where you were told to fo haul it Barney Then You and I may mar as aa aswell aswell well have an nit understanding right here he said as McCloud walked to th head of af the mutes mules By B all means and Ill begin by coun that order onIer right now 11 OW Take your load straight back to that car di directed directed directed McCloud pointing P up the track Barney a ranch hand with a cigarette face looked at McCloud Sinclair raised a finger at the boy bo You drive straight ahead where f J toW to you to drive I dont propose to have ve my affairs interfered with by you ou or anybody else McCloud ud You and I can settle this thing ourselves he added walking toward the Get away avav from those mules yelled Barney at the same moment cracking his whip McClouds dull eyes hardly lightened as he looked at the driver Dont swing your whip this Way my boy bo I Isaid he lw said hold quietly of the near bridle I Drop that bridle roared Sinclair Ill drop your yew mules In their tracks if they move one foot forward farward Dancing unhook those tho e traces said Mccloud peremptorily Dump the wine out of ot that wagon box Young Then he turned to Sinclair and pointed P to the wreck Get back to your work The sun marked the five men rooted for an instant on the hillside Dancing Jumped at the traces trace Reed Young clambered over the wheel and an Sin Sinclair Sinclair Sinclair clair livid faced McCloud With a bitter denunciation of ot Interlopers claim agents and fresh railroad men generally Sinclair swore 1 would not go back to work and a case c se ot of wine crashing to the ground infuriated him He turned on an his heel and started for fr forthe forthe the wreck Call off the men he yelled to Karg at the derrick The foreman pas paSE ed d the word The dropping their hooks and challis chains in some surprise moved out aut of the wreck reck wreckage wreckage age The and laborers gathered around the foreman f reman and followed him toward Sinclair I I I I I Bo Boys Bos s cried Sinclair weve got a anew anew anew new superintendent a college guy You know what they are the com corn company company pany has bas tried em before They draw the salaries and we do the work This Thill one down is making his little Ettie kick about the few pickings we get out of ot our Jobs You can go back to your work or 01 you OU can c stand right here with me till we get our rights What Half Hair a do doz n men began n talking at once The from below belo H It wiper with the visor Isor of ofa ofa a Ii greasy gy cap cocked over his ear stuck his head between b tween the uprights |