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Show V WHISPEBJ 3. T""""V Frank H. Speaeman D II I 1 LSTDATIDN.S BY ANDRET COPrfilCHT 1908 BY o B0WLEc5 CHA3 afRJBNCR'j CHAPTER I. The Wrecking Boss. News of the wreck at Smoky Creek reached Medicine Bend from Point of Rocks at five o'clock. Sinclair, In person, wag overseeing the making up of bis wrecking train, and the yard, usually quiet at that hour of the morning, was alive with the hurry of men and engines. In the trainmaster's room of 1 the weather-beate- n headquarters build- ing nicknamed by railroad men "The Wickiup," early keen-eyetrainmen lounged on the tables and In chairs discussing the reports from Point of Rocks, and among s and messengers them moved in and out. Two minutes after they bad their orders and were pulling out of the upper yard, with right of to Point of way over everything Rocks. The wreck bad occurred Just west of the creek. A fast freight had left the train, double-headetrack on the long curve around the bill, and when the wrecking train backed through Ten Shed cut the sun streamed over the heaps of jammed and twisted cars strung all the way from the point of the curve to the foot of Smoky bill. The crew of the train that lay In the ditch walked slowly up the track to where the wreckers bad pulled up, and the freight conductor asked for Sinclair. Men rigging the derrick pointed to the hind car. The conductor, swinging up the caboose steps, made bis way inside among the men that were passing out tools. The air within was bluish-thic- k with tobacco smoke, but through the haze the frelghtman saw facing him, In the far corner of the den-lik- e interior, a man seated behind an old dining-ca- r table, finishing bis breakfast; one glimpse was enough to Identify the dark beard of Sinclair, foreman of the bridges and boss of the wrecking gang. Beside him stood a steaming coffee tank, and in bis right hand he held an enormous tin cup that he was about to raise to bis mouth when be saw the freight conductor. With a laugh, Sinclair threw up bis left band and beckoned blm over. Then he shook bis bair Just a little, tossed back bis head, opened an unusual mouth, drained the cup at a gulp, and curslpg the freight-ma- n fraternally, exclaimed: "How many cars have you ditched this corners-sleepy-fa- ced, d crew-caller- east-boun- d time?" d clair. With the box cars piled 40 feet high on the track, the conductor was too eld a hand to begin a controversy. "Our time's fast," was all he said. Sinclair rose and exclaimed: "Come on!" And the two, leaving the car, started up the track. The wrecking boss paid no attention to bis companion, as they forged ahead, but where the train had bit the curve he scanned the track as be would a blue print "They'll have your scalp for this," be declared, abruptly. ' "I reckon they will." , "What'B your name?" "Stevens." "Looks like all day for you, doesn't It? No matter; I guess I can help you , - Where the merchandise cars lay, below the switch, the train crew knew that a tramp had been caught. At Intervals they heard groans under the wreckage, which was piled high there. Sinclair stopped at the derrick, and the freight conductor went on to where bis brakeman had enlisted two of Sinclair's giants to help got out the tramp. A brake beam bad crushed the man's legs, and the pallor of his face showed that he was hurt internally, but he was consefous and moaned softly. . The men had started to carry him to the way car wbrn Sinclair came up, asked what they were doing, and ordered them back to the wreck. They hastily laid the tramp down. "Out be wants water," protested a brakeman who was walking behind, carrying his arm in a sling. "Water!" bawled Sinclair. "Have my men got nothing to do but carry a tramp to water? Get ahead there and help unload those refrigerators. He'll find water fast enough. Lot the damned hobo crawl down to the creek after self smiled. "I like to see men loyal to their bosses," he said, ly. "I wouldn't give much for a man that wouldn't stick to bis boss If he thought him right. But a question has come up here, boys, that must be settled once for all. This wreck-lootinon the mountain division is going to stop right here at this particular wreck. On that point there Is no room for discussion. Now, any man that agrees with me on that matter may step over here and I'll discuss with him any other grievance. If what I Bay about looting Is a grievance, it can't be discussed. Is there any man that wants to come over?" No man good-nature- d stirred. "Sinclair, you've got good men," continued McCloud, unmoved. "You are leading them Into pretty deep water. There's a chance yet for you to get them out of serious trouble if you think as much of them as they do of you. Will you advise them to go back to work all except Karg?" Sinclair glared In high humor. "Oh, I couldn't do that! I'm discharged!" f he protested, bowing low. re"I don't want to be overhasty turned McCloud. "This is a serious business, as you know better than they do, and there will never be as good a ttme to fix It up as now. There Is a chance for you, I say, Sinclair, to take hold if you want to now." ter!" "Why,.' I'll take hold If you'll take "Hello, old boy, how the devil did your nose out of my business and you get here?" exclaimed Stevens, re agree to keep It out." treating In alarm. "In there any man bere that wants "Water!" to go back to work for the company?" Stevens stepped to the butt and continued McCloud, evenly. It was "Water!" Bawled Sinclair, "Have My Men Got Nothing to Do But Carry filled a cup. ', Tbe tramp's eyes were to Water?" one man against 30; McCloud saw Tramps closed. Stevens poured the water there was not tbe shadow of a chance over his face; then he lifted the man's "You drive straight ahead where I told to win the , "Let's look at It" strikers over. "This lets head and put a cupful to bis Hps. "Oh, there's nothing there that's you to drive. I don't propose to have all of you out, you understand, boys," ' "Is that hobo alive yet?" asked Sin- any good, McCloud." or affairs with Interfered my by you he added; "and you can never work " clair, coming back smoking a cigar. "Let's look at it." anybody else, McCloud. You and I again for the company on this division "What does he want now? Water? As Bill Qanclng and Young walked can settle this thing ourselves," he if you don't take hold now." Don't waste any time on him." behind tbe two men toward the wagon, added, walking straight toward the exclaimed Sinclair, better "Boys," "It's bad luck refusing water," mut- Dancing made extraordinary efforts to superintendent humored every moment, "I'll guaran tered Stevens, holding tbe cup. "Get away from those mules! wink at tbe roadmaster. "That's a tee you work on this division when all "He'll be dead In a minute," growled good story about the mules coming yelled Barney at the same moment, the fresh superintendents are run out Sinclair. from Denver, ain't It?" he muttered. cracking his whip. of the country, and I'll lay this matter Tbe sound of bis voice roused the Young, unwilling to commit himself, McCIoud's dull eyes hardly lightened before Bucks himself, and don't you failing man to a fury. He opened bis stopped to light bis pipe. When be as be looked at tbe driver. "Don't forget It!" bloodshot eyes, and with tbe dregs of and Dancing Joined Sinclair and Mc- swing your whip this way, my boy,' "You will have a chilly Job of it." an ebbing vitality cursed Sinclair with Cloud tbe talk between tbe superin- he said, laying hold quietly of the near McCloud. interposed a frenzy that made Stevens draw back. tendent and the wrecking boss bad be- bridle. "So will you, my hearty, before you If Sinclair was startled he gave no come animated. "Drop that bridle!" roared Sinclair, get trains running past .here, "I always do something for my men "IH drop your mules in their tracks sign. "Go to hell!" be exclaimed, the wrecking boss. "Come on, out of a wreck when I can; that's the If they move one foot forward. Dan harshly. With a ghastly effort the man made way I get the work out of them," Sin- clng, unhook those traces," said Mc- boys." The disaffected men drew off. The bis retort. He held up his blood-soakeclair was saying. "A little stuff like Cloud, peremptorily. "Dump the wine wagon, Its load scattered on emptied I "I'm all be know toward tbe of box. out that wagon fingers. going this," added, nodding right Young." Then the ground, stood deserted on the hill that," he gasped, with a curse, "but I'll wagon, "comes handy for presents, he turned to Sinclair and pointed to side, and the mules drooped in the come back for you!" and tbe company couldn't get any sal- tbe wreck. "Get back to your work.' Bill Dancing, a giant and a heat. The sun marked the five men rooted Sinclair, unshaken, stood bis ground. vage out of It, anyway. I get the one, stood lone guard over dangerous He repeated his imprecation more vio- value a dozen times over In quick for an instant on the hillside. Dan the and Young had been called loot, lently; but Stevens, swallowing, stole work. Look there!" Sinclair pointed cing jumped at the traces, Reed Young over by McCloud. "How many men out of hearing. As he disappeared, a to where the naked men heaved and clambered over the wheel, and Sin have you got with you, Reed?" wrenched In the sun. "Where could clair, livid, raced McCloud. train whistled in the west. . With a "Eleven." men white to like work that bitter denunciation of Interlopers, you get "How long will It take them to clean if you didn't Jolly them along once claim agents, and "fresh" railroad men CHAPTER II. this mess with what help we can up In a while? What? You haven't been generally, Sinclair swore he would not run In this afternoon?" here long, McCloud," smiled Sinclair, go back to work, and a case of wine At Smoky Creek. Young studied the prospect before Karg, Sinclair's crew foreman, came laying a band with heavy affection on crashing to the ground Infuriated him replying. "They're green at this sort man's the shoulder. "Ask young any He turned on his heel and started for of running over to him from a pile of thing, of course; they might be merchandise that had been set off tbe man on the division who gets the the wreck. "Call off the men!" he yelled fussing here till noon, I'm right of way on the wagon road for work out of his mea who gets the to Karg at the derrick. The foreman afraid; perhaps till night, loot. "That's the superintendent's car wrecks cleaned up and the track passed the word. The derrlckmen, Mr. McCloud." , cleared. what that .Ain't want?" in chains you hooks and their dropping coming, alnt It, Murray?" be cried, won't do!" The two men "That "Certainly, Sinclair; no man that some surprise, moved out of the wreck' stood for a moment In a study. "The looking across the creek at the apever saw you handle a wreck would age. The ax men and laborers gathered train. proaching merchandise Is all unloaded, isn't it?" undertake to do It ftetter." around the foreman and followed blm said McCloud, reflectively. "Get your "What of it?" returned Sinclair. "Then what's all this fuss about?" toward Sinclair.4 "Why, we're Just loading tbe team." men here and bring a water bucket "We've been over all this matter beThe iucomlng train, an engine with "Boys," cried Sinclair, "we've got a with you." as deknow. The claim fore, you new superintendent, a college guy. a way car, two flats, and the Dear McCloud walked down to the en Dance derrick, slowed up at one end of partment won't stand for this looting; You know what they are; the com- gine of the wrecking train and gave the wreck while Sinclair and his fore- that's the whole story. Here are ten pany has tried 'em before. They orders to the train and engine crews. man talked. Three men could be seen or twelve cases of champagne on your draw the salaries and we do the work. The best of the refrigerator cars had getting out of the way car McCloud, wagon soiled a little, but worth a lot This one down here now Is making his been rerallod, and they were pulled to of money." the superintendent, and Reed Young, little kick about the few pickings wo a safe distance from the wreck. Young "That was a mistake loading that get out of the Scotch roadmastcr, and mil Dan pur Jobs. ' You can go back brought the bucket, and McCloud to your work or you can stand right cing. A gang of trackmen filed slowly up; I admit It; It was Karg's pointed to the caskful of brandy. out after them. here with me till we get our rights. "Throw that brandy, over the wreck "Here Is one whole case of cigars What?" The leaders of tho party made their age. Reed." Half a dozen men began talking at way down the curve, and Sinclair, with and part of another," continued McThe roadmaster started. "Burn the one from wheel to once. The derrlckman from below, a Karg, met theni at the point. Mc Cloud, climbing whole thing up, eh?" Cloud asked questions about' the another of the wagon. "There Is a hatchet-facewiper, with the visor of "Everything on the track." 1 know In thousand dollars load! this a greasy cap cocked over his ear, wreck and the chances of getting the "Bully! It's a shame to waste the track clear, and while they talked you've got good men, Sinclair. If stuck bis head between the uprights liquor, but it's Sinclair's fault. Here, Sinclair sent Karg to get the new they are not getting paid as they and caJled out shrilly: "'hat's er boys, scatter this stuff where it will derrick into action. Sinclair then should be, give them time and a half matter, Murray?" and a few men catch good, and touch her off. Every asked McCloud to walk with him up or double time, but put It In the pay laughed. Barney had 'deserted the thing goes the whole pile. Burn up the track to see where the cars had checks. The freight loss and damage mules. Dancing and Young, with small everything; that's orders. If you can account 200 Increased per cent, last regard for loss or damage, were left the rail. The two men showed In get a few rails here, now, I'll give you contrast as tbey stepped along tbe year. No railroad company can keep emptying the wagon like deckhands, a track by sundown, Mr. McCloud, in and rate that Sinclair." up last, ties. McCloud was not alone younger for In a fight such as now appeared spite of Sinclair and tbe devil." The claim Imminent, "Hang tho company! and below Sinclair's height; his broad possession of the goods Tbe remains of many cars lay In Stetson hat flattened him somewhat. agents are a pack of thieves," cried even on the ground seemed vital to heaps along tho curve, and the track "Look Sinclair. here, McCloud, what's prestige. McCloud waited only long men like firebugs ran In and out of His movement was deliberate beside Sinclair's littleness., and his face, a pay check to a man that's sick, com- enough to assure the emptying of the them. A tongue of flume leaped from though burned by sun and wind, was pared with a bottle of good wine?" wagon, and then followed Sinclair to tho middle of a of stock cars. In "When one of your men is Hick and where he bad assembled his men. Ave minutes thepile boyish, while Sinclair's was strongly wreck was burning; needs me let returned wine, know," lined. "Sinclair, put your men bnck to work.'S In ten minutes tho flames were crack "Just a moment," suggested Me McCloud; "I'll see that he gets It. "Nut till we. know just how we ling fiercely; then in another Instant Cloud, mildly, as Sinclair hastened Your men don't wear silk dresses, do stand," Sinclair answered. Insolently, tho wreck burst Into a conflagration past the goods piled In the wagon they?" he asked, pointing to another lie continued to speak, but McCloud that rose hlustng and seething a bun road. "Whose team Is that, Sinclair?" case of goods under the driver's seat. t li ned to the men. "Boys, go back to dred feet straight up in the air. The road followed the right of way "Have that stuff all hauled buck and y mr work. Your boss and I can set-- t From where they stood, Sinclair's where they stood, and a four'horse loaded into a box car on track." our own differences. I'll seo that men looked on. They were non "Not by a damned sight!" exclaimed team of heavy mules was pulling a ( a lose nothing by working hard." plused, but their boss had not lost his loaded ranch wagon up tho grade J'nelalr. Ho turned to his ranch ditv-ti- . "And you'll see we make nothing, nerve. Ho walked back to McCloud, Barney Ucbstock. ."You haul that won't you?" suggested Karg. when McCloud spoke. "You're going to send us back to Sinclair answered cordially. "That's stuff where you were told to haul it, "I'll see that every man In the crew Medicine Bend with the car, I sup my team from over on tho Frenchman. Barney." Then: "Yon and I miiy as gets twice whut is coming to him all peso?" I picked them up at Denver. Nice I well have an understanding right except you, Karg. I discharge you Nov on McCloud spoke amiably. mules, McCloud, ain't they? Give mo here," ho said, as McCloud walked now. Sinclair, will you go back to your life. Take your personal stuff mules every time for heavy work. If to the head of the mules. work?" out of the car and tell your men to I had Just a hundred more of 'em tbe "No!" "By all means, and I'll begin by take theirs; then get off the train and "Then take your time. Any men off the right of way." company could have my Job what?" countermanding that order right now. "Yes. What's that stuff thry are Take your load straight back to that that want to go back to work may "Going to turn us loose on Red cur," directed McCloud. pointing up stop over to tho switch," added Mc- desert, are you?" asked Sinclair, hauling?" "That's a little Bluff mashed up In the track. Barney, a ranch band with Cloud. stead ly. the merchandise car; there's some a rlKareite fueo, looked surlily at McNot a man moved. Sinclair and Karg "You've turned yourselves loose." tfiero and a little wine, I guess. Cloud. smiled at each other, and with no ap"Wouldn't give a man a The cases are all smashed." Sinclair raised a finger at the boy. parent embarrassmout McCJoud him would you?" , "Come to my office In Medicine and I'll talk to you about It," returned McCloud, Impassively. "Well, boys," roared Sinclair, going bock to his followers, "we can't ride on this road now! But I want to tell you there's something to eat for every one of you over at my place on the Crawling Stone, and a place to sleep and something to drink," he added, cursing McCloud once more. Bend CHAPTER III, ' Dlcksle. The wreckers, drifting In the blaza of the sun across the broad alkali val ley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fi- r behind them. No . breath of wind stirred it. With the stilluess of a sig nal column it rose, thin and black. and high In tbe air spread motionless. like a huge umbrella, above Smoky creek. Reed Young bad gone with an and euglne to wire for McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent Itself, had retired to the shade of the hill. . Reclining against a rock with bis legs crosiicd, be bad clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing In the dying heat of the fire. The Bound of hoofs aroused him, and looking below he saw a horsewoman reining up near his men at tbe wreck. She rode an American horse, thin and rangy, and the experienced way in wh.'ch she checked him drew him back almost to bla haunches. But McCIoud's eyes were fixed on the slender figure of the rider. Her boot flashed In the stirrup while she spoke to the nearest man, and ber horsi stretched his neck .and nosed the brown alkali-grasthat spread thinly along the road. To McCloud she was something like an apparition. He eat spellbound until the trackman indiscreetly pointed him out, and tbe eyes of the visitor, turning bis way, caught blm with bis hands on tbe rock In an attitude open ly curious. She turned immediately away, but McCloud rose and started s ... d The trainman, a sober-facefellow, answered, dryly: "All I had." "Running, too fast, eh?" glared Sin- out." where they had walked In the mornon ing. He pointed to flange-mark- s the ties. "See there there's where the flrBt wheels left the track, and they left on the Inside of the curve; a thin flange under the first refrigerator broke. I've got the wheel itself back there for evidence. They can't talk fast running against that. Damn a private car line, anyway! Give me a cigar haven't got any? Great guns, man, there's a case of Key Wests open up ahead; go fill your pockets and your grip. Don't be bashful; you've got friends on the division, if you are Irish, eh?" "Sure, only I don't smoke," said Stevens, with diplomacy. don't you? "Well, you drink, There's a barrel of brandy open at the switch." The brandy cask "stood near the water butt, and the men dipped out of both with cups. They were working now half naked at the wreck. The sun bung in a cloudless sky, the air was still, and along the right of way huge wrecking fires added to the scorching beat. Ten feet from the water butt lay a flattened mass of rags. Crusted In smoke and blood and dirt, crushed by a vise of beams an j wheels out of human sen blance, and left now an aimless, twitching thing, the tramp clutched at Stevens' foot as he passed. "Wa it" The tramp was too far gone for re sentment; he bad fainted when they laid blm down, and bis eyes, staring at the sky, gave ne evidence that he heard anything. The sun rose hot, for In the Rod desert sky there is rarely a cloud. Sinclair took the little hillknearest the switch to bellow bis orders from, running down among the men whenever necessary to help carry them out. Within 30 minutes, though apparently no impression had. been made on the great heaps of wrenched nud splintered equipment, Sinclair had the Job . In band. The freight conductor, Stevens, afraid of so man, hnd come up to speak to Sinclair, and Sinclair, with a smile, laid a cordial bund on bis shoulders. "Stevens, it's all right. I'll get you out of this. Come here." Ho led the conductor down the track half-glaze- , tlu-pas- ' She Was Something Like an Apparition. down the hill. The horse's head wai pulled up, and there were signs of departure. He quickened his steps Once he saw, or thought he saw, the rider's head so turned that' ber eyes might have commanded one approaching from his quarter; yet he could catch no further glimpse of her face. A second surprise awaited him. Just rs she seemed about to ride away, she dropped lightly from the horse to the ground, and he saw how confident In figure she was. As sho began to try her a greeting. saddle-girths- , McCloud attempted She could not Ignore bis bat, held rather high above his head as he approached, but she gave him the slightest nod in return one that made no attempt to explain why she was there or where she bad come from. "Pardon me," ventured McCloud, "have you lost your way?" Ho was immediately conscious that he had said tbe wrong thing. Tbe expression of her eyes Implied that It was foolish to suppose sho was lost, but she only answered: "I saw the smoke and feared tbe bridge was on fire." Something In ber voice made blm almost sorry he had intervened; It she stood In need of help of any sort It was not apparent, and ber gaze was confusing. "I presume Mr. Sinclair Is here?" she said, presently. "I am sorry to say bo is not" "He usually has charge of tbe wrecks, I thluk. What a dreadful fire!" she murmured, looking down tbe track. "Was It. a passenger wreck?" She turned abruptly on McCloud to ask the quustlon. Her eyes were brown, too, ho saw, and a doubt assailed him. Was she pretty? "Only a freight wreck," be an' swered. "I thought If there were passengers hurt I could send help from the ranch. Were you tho conductor?" "Fortunately not." "And no one was hurt?" "Only a tramp. We are burning tha wreck to clear the track." , (TO BE CONTINUED.) |