Newspaper Page Text
10 THE HUKLINOTON FREE TRESS 'AND TIMES: THURSDAY, dVlSY 22, 3JIW. CHAPTER I. The Wrecking Boss. NewR of llin wreck at Smoky Crck reached Mcdicln" Rend from Point of nocks at five o'clock. Sinclair, In per son, was overseeing the making up of his wrecking train, nnd 'he yard, usu ally quiet at that hour of the morning, was alive with the hurry of men and engines. In the trainmaster's room of tho weather-beaten headquarters build ing nicknamed by nilroad men "The Wickiup," early comets sleepy-faced, lsecn-eycd trainmen lounged on tho tables and In chairs discussing the re ports from Tolnt of Mocks, and anion? thorn crew-callerii and messengers moved In and out. Two minute? alter they had their orders anil were nulling out of tho upper yard, with right of way over everything to Point of Kocks. The wreck had occurred Junt west 5f the creels A fat east-bound freight Irr.ln, doiibWteadcd. had left tho track 0:1 th lon; curve around tho hill, and when the wrecking train backed through Ten Shod cut tho sun ltreamed over the hcapa nf jammed ind t wlited car? s'nii; all tho way trom the point ( f the cut vc to the foot if Smoky hill. The cr-w of tho train Mjct lay In the ditch walked slowly ip the trac'-t to where th- wreckers had pull"!' up, and the freight endue, tor asked for Sinclair. Men rigging tho derrick pointed to the hind car. Tho conducto-, swinging up tho ca boose steps, made his way Inside among the men that were passing out tools. The air within to bluish thick with tobacco smoke, but through the haze the frelghtman saw facing him, In the far corner of the den-llle Interior, a man seated behind an old dining-car table, finishing hl3 breakfast; one glimpse was enough to 'dentlfy the dark beard of Sinclair, breman of the bridges and bess of tho rrecklng nans. Beside him stood a steaming coffeo lank, and in his right hand ho held an mormous tin cup that he was about to false to his mouth when ho saw tho Tolght conductor. With a laugh, Sin Jair threw it) his left hand and bedi med him over. Then ho shook his ialr just a little, tossed back his head, ipened an unusual mouth, drained tho Aip at a gulp, and cursing tho freight nan fraternally, eclaln.d: "How tiany cars have you ditched this line?" The trainman, a sober-faced fellow, inswered, dryly: "All I had." "RunnlnR too fast, eh?" glared Sin clair. With the box cars plied 40 feet high m the track, the conductor was too )ld a hand to he-jIn a controversy. Our time's fast," was all he said. Sinclair rose and exclaimed: "Come m!" And the two, leaving the car, started up the track. The wrecking boss paid no attention to his com panion as they forged ahead, but where tho train had hit tho curve ho icanned tho track as he would a blue print. "They'll have your scalp for tills," ho declared, abruptly. "I reckon thoy will." "Whnt's your namo?" "Stevens." "Looks liko all day for you, doesn't ItT N matter; I guess I can help you tut." Where the merchandise oars lay, elow tho switch, the train crew know lhat a tramp had been caught. At ntorval3 they heard groars under tho tfreckngo. which was piled high there. Sinclair stopped at the derrick, and tho freight conductor went on to where his braker-ian had enlisted two of Sinclair's giants to help f.-et out tho traxap. A brake beam had crushed tho raan's legs, and the pallor of his face showed that he was hurt Internally, but he was conscious and moaned soft ly. The men had started to carry him to the way car when Sinclair camo lip, asked what they were doing, and ordered them back to the wreck. They hastily laid the tramp down. "IJut ho wants writer," rrotoated a hrakeman who was walking behind, carrying his arm in a sling. "Wator!" bawled Sinclair. 'Have my men got nothing to do but carry tramp to water? Get ahead there and help unload those refrigerators. He'll find water fast enough. Let the famncd hobo crawl down to tho creek iftor It." Tho tramp was too far gono for ro icntment; ho had fainted when thoy laid him down, and his half-glazed eyes, staring at tho sky, gave no evi dence that ho heard anything. The sun rose hot, for in tho Red lesert sky there Is rarely n cloud. Blnclalr took tho llttlo hill nearest tho switch to bellow his ordor3 from, running down amonc tho men when ircr necessary to help carry them out. Within 30 mlnute3, though apparently So Impression had boon made on tho jreat heaps of wrenched and splin tered equipment, Sinclair had tho Job In hand. Tho freight conductor, Stovons, kfrald of no man, had come up to (peak to Sinclair, and Sinclair, with a smllo, laid a cordial hand on his Ihouldcrs. "Slovens, It's nil right. I'll let you out of this. Come hero." Ho led tho conductor down tho track where tbey had walked In tho morn ing. Ho pointed to flangomarks on the ties. "Sou there there's where tho first wheels left tho track, and tbey left on tho Inside of tho curvo; l thin flang under tho first refrigera tor broke. I'vo got the wheel itself back there for evidence. They can't talk far.t running against that. Damn a prlvato car llu", anyway! Glvo mo a cigar haven't got any? Great guni, man, thoro'o n case nf 'ley V sta Cpon up ahead; go Mil your pocket3 and your grip. Don't bt bashful; you've got friends on tho division. If JMJW Ml III. ionsJsAdeBowles Cbai&'Nmi'rUflir. you nro Irish, eh?" "Sure, only 1 don't rmoko," said Stevens, with diplomacy, "Well, you drink, don't you? Tiu-ro's a barrel of brandy open at tho switch." The brandy cak stood up-ended near the water butt, and tho men dipped out of both with cups. They were working now half naked at the wreck. The sun hung in a cloudless sky, the air was still, and along tho right of way huge wrecking fires lidded to the scorching heat. Ten feet from the water butt lay a flattened "Water!" Dawlsd Sinclair, "Have My Men Got Nothing to Do Dut Carry Tramps to Water?" mass of rags Crusted in smoke and blood and dirt, crnrhed by a vise ."f beams and wheels out of human sem blance, and Wt now an aimless, twitching thing, tho tramp clutched at Stevens' foot as ho passed. "Wa ter!" i "Hello, old h'iy, how tho devil did you get here?" exclaimed Stevens, re treating In alarm. I "Water!" I Stevens stepped to tho butt and fdlcd a cup. Tho tramp's eyes were closed. Stevens poured the water over his face; then he lifted the man's head and put a cupful to his Hps. j 'Is that hobo alive yet?" asked Sin clair, coming back smoking a cigar. "What docs ho want now? Water? Don't waste any time on him." "It's bad luck refusing water," mut tered Stevens, holding tho cup. j "He'll be dead In a minute," growled Sinclair. The sound of his voice roused the failing man 'o a fury. He opened his bloodshot eye?, and with the dregs of an ebbing vitality cursed Sinclair with a frenzy that made Stevens draw back. If Sinclair was startled ho gave no sign. "Go to hell!" he exclaimed, harshly, , With a ghastly effort tho man made t his retort. Ho hi Id up his blood-soaked fingers. "I'm going all right I know I that," ho gasped, with a curse, "but I'll , come back for yen!'' Sinclair, unshaken, stood his ground. Ho repeated Ms imprecation more vio lently; but Stevens, swallowing, stole out of hearing. An he disappeared, a train whistled In the west. CHAPTER II. At Smoky Crc;k. . Karg, Sinclair's crew foreman, camo running over to him from p. pile of merchandise that had been set off the right of way on tho wagon road for loot. "That's the superintendent's car coming, ain't It, Murray?" ho cried, looking across tho creek at tho ap proaching train. "What of It?" returned Sinclair. "Why, wo'ro Just loading tho team." Tho incoming train, an englno with a way car, two flats, and the Dear Dance derrick, slowed up nt ono end of tho wreck while Sinclair and his fore man talked. Three nion could bo seen getting out cf tho way car McCloud, tho superintendent, and Heed Young, the Scotch roadmaster, and BUI Dan- cing. A gang of trackmen filed slowly out after them. ! , The leaders of tho party mndo their way down tho curve, and Sinclair, with I Karg, met them at tho point. Mc- 1 'Cloud asked questions about tho f wreck nnd tho chances of getting tho track clear, and while thoy talked Sinclair sent Knrg to get tho now derrick Into action. Sinclair then asked McCloud to walk with him up (tho track to see where the cars had left the rail. The two men showed In contrast ns they stepped along tho ties. McCloud was not alone younger und below Sinclair's height; his broad Stotson hat flattened him somewhat. Ills movement was deliberate bosldo I Sinclair's llthenesa, and his face, , though burned by sun nnd wind, was boyish, while Sinclair's was strongly lined. "Jufit a moment," augmented Mc Cloud, mildly, aa Sinclair hastened past tho gcod3 piled In the wagon road. "Whoso team Is that, Sinclair?" Tho road followed the right of way whom they stood, aud a four-horso team of heavy mules was pulling a loaded ranch wagon up tho grade when McCloud crokc. Sinclair nnswurcd cordially. "That's my team from over on tho Frenchman. I I picked (hem up nt Denver. Nlco ' mules, McCloud, ain't they? Glvo mo mules every llmo for heavy work, If I had just a hundred morn of 'otn tho company could tmvo my Job what?" "Yes. What's lli.it c.tuff they nro hauling?" "Thnt'u a little stuff mashed up In Iho merchant!!"' ca-; there's gumo to bacco tbero end a little wlim, 1 cuces. Tho oantiH nro r 11 ciiiUahed." "Let's look at It." "Oh, there's nothing thoro that's any good, McCloud." "Let's look nt it." As HIII Dancing and Young walked behind the two men toward tho wagon, Dancing mndo extraordinary efforts to wltdc nt tho roadmaster. "That's a good story about the mules coming from Denver, ain't It?" he muttorcd. Young, unwilling to commit himself, stopped to light his pipe. When he and Dancing joined Sinclair and Mc Cloud tho talk between tho superin tendent nnd the wrecking boss had be come animated, "I always do something for my men out of a wreck when I can; that's the way I get tho work nut of thorn," Sin clair was saying. "A llttlo stuff llko this," he added, nodding toward the wagon, "cornea handy for presents, and the company couldn't get any sal vage out of It, anyway. I get tho value a dozen times over In quick work. Look there!" Sinclair pointed to where the naked men heaved and wrenched In the sun. "Whero could you get white men to work like that If you didn't jolly them along onco In n while? What? You haven't been here Ions, McCloud," smiled Sinclair, laying a hand with heavy affection on the young -".an's shoulder. "Ask any man on the division who gets tho work out of his men who gets the wrecks cleaned up and tho track cleared. Ain't that what you want?" "Certainly, Sinclair; no man that ever i;nw you handle a' wreck would undertake to do It setter." "Then what'3 all this fuss about?" "We've been over all this matter be forp, nn you know. The claim de partment won't stand for this looting; that's the whole story. Here are ten or twelve cases of champagne on your wagon soiled a little, but worth a lot of money." "Thnt was a mistake loading that up; 1 admit it; It was Karg's careless ncrs." "Here is or.c white cac of cigars and part of another," continued Mc Cloud, climbing from one wheel to another of tho wagon. "There Is a thousand dollars In this tend! I know you've got good men, Sinclair. If they are rot getting paid ns they should be. give 'hem time nnd a half or double time, but put It In the pay checks. The freight loss and damage account increased 200 per cent, last year. No railroad company can keep that rato up and last, Sinclair." "Hani; tho company! The claim agents are. a pack of thieves," cried Sinclair "Look hero, McCloud, what's n pay check to a man that's sick, com pared with a bottle of good wine?" "When one of your men la sick and needs wine, let mo know," returned McCloud; "I'll see that ho gets it. Your men don't wear silk dros38, do they?" he asked, pointing to another case of goods under the driver's seat. "Have that stuff all hauled back and loaded Into a box car on track." "Not by a damned sight!" exclaimed Sinclair. Ho turned to his ranch driv er, Tiarnoy Rebstock. "You haul that atuff whero you worn told to haul it, Rarnpy." Then: "You and I may as well havo nn understanding right hero," he said, as McCloud walked to the head of the mules. "Ry all means, and I'll begin by countermanding that order right now. Take your load straight back to that enr," directed McCloud, pointing up the track. Harney, a ranch hand with a cigarette face, looked surlily at Mc Cloud. Sinclair raised a finger nt the boy. "You drive straight ahead whore I told you to drive, i don't proposo to havo my affairs Interfered with by you or anybod; else, McCloud. You and I can settle this thing ourselves," he added, walking straight toward the superintendent. "Get away from thoso mules!" yelled linrnoy at tho samo moment, cracking his whip. McCloud's dull eyes hardly lightened ss he looked nt the driver. "Don't swing your whip this way, my boy," ho said, laying holi quietly of tho near bridle. "Drop that bridle!" roared Sinclair. "I'll drop your mules In their tracks if they move qjjo foot forward. Dan cing, unhook thoso traces," said Mc-Clo-id, peiomptorlly. "Dump tho wino out of that wago.i box, Young." Then he turned to Sinclair and pointed to tho wreck. "Gat back to your work." The sun marked tho five men rooted for an instant on the hillside. Dan cing Jumped at tho traces, Reed Youns clambered over tho wheel, and Sin clair, livid, faced McCloud. With a bitter denunciation of Interlopers, claim agents, and "fresh" railroad men generally, Sinclair swore ho would not go back to work, and a caso of wino crashing to tho ground infuriated him. Ho turned on his heol and started for the wreck. "Call off the men! "ho yollcd to Karg at the derrick. The foreman passed tho word. The derrlckmen, dropping their hooks and chains in somo surprise, moved out of the wreck ago. The axmen and laborers gathered around the foroman and followed him toward Sinclair. "Rojb," cried Sinclair, "w'to got a new superintendent, a college guy. You know what they nro; the com pany has tried 'em before. They draw tho salaries and wo do the work. This one down here now la making his llttlo kick about the pw pickings we get out of our Jobs. You can go back to your work or you can stand right hero with mo till wo get our rights. What?" Half a dozen men began talking at once. Tho dorrlckman from below, a hatchet-faced wiper, with tho visor of a greasy cap cocked over his ear, stuck his head between tho uprights and called out shrilly: "What's er matter, Murray?" and a few men laughed. Rarnoy bad deserted the muleB. Dancing and Young, with small regard for los3 or damage, were emptying tho wagon like deckhands, for In a fight such as now appeared Imminent, possession of tho goods even on the ground seemed vital to prestlgn. McCloud waited only long enough to rssuro tho emptying of the wagon, nnd then followed Sinclair to whero ho had assembled his men. "Sinclair, put your men back to work." "Not till wo know Just how w stand," Sinclair answered, Insolently, Ho continued to speak, but McCloud turned to the men. "Hoys, go back to your work, Your boss and I can cot tlo our own differences, I'll see that you loso nothing by working bard." "And you'll sco wo ma!:a nothing, won't you?" suggested Karg. "I'll see that every man In the crow gets twlco what Is coming to him all except you, Knrg. I dbchnrgo you now. Sinclair, will you go back to work?" "No!" "Then tako your tlmo. Any men that want to go back to work may stop over to tho switch," added Mc Cloud. Not a man moved. Sinclair and Karg smiled at each other, and with no ap parent embarrassment McCloud him self smiled. "I like to teo men loyal to their bosses," he said, good-naturedly. "I wouldn't Glvo much for a man that wouldn't stick to his boss If ho thotight him right. Rut a question has como up hero, boys, that must be set tled once for all. This wreck-looting on the mountain division is going to stop right hero at this particular wreck. On that point there Is no room for discussion. Now, any man that agrees with mo on that matter may step over here and I'll discuss with him any other grievance. If what I say about looting Is a grievance, It can't bo discussed. Is there any man that wants to como over?" No roan stirred. "Sinclair, you've got good men," continued McCloud, unmoved. "You are leading them into pretty deep wa tor. There's a chance yet for you to get them out of serious trouble If you think as much of them as thoy do of you. Will you ndvlso them to go back to work all oxcept Karg?" Sinclair glared In high humor. "Oh, i couldn't do that! I'm discharged!" he protested, bowing tew. "I don't want to bo overhasty," re turned McCloud. "This Is a serious business, as you know bettor than thoy do, and thero will never be as good a time to fix it up as now. There is a chance for you, I say, Sin clair, to tako hold If you want to now." "Why, I'll take hold If you'll take your nose out of my business and agree to keep It out." "Io thoro any man here that wants She Was Something Like an Appar ition. to go back to work for the company?" continued McCloud, evenly. It was one man against 30; McCloud saw there was not the shadow of a chance to win tho strikers over. "This lets all of you out, you understand, boys," ho added; "and you can never work again for the company on this division if you don't take hold now." "Hoys," exclaimed Sinclair, better humored every moment, "I'll guaran tee you work on this division when all the fresh superintendents are run out of tho country, nnd I'll lay this matter before Bucks himself, and dont you forget It!" "You will have a chilly Job of it," interposed McCloud. "So will you, my hearty, before you get trains running past here," re torted the wrecking boss. "Como on, boys." The disaffected men drew off. Tho emptied wagon, Its load scatterod on the ground, stood deserted oa tho hill side, and tho mules drooped in the heat. Rill Dancing, a giant and a dangerous one, stood lone guard over tho loot, and Young had been called over by McCloud. "How many men have you got with you, Reed?" "Eleven." "How long will It tako them to clean up this mess with what help wo can run in thiB afternoon?" Young studied tho prospect before roplylng. "They're green at this sort of thing, of course, they might be fussing here till to-morrow noon, I'm afraid; perhaps till to-morrow night, Mr. McCloud." "That won't do!" Tho two men stood for a moment In a study. "The merchandise Is all unloaded, isn't it?" said McCloud, reflectively. "Get your men hero and bring a water bucket with you." McCloud walked down to the en gine of the wrecking train and gave orders to the train and engine crews. The best of the refrigerator cars had been reralled, and they were pulled to a safe distance from the wreck. Young brought the bucket, and McCloud pointed to the caskful of brandy. "Throw that brandy over tho wreck age, Reed." The roadmaster started. "Burn the whole thing up, eh?" "Everything on tha track." "Bully! It's a shame to waste the liquor, but It's Sinclair's fault. Here, boys, scatter this stuff where It will catch good, and touch her off. Every thing goes the whole pile. Rurn up everything; that's orders. If you can get a few rails here, now, I'll give you a track by sundown, Mr. McCloud, In spite of Blnclalr and the devil." The remains of many cars lay In heaps along the curve, nnd tho track men like firebugs ran In and out of them. A tongue of flamo leaped from the mlddlo of a pile of stock cars. In flvo minutes the wreck was burning; In ten minutes the flames were crack ling fiercely; then In another instant the wreck burst Into a conflagration that rose hissing and seething a hun dred feet straight up In the air. From where they stood, Sinclair's men looked on. They were non plused, but their boss had not lost bis Mm. Ho walked back to McCloud. "You're going to ssnd us back to Medicine Bend with the ear, I sun pose?" McCloud spoke amiably. "Not on vour Ufa. Tab tout r"rr-rl ..fj ont of tho cilr and ifTl your men In tak theirs; then got off tho train nnd off tho right of way." "Going to turn us looso on Red desert, aro you?" asked Sinclair, deadly. "You've turned yourselves loose." "Wouldn't glvo a man a tic-pass, would you?" "Como to my ofilce In Medicine Rend nnd I'll talk to you about It," returned McCloud, Impassively. "Well, boys," roared Sinclair, going back to his followers), "we can't ride, on this road now! Rut I want to tell you there's something to cat for ovcry one of you over nt my place on tho Crawling Stone, nnd n placo to sleep and something to drink," ho added, cursing McCloud once more. CHAPTER III. Dlckslc. The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun ncross the broad alkali val ley, saw tho smoko of tho wreck-tiro behind them. No breath of wind stirred It. With tho stillness of a sig nal column It rose, thin and blnck, and high In tho air spread motionless, like a hugo umbrella, above Smoky creek. Reed Young had gone with an engine to wlro for re-enforcemcnts, and McCloud, actlvo among tho trackmen until the conflagration spent Itself, had retired to the shade of tho hill. Reclining against a rock with hl3 legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head nnd sat looking at tho Iron writhing In the dying heat of tho Ore. The sound of hoofs aroused him, and looking bolow ho saw a horse woman reining up near bin men at tho wreck. She rodo an American horse, thin and rnngy, nnd the experienced way In which she checked him drow him back almost to his haunches. Hut McCloud's eyes wore fixed on tho slen der flguro of tho rider. Her boot flashed In the stirrup while she spoke to tho nearest man, and her horse stretched his neck and nosed tho brown alkali-grass that spread thinly along the rond. To McCloud she was something like an apparition. He sat spellbound un til the trackman Indiscreetly pointed him out, and the eyes of tho visitor, turning his way, caught him with hla hands on the rock In an attltudp open ly curlouB. Sho turned Immediately away, but McCloud rose and started down tho hill. Tho horse's head was pulled up, and there wero signs of de parture. He quickened his steps. Once ho saw, or thought he saw, the rider's head so turned that her eyes might havo commanded one approach ing from his quarter; yet he could catch no further glimpse of her face. A second surprise nwalted him. Just as she seemed nbout to rid" away, sho dropped lightly from the horse to tho ground, and he saw how confident In figure she was. As she began to try her saddle-girths, McCloud attempted a greeting. Sho could not ignoro his hat, held rather high above his head as he approached, but sho gave him the slightest nod in return one that made no attempt to explain why she was there or where she had come from. "Pardon me," ventured McCloud, "have you test your way?" He was Immediately conscious that he had said the wrong thing. The expression of her eyes implied that it was foolish to suppose 3be wa3 test, but she only answered: "I saw the smoke and feared the bridge was on fire." Something in her voice made him almost borry he had intervened; if she stood In need cf help of any sort it was not apparent, and her gazo was confusing. "I presume Mr. Sinclair is here?" she said, presently. "I am sorry to say he Is not." "He usually has charge of tho wrecks, I think. What a dreadful fire!" sho murmured, looking down the track. "Was It a passenger wreck?" Sho turned abruptly on McCloud to ask tho question. Her eyes wero brown, too. he saw. and a doubt as- Balled him. Was she pretty? "Only a freight wreck," ho an swered. "I thought If there were passengers hurt I could send help from the ranch, Wero you the conductor?" "Fortunately not." "And co ono was hurt?" "Only a tramp. We aro burning the wreck to olear the track. ' "From tp.o divide It looked like a mountain on flro. I'm sorry Mr, Sin clair Is not here." "Why, Indeed, yes, so am I." "Rccauso I know him. You aro ono of his men, I presume." "Not exactly; but Is there anything I can do " ,"Oh, thank you, nothing, except that the pretty bay colt he sont ovor to us has sprung his shoulder." "He will be sorry to hear It, I'm sure." "But wo are doing everything pos sible for him. He Is going to make a perfectly lovely horse." "And whom may I sny tho message Is from?" Though disconcerted. Mc Cloud wag regaining his wits, lie felt perfectly certain thero was no dan ger, if sho know Sinclair and lived in the mountains, but that she would Bometimo find out ho was not it con ductor. When he asked lib question she appeared slightly surprised and answered easily: "Mr. Sinclair will know It Is from Dlckslo Dunning." McCloud know her then, livery one knew Dicksle Dunning In tho h gh country. This was Dlckslo Dun ning of the great Crawling Stone ranch, most widely known of all tho mountain ranches. While his stupidity in not guessing her identity boforo overwhelmed hlra. he resolved to ex haust tho last offort to win her Inter est. "I don't know Just when I shall seo Mr. Sinclair," h annwerod, gravely, "but ho shall cerfalnly havo your message." A doubt seemed to steal over Dick sle at tho chango In McCloud's man ner. "Oh, pardon mo I thought you wore working for the company." "You are quite right, I am; but Mr. Sinclair Ib not." Her eyebrows roHo a little. "I think you aro tnlstakon, nren't you?" "It Is possible I am; but If ho Is working for the company, it la pretty certain that I am not," he continued, heaping mystification on her. "How aver, that will not provent my deliv ering the message. Ry the way. may 1 ak..whlah. Bhnnldar?" I "fllionlderr "Which shouldor Is sprung." "Oh, of courso! Tho right shoulder, and It Is sprung pretty badly, too, Cousin Lanco says. How very stupid of mo to rldo over hero for n freight wreck 1 " McCloud felt humiliated at having nothing hotter worth white to offer. "It was n very bad ono," ho ventured. "Rut not of tho kind I can bo of any help nt, I fear." McCloud smiled. "Wo aro certainly short of help." Dlckslo brought her horse's head around. She felt again of the girth as sho replied: "Not such ns I can supply, I'm nfrald." And wilh the worda Blip stepped away, as It prepar ing to mount. McCloud Intervened. "I hopo you won't go tiw:y without resting your horso. The stir 1st so hot. .Mayn't I offer you some sott or refreshment?" Dlckslo Dunning thought not. "The sun Is very warm," persisted McCloud. Diekslo smoothed her gauntlet In the assured manner natural to her. "1 am protty well used to it." Rut McCloud held on. "Several cars of fruit were destroyed In the wreck. I can offer you any quantity of grapes crates of them aro spoiling over there and pears." "Thank you, I am Jii3t from lunch con." "And I have coolud water In the car. I hope you won't refuse that, so far out in the desert." Dieksie laughed a little. "Do you cell this far? I don't; nnd I don't call this d'-sert by any means. Thank you evr so much for the water, but I'm not in the least thirsty." "It was kind of you even to think of extending help. I wish you would let me send some fruit over to your ranch. It Is only spoiling here." Dirltsie stroked tho neck of her horse- It la about IS miles to tho ranch house " "I don t call thnt far." "Oh, it Isn't,' sho returned, hastily, profpf.. lug not to notice tho look that went with the words, "except for per ishable things!" Then, aa If acknowl edging her disadvantage, she added, suin-!rr her bridle rein aroundl "I am utir;, r obligations for the offer, Just the tan. e." "At If ':st, won't you let your horse drink ' ' McCloud throw the force of nn aj iual Into his words, and Dicksle stopp'd her pieparations, and ap pealed o waver. ".I "i Is pretty ttirsty, I suppose. Haie ot; pier .y of water?" "A tenner f.ill. Had I better lead him hill ; tewn vhllo you wait up on tho i the shade?" n't I ride him down?" ' It would be pretty rough riding." "oh, ,lim goes anywhere," sho said, with her attractive indifference to sit uations. "If you don't mind helping me mount." ' With pleasure." I Sho stood waiting for his hand and McCloud stood, not knowing just what to do. She glanced at him expectant ly. The sun grew Intensely hot. j "You will have to show me how," I he stammered at last. "Don't you know?" Ho mentally cursed tho technical i ediic.it Inn that left him helpless at such a moment, but it was useless to pretend, "Frankly, I don't." ".Inst give me your hand. Oh, not ! in that way! lint never mind, I'll I walk," she 'suggested, catching up her .skirt. "The rocks will cut your boo's all to pieces. Suppose you tell me what to do this once." he said, assuming some confidence. "I'll never forget." "Why, if you will just give me your hand for my foot, I can manage, you know." He did not know, but she lifted her skirt graciously, and her crushed boot rested easily for a moirent in his banc". She rof in the air above him before he could well comprehend. Ho felt tho quick spiing from his sup porting hand, and it was an instant of cxhilnralirm. Then she balanced her self with a Hushed laugh In tho "ad dle, and he guided her ahead among the loose rocks, the horse noting at his elbow us they picked their way. Crossing the track, they gained bet ter ground. As 'hey rraclied th" switch and parted a box car, Jim shied, and DickMe spoke sharply to him. McCloud turned. In tho shade of the car lay the tramp. "That man lying there frightened him," explained Dielrie. "Oh," she exclaimed, suddenly, "he has been hurt!" Slip turned away her head. "Is that tho man who was In tho wreck?" "Yes." "Do something for him. Ho must be suffering terribly." "The men gaie him some water awhile ago, and when ive moved him Into the shade we thought ho was dead." "Ho Isn't dead yet!" Dicksle's face, still averted, had grown white. "I saw him move, Can't you do some thing for him?" Sho reined up nt a little distance. McCloud bent over the man a mo ment nnd spoke to him. When he rose ho called to tho men on tho track. "You aro right," ho raid, rejoining Dlckslo; "ho Is very much alive. His namo Is Wlckwlre; ho Is a cowboy." "A cowboy!" "A tramp cowboy." "What enn you do with him?" "I'll havo the men put him In the caboose and send him to llarnhardt's hospital at Medicine Rend when tho engine comes back. Ho mav Hie yet. If he dop'i, he can think you for It." (To lie rontlniinl.) llrluhl'H lllM-nxi- of the Klilneys. I'nred IliK'hfs lilsinno nf the Kidneys can lu cured in Its early singes by the use of Itydale's Kidney Hr.m-dy, This remedy ,9 made fii'tii a prescription of tho Rieal- est Kidney ,tSv-chill'.t In Kuropc. Suffer ers from haili-arhe, weak Uldnes, ln flnnunnllnn of the bladder nnd rheuma tism will find this remedy will quickly relievo and seen pt nnani'iitly cure these complaints. We sfll Hydale's Kidney Hemedy under a positive guarantee .1. W. O'.Hulllvnn, Hmllnttoa, Vt.; rihanley & JXey, winooaM, Vt.i Junction I'liar mucy, nsi Junction, Vt.; V. S. Nay & 'o.. Underbill. Vt.: C. I Hatch & Co Wnterbury. Vt.; R. A. l'rost, Wilton, Vt. Tim business man who bludles bow to make tho want Mis. Increasingly useful to mm a jtaod au&iuii&g HARD-WORKING VOLUNTEERS, Why the Nnllonnl inril Woltlaic Mad Hmr I)lNn,fnrc,i. (From un-le :-', Mognilno.) mnnv """"""h-Amrrlenn Wnt hn, I n , tho11nMlon" wnr.1 roinman l.slmcn. . "f """"caniH for en- "Tho renl motive fr mllMmrnt ir Zu'l'V " '""""""'V the oppo" , r i rf'""' ,"n"" nff"r'"1 V ""in. pnnioushtp . of ,,,. .LZTZ weekly dtlll.-drtlh whH, c,.rl:lllliy e-1 for no fturly nnd little plva,. fort-(he after drill chat ev"r tl . im. supper, the monthly company m iM.r-.n everything germnnn t0 u,o mur ed of the company -.m tlim-ussed nm'td much eloquence; the post meeting sun. '.per. t. i.prlng games nnd iho' fall gnires. the company smoker or thratr party nnd the -nmpnny dnnro or rUnee For ono week every two yrnrs tlii local company would soldier hi n, or,Pn at thi! .State camp. This one weok's camp mindly Involved much preparation, Many pairs of ivblto duck trousus anrt white cotton gloves wero Knt together. Whero tho command possessed a dls! tlnctivn dress uniform It was put in th very best condition. A sreat number of boxes eontntnlnr? eatables, drinkables, toilet articles, etc.. In endless varietj wore accumulated. As most national guardsmen know, this has till been changed. The main ritinllflcation s no lonKer sociability but husklnrps. Tho concern now la not how lniiR can ho dnnco but bow far can he hike. To-day his eyeslclu must bo perfect, bis physical condition excellent H( must not be too short or too tall, or too stout or too lean, and l.e must possess mentn! application with plenty of sand" Drills are frequent -In some commandi as many ni two or three drll s a woelj for nine months of the year, wi h much study In addition There Is no longer much time for social diversions Dlsclpllno h harsher and Infractions thereof are In many Instances punished by heavy fines. Stato camp .would not be recognized by some of the old timers. In alternate years the army manoevrei are substituted for State camp. There Is little or no time to receive visitors. In the case nf the army manoeuvres the plac Is usuallv Inaccessible for visi tors. The ceremonies are fewer. TI19 tine of the -roops Is fully occupied In tactical Instruction nnd In the demon stration of minor problems. Needless to r mark, nothing Is taken by the men ex cept what may lie carried In the haver sack and blanket roll, and house parties In camp are few nnd far between. The tnith Is that the old national unard is reality existed largely for pleas ure and somewhat largely for business. T' e present national guard exists for b-islness only. run iu:ttrii niitT items. With a sandy soil and a subsoil 0! clay or clay nnd gravel plow deep, so ns to raise and mix the clay with tho surface soil and sand. The combination forms a Band clay road nt a trifling expense. It the road he entirely of sand a mts take will be made If It Is not plowed, unless clay can be added. Such plowing woidd merely deepen th sand, and at the same time break up the small amount of hard surface ma terial which may hnv" formed. If the subsoil Is clay nnd tho surfac scant In sand or gravel, plowlnir should not be resorted to, as It would result In. a clay surface rather than one of mnj or gravel. 1 A road foreman r-.'.tt krow not only, 11 lint to plow and what not to plow, but know how and when to plow. If the rond Is of the kind which, according to the nbo"o Instructions, should bo plowed over Its whole width the best method Is to run the first fur row In tho irlt'die of the road and work out to the sides thus forming a crown. Results from such plowing are t'i greatest In the spring or early summer In ditches a plow can be used to (rood advantage, but should be followed by n scraper or grader. To make wide, deep ditches, nothtn-j better than the o-dinary dr.v? scraper has yet been dc ised. For hauls under '") feet or In making "fills" It Is especially serviceable r.armers' nnrt Drovers' Journal. st:r.vici-; commission dates. Newport. July 13. Ilufus W Roenr clrk of tho public service commissi on, makes public tho following dates fof nearlncs: July a public Investlcatlon of tbf nccldent near Inwood to the "Montrea1 and Itostnn air line" when tho enKlnf and four cars left the track, re dtlni; r the slluht Injury to several pass-engers July 2.1. at Newport n hearlni: on thi petition of the Iloston l- Maine rnllroaa asking for the elimination of the cross. In? on tho Indim Point rond and thi crossing next northerly therefrom. July 2S, at Woodstock, in regard tc the elimination of two grade crosslngi on the. Woodstock railroad. July 2D. at lirnttleboro, on petltlor of tho State's attorney of Wlndhnrr. county vs. the Central Vermont Rail way company, relating to freight rntei nnd lack of facilities on tho West Itlver branch division. nn.NNINCiTON IlIOII PRINCIPAL. Pennington, July U. V II, Dickin son of limner. N. V, has been e!ect.'4 principal of tho nennlnston hlgr. lehool nnd will take up his resldeiu( hero the last of the month. He Is 2! years of imo, a gradunto nf Syracuse University anil tho Cortland normal school. Prank ('. Phillips of Ilonnlnprton. 1 graduate of tho Bliss Huslnc College of North Adams, has been chosen tc take charge of tho new business de partment to bo Installed at tho high school with tho opening of the fall term. I'll I : II MI.Vr.H AGAIN. (From the Charleston News nnd Cour ier, Dem.) John Hays Hammond has boon expres sing Ills views In the Wall Street Journ al about tho world's mining operations. He looks for a large Increase In the pro duction of slher, nnd nays that "ther Is n strong probability of International cooperation In the near future to pre vent further depreciation In silver," In the Interest, ns he cxplnlned, not of sli ver mines alone, but nlso of the mer chants of the various countries Interest ed In Oriental trade. Does this mean that our next ticket Is to b" Pryan nnd Hammond? Isn't It queer how these Re publicans ndopt the Democratic politics and make them go? There is Mr. Tnft; but what's the ue? In his Incnmo nnd corporation tax schemes to pay tin Roosevelt debts Imsn't ho taken his rem medles right out of the Nebrnsknn'a mouth or from the NebrnsHnn's plat form" put whut't tho dlfferenco whether we set these "reforms" of our fiscal pol icies throuKh one man or another, so. long ns we get them? Tho voice may be the voice of Jacob, but tho bands nia the iinnd-i nf Rsnu; nnd so It Is comlnii to pass that our Republican masters ura rattening' on the unearned - Demo""""" -1 l.am.n.1. i I