|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 23
"They'll put up a lot of trouble for us," said Tom that afternoon, as
the two chums talked the matter over. "They may even go to extremities,
and--"
"Shoot us?" smiled Hazelton, though there was a serious look under his
smile.
"Yes; they may even try that," I nodded Tom. "Though they won't make an
open attempt. They may try to get us from ambush at night. They will
be desperate, though not over brave. Recollect, Harry, that the better
element in Paloma won't stand much nonsense. There are no braver men in
the world than are found right in Arizona, and no men more decent."
"Barring Duff and his gang," laughed Hazelton.
"They're not real Arizona men. They're the kind of human vultures who
flock after large pay rolls in any place where men work without having
their families in near-by homes. If Duff had enough men of his own way
of thinking, they might try to ride out here to camp and clean us out.
If they did, then all the decent men in this part of Arizona would take
to the saddle and drive Duff and his crew into hiding. After what
happened to-day you won't find Duff daring to do anything too open."
"Excuse me, Sir, but there's a train coming," reported Foreman Rivers,
thrusting his head in at the doorway of the little office building.
"Not a construction train?" Reade asked.
"Can't make it out yet, sir. The whistle was reported a minute ago."
Tom and Harry, chafing a good deal under their enforced idleness while
waiting for materials, hastened outdoors. Soon the train was close
enough to be made out. It consisted of an engine, baggage car and one
private car.
"It's one or more of the road's officials," murmured Harry.
"I hope it's Mr. Ellsworth," replied Reade, as the chums walked briskly
down to the spot where the train would have to halt.
It turned out to be the general manager, a big and capable-looking man
of fifty, with a belt-line just a trifle too large for comfort, who
swung himself to the ground the instant that the train stopped.
"I'm glad you're here, Reade," nodded the general manager, as he caught
sight of his two young engineers. "Come back into my car. We can talk
better there."
Tom and Harry mounted to the platform of the car, following Mr.
Ellsworth down the carpeted aisle of a very comfortable private Pullman
car. The general manager pointed to seats, threw himself into another,
and then said:
"Now, tell me all about the row that you've started with the town."
Harry's lips closed tightly, but Tom launched at once into a plain,
truthful account of the affair, bringing it down to the noonday meal of
the present day.
"It's not clear to me just why you should feel called upon to interfere
so forcefully," said the general manager, a little fretfully. "The
workmen are all twenty-one years of age and upwards. Couldn't they
protect themselves if they wanted protection?"
"Yes, sir, certainly," Tom admitted. "However, letting that fellow Duff
put up his tents right on the railroad property would almost make it
look as though the road shared, or at least approved, his enterprise."
"Oh, doubtless you were right to order the fellow off the railroad
property," assented Mr. Ellsworth. "But why did you go to such trouble
to get the men to start new bank accounts and thus send most of their
money out of town?"
"May I answer that question, sir, by asking another?" asked Reade
respectfully. "Did you wish the men to spend it in Paloma?"
"I don't care a hang what they do with it," retorted the general manager
half peevishly. "It's their own money."
"It was you, Mr. Ellsworth, whom I wired yesterday morning, asking that
you send down a representative of a savings bank who could open accounts
with such of the men as desired."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|