Page:Frank Packard - On the Iron at Big Cloud.djvu/26

 "Eh?" demanded Rafferty.

"Longest division—most mileage—covers quite a stretch of country," Holman amplified.

"Oh!" returned the other with a grin. "Well, you'll be thinkin' so if you ever sthay long enough to git acquainted wid ut."

"Perhaps that's the reason I am beginning to feel cramped—I've only been here a month, you know," Holman smiled.

"Fwhat d'ye mean?"

"Why, curiously, it doesn't seem big enough or wide enough or long enough for even two men."

Holman purred his words in soft, mild accents, and Rafferty, understanding, sneered in quick retort: "Was you thinkin' av lavin', Mr. Holman?"

"No," said Holman, slowly, "I don't know that I was. I thought perhaps the matter might be adjusted, and I'd like to ask your advice. Now, if you were locomotive foreman and you found that the foreman of this shop, in a dirty, low, underhanded fashion was discrediting you with the men, and furthermore flatly disobeyed your orders, what would you do, Mr. Rafferty?"

By the time Holman had completed his arraignment, Rafferty was mad—fighting mad. "I'll tell you fwhat I'd do," he yelled, shaking a great horny fist under Holman's nose. "I'd plug him good an' hard, that's fwhat I'd do! See!"

"Rather drastic," Holman commented after a pause, during which Rafferty drew back and with hands on hips stood scowling belligerently. "But