Page:Frank Packard - On the Iron at Big Cloud.djvu/273

 And then the renown of one Haggerty, who was braking on a passenger local, became great, and, in consequence, the displeasure of the Division increased.

Said Haggerty: "When I was on the Penn five years back, this fellow Hale was assistant super. I knew him well. You wanter look out for him, you can take my little word for that. He's a holy terror, an' that's a fact. Got any chewin'?"

Haggerty got his chewing, being an egregious liar; and Hale got a damaged reputation for the same reason.

But Haggerty got more than his chewing—and he had not long to wait. On the day that the new super was expected, Haggerty, on passenger local Number Seven, got into Big Cloud about noon, and, taking advantage of the ten-minute wait for refreshments, straddled a stool at the lunch-counter. Between bites, he fired questions at Spence the dispatcher, who was bolting his mid-day meal.

"Hale come yet?" he demanded.

"Haven't seen him," replied Spence.

"When d'ye expect him?" persisted Haggerty.

"I don't know," Spence answered.

"Oh, don't be so blasted close!" snapped Haggerty. "You ain't givin' away any weighty secret if you let out what time his special'll be along, I suppose."

"I haven't heard of any special," said Spence. "Say, Haggerty, they tell me Hale's an old friend of yours, h'm? No wonder you're anxious. I forgot about that. As soon as I get word about him, I'll wire up the line to you so's you can jump your train, come