Page:Frank Packard - On the Iron at Big Cloud.djvu/31

 "Just the same, I'm—Eh? What's up, Carleton? What's wrong?"

Spence had bent suddenly over the key, and Carleton, with a startled exclamation, was staring at the words the dispatcher was hastily scribbling on the pad. Holman leaned over the super's shoulder and even as he saw Carleton reach to plug in the telephone connection with the roundhouse, he read the message: "Number Two wrecked Eagle Pass. Send wrecker and medical assistance at once." The next instant he was flying across the yard to the shops.

As he burst in through the door he was greeted with a snarl. The men were massed in a body around one of the locomotives in the fitting-shop, and Rafferty, from the cab, was talking in fierce, heated tones. At sight of the master mechanic he stopped short and with an oath leaped from his perch straight for Holman. The crowd divided, making a lane between the two men, then, with startling suddenness, breaking the ominous silence that had fallen, there came three short blasts from the shop whistle—the wrecker's signal. It halted Rafferty when but an arm's-length from the locomotive foreman. Then Holman spoke:

"You hear that, men? Number Two has gone to glory up in Eagle Pass. You, Rafferty, get the wrecking crew together, quick! The rest of you get back to work."

"You're a liar!" Rafferty yelled. "A measly, putty-faced, starch-shirted liar, d'ye hear? Ut's a plant! You can't work any sharp trick loike that on me!"