Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 153: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Author of “The Cool Hand,” ARRICK, superintendent of the Northern Division of the R. S. & T. railroad, had the reputa- tion of being an obstinate man, one dificult to persuade from any view but his own, and it was said of him that he never forgot anything, good or bad. This being the case, it is not strange that he should keep in mind the first dereliction of Andy Peck, agent at Belham. It was in the Spring of the year 10916 that Superintendent Carrick started out with the general manager and several general superintendents and a number of other officials of high and low degree on a trip of inspection. They came to Belham on their special train and found the station locked and the agent absent. They waited and fussed around for the better part of ten minutes, the general manager and the other high officials casting coldly question- ing glances at the fuming Carrick and in- quiring of one another—in distantly om- inous voices that they made certain the luckless superintendent would hear—what sort of a doings was this? But no agent came, and the inspection of the Belham station was abandoned. The special rolled away with its indignant passengers. _ You may be sure that a subsequent investigation came. Oh, yes! And this investigation brought out thé fact that, while the high and mighty members of the ‘inspection party were wasting a precious _ ten minutes in vain waiting for Andy Peck. 143 —- SS —_—— i———— BY RUSSELL A. BOGGS “Dan Kurrie’s Inning,” etc. to come and let them in so they could have a look-see, said Andy was calmly stretched out on the chair in a barber-shop several minutes walk distant from the depot, receiving certain tonsorial atten- tions. “You kept us waiting for that!” stormed Carrick. ‘‘Kept us waiting while you got a shave and a hair-cut!” “And a shampoo,” corrected young Andy with proper humility. His face was perfectly sober, though inwardly he was feeling somehow mighty pleased with himself. For this, you must understand, was before he had met Ina, the miller’s daughter, and learned responsi- bility. “It’s the most outrageous thing I ever heard of!” gasped the superintendent, glaring. “Business was slack,” murmured the wicked Andy. “And I didn’t know you were coming.” Hesighed. “If you'd only sent me word.”’ Carrick glared some more. Send word, indeed—and spoil the very purpose of the inspection. “We'll see!” he cried and pounded the top of the desk. “We'll lay you off for thirty days for this offense! And mind this: if ever again I find you absent from your office when you should be on duty, I'll discharge you completely!” So Andy got his thirty days. But he didn’t care—enjoyed the enforced vacation, 1? —— Eomicbooks.co = Oe