Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

i = te ae ee ee 6 ee ee P- = SS Pere ae ee ees wy Sa 2 = ; . ¢ % Z in - oy “ = = So i <n Y einai eS, See a ee, eS > a a me oi Faw ="t 4 wae : * vs SE Se = == ———— = : 2) > _ we ae A > ms THE SINGLE TRACK. “And Jim Bowers,” he supplemented. “You are just as much a part of the out- fit now as one of the track-layers or bull gang. But I came to ask you if you would not like to let me show you where we start the road work next week. We're bringing it around just back of the bunk-houses parallel with Main Street, and it’s only a step or two.”’ A curt refusal was upon her tongue, but again Jane controlled herself. She must not let this chance to learn a little about the work slip by. ‘Tl be glad to go if you will wait while I get my hat and cloak,” she said quietly. ““T must be back at the store for the three o’clock shift.” She inwardly raged at herself as she sped up-stairs. How stupid of her to have al- lowed this odious young man to put her again in the wrong! If she had only known the identity of the chief engineer, and that he would have discretionary pow- ers over even the store, she would not have come one step of the way to Katalak, not even if the hateful Unatika Company gob- bled up the Northern Star! That he, of all people, should be in au- thority over her! The idea was madden- ing, but with a quick revulsion of feeling she giggled; why, if he only knew it, the tables were turned! It was she who was in absolute command now that Ollie was in France; she, the half owner of the North- ern Star mine! She could even order his dismissal if he became too impossible! Then a steadying thought brought a quick flush of self-rebuke to her cheeks. If Peddar was drifting back into the per- sonality of other days, was she not also in danger of letting the old Janetta dominate over the character she had assumed, and which she must retain until the end if she were to play the game? Could petty per- sonal spite toward a man who meant noth- ing to her, a mere employee, be allowed to mitigate against the success of the work which meant not only her own future, but Ollie’s? What a selfish, arrogant little beast she was! Of course this man Hoyt was right from his point of view; in justice she had to ad- mit that to herself, and she ought to be glad that'he°wds so conscientious. As chief of the works he had to assure himself that every employee was not only competent, but thoroughly reliable, especially in view of the underhand work with which he had to contend. She herself might have been a spy and confederate of the Unatika out- fit, for all he knew! In a considerably more chastened frame of mind Jane descended once more, and it was with a decidedly meek. tone that she observed: ‘“T understood from Mr. MacLeod that the work had already started on the rail- road. Of course, I don’t know anything about it.” | “The preliminary survey had been made and the road staked out before I came,” Barney Hoyt responded. “I don’t think you'll need that rubber coat, for the rain has stopped.” Jane laid-the garment obediently over a chair in the office and thrust her hands in her sweater pockets as she followed her guide to the door. The rain had indeed ceased, and a thin, pale sunlight was streaking down from a rift in the clouds. “You see, we've assembled all our equipment, chopped down spruce for our ties, and cut them up in the sawmill.” The engineer continued as they set forth. ‘“ Now we’ve got to start grading the first five miles of road-bed—but this must be all Greek to you!” “What happened to Mr. Dugdale’s arm?” Jane asked irrelevantly. ‘“‘ He would only tell me that it was an accident; but I have already heard about the acci- dents that have been happening up here all the time since the work started, and about that other company who want to put a road through, too. Do you antici- pate any trouble, Mr. Hoyt?” He darted a swift, sidelong glance at her, but her face expressed only naive in- quiry, and he shrugged. “T expect almost anything on a job of this kind, but we’ll be ready to protect our own interests if the other side start trouble, and we are going to push the road through, all right.” There was no hint of bragging in his tone, but a quiet firmness which sent a lit- Comicbooks.com