The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-26
SLAPDASH FOR A BRIDE.
Three Lively Races Over a Rough
Stretch Of Branch Railway.

Along the line of the Santee Railroad no
trainm en- were better known than Billy
Perkins and Jack Smith, the only passen-
ger conductors the road found it necessary
to employ. Every man and boy along the
route watched for tho familiar trains, ana
when the mail passed east in the morning
every station lounger was ready to shout
Hello, Billy p while they never missed
greeting Jack in the same manner an hour
or two later, when he passed in the oppo-
site direction. The total length Of the Santee
Railroad was only forty miles.
In the morning the trains passed at
lonely siding in the woods. but III the alter
noon the meeting point was directly IN
front of Bob Yocum's plantation; ana as
the farmhouse, with It's shady porcn. stoOu
near the railroad, the trainmen had long ago
struck UP an acquaintance with the owner,
and daily resorted to the cool garden 10
willie away the time until the opposing
train arrived. Sometimes one train reacneu
the point first, sometimes the other WOaid
be in ahead. The schedule was slow even LOT
the old-Style engines, and unless there was
something unusual 10 detain them or inc
wood was very wet the crews could geher-
ally manage to spend about twenty minutes
at Iocum's, TRANQUILITY smoking or r0mplnG
with Sallle, the planter daughlef NOW IL
was this same Sallie who caused so much
disturbance III the breasts OF Billy ana
Jack. Each strove to cut favorable
figure in her sight, and she was the load
stone which drew them daily to the garden.
The conductors pressed their suit with
the fair Salle for many day, put, Wllle
each felt that the other had no advantage,
neither could make any headway. At last
the two friends decided to put matters to Il
test, and together they sought Bob ocum
and, explaining their desires, asked that ne
and Sallie choose which, il either, should
be the favored sutton. Sailie, with DluShlnS
face, declared she could not decide, although
she felt she could be happy with either
With that keen instinct tor gaming which
characterizes SOUthernerS, her father at
once suggested that they settle the question
by racing their trains for the next lhree
days, the one getting to the switch twice
ahead of the other to be the winner. Inc
proposition was eagerly grasped by the con-
ductOrs, and acceded to By Salle. All
agreed upon secrecy, except that the con-
ductors should make cUnhdents OF their
engineers.
Anxiously the father and daughter awaited
the coming of the trains the next forenoon.
Fully twenty minutes before schedule time
the familiar whistle rang out, ana B!llys
engine came to q standstlll just as JACKIE
train came around the bend. Billy was
eXultantIy happy The next day, however,
Jack was sitting upon the porch talking
serenely to the prize when Billy engine
came into view.
The following day would decide it, and
the morrow found Tour eager hearts won
dering what the result would be. About 10
o'clock, however, steady rain set In,
which apparently settled the question OF
fast Time being made that day. As BUY
passed down the line and saw the soaking
wOodpies he felt exceedingly blue, but
while bordering great thought came into
his brain and his cOuntenauce cleared IN an
instant. When he got to the end Of the run
he took his engineer aside and explained
something which caused q broad grin TO
oveTSpread the features OF that worthy.
Billy was next seen in prOyision-StOre,
and ere the train departed an odd
looking barrel marked sugar Cured
was put aboard the engine. His train
made glorious time that afternoon, and
when the passengers asked how the en-
gineer managed TO keep up steam, Billy
smiled but said nothing. He felt no fore
bOdings OF defeat now. Poor old Jack must
be dozen miles down the road, and right
around the curve was IoCums. Hurrah,
Billy said to himself Hur-, he did not
finish. From the car platform he saw
something that made him rub his eyes in
astonis hment. Was it Jacks train lying
there so quietly on the siding, or had his
senses deserted him? A wild screech OF
triumph from the waiting engine made him
realize II was indeed true. His rival had
won the third heat.
Jack, taking warning from his defeat the
first day, had wisely bargained with the
dry pine-knots, and these were supple
mented tho rainy day with a harrsl g
pine tar.
Billy danced at the wedding, but the sight
OF ham has filled him with disgust ever
since.-N. /. World.