Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-06-03

car ana " DOnOghue's wildly contorted
limbs.
As soon as might be the engine was
brought to standstill and backed up to
the scene of the accident.
O'Donoghue was found badly shaken up
and bruised, but apparently with no bones
broken.
He was taken on the engine with the
rest of the gang and carried home. the pur-
suit of the runaways being perforce aban
doned for the time being.
1t was broad day when the engine stop
ped opposite the section house.
The men clamhered down from the vari-
Gus precarous positions they had occupied
upon the tender, and O'Donoghue was as
sisted to the ground.
Mrs. O'Donoghue and Johnny came run
ming out to learn the particulars of the ac-
cident, and for moment the boss began to
think that he must be seriously injured,
for there, surely was Mary Ann, keeping
little in the back ground, but not forget
ting to smile coyly at the engineer who
was leaning out of the cab window
O'Donoghue looked again. and then
glanced ut the Toulouse and felt treasured
the red velocipede was in its accustomed
place.
Without asking for any explanation the
boss limped into the house. and after half
a bottle of mustang liniment had been
rubbed into his cuticle by the vigorous arm
of Mrs. O'Donoghue he announced himself
as all right, and the preparation of break
fast was proceeded with.
O'Donoghue did not partake of the morn
ing meal, nor would he allow his wife to
kill a chicken-a sacrifice usually offered
up on all occasions of serious illness or
other grave affiction.
After the men had breakfasted he APP
pointed Tim Dooley STRAW boss" for the
day, with instructions to work in the
yard. Then he remained lying upon his
back smoking and apparently absorbed in
deep thought.
After awhile be asked where Ryan was,
and then Mary Ann was forced to relate
her mornings exploit. 1t appeared Ryan
had secured work on a ranch five miles
south of the section house, and Mary Ann
had agreed to accompany him there on the
veocipede in order to bring the machine
back. They had arranged to make the
trip Sunday, but Ryan's summary dis
missal had compelled them to alter their
plans.
Mary Ann wept as she protested her in
nocence of any intention of "'lopng" and
then went out in the kitchen and made
faces" at her father, undismayed by the
steady, reproachful gaze of his glass eye.
O'DonOghue made no comment upon the
recitation further than to groan twice or
thrice exceeding heavily. Then he dis
patched johnny to bring 'Tamas" Speers
before him, and few minutes later
"Tamas" stood by his bedside with the
track gauge still in his hand, so great had
been his haste in obeying the summons of
his chief.
The latter was filing out time check.
"Yez have fourteen days'n a half in this
month, "Tamas" Speersy'
Il have that, jist, Mister O'Donoghue,"
replied the unsuspecting "Tamas."
"An here's yer time, an do yez git yer
traps out NV the clubhouse to wunst."
II will that but be ginger don't know
why I'm let out so don't"
"Yez have got yer time, and that's
enough fer We, "Tamas' Speers."
1T is, Mister O Donoghue, be ginger, so
it is" said Mr.. Speers in the tone of one
thoroughly convinced, and taking the bit
of paper he went out to the clubhouse to
roll up his meager belongings.
Mrs. O'Donoghue went about the house
preparing dinner for the men; there is no
loss without some gain, and from the mis-
loTtune Oh tne DOSS tue gang derived the
luxury of hot dinner.
ODonoghue was greatly troubled about
the broken handcar According to the
rules, handcars are not supposed to be
upon the main track before 6 o'clock a. H.,
nor after p. m, and when "A car is broken
through any fault of the foreman it is Gus
tomary to deduct the cost of repairs from
that officials salary.
Mother! motherr' called O'Donoghue
starting suddenly from a doze.
Mrs. O'Donoghue placed her last pan of
bread in the oven, closed the door with a
bang and FASTENED to the "ould mans"
bedside
Mother" said O'Donoghue. do yez
fetch me watchs"
Its stopped, an the crishtuPs all gan to
smash" said the good woman, as she hand
ed him his disgruutled Waterbury.
The boss eagerly seized the dilapidated
timepiece: DO yez moind that, mother;
it do be sthopped at thray minnits past
q; thray minnits; do yez moind? I'll quit
the job afore I'll pay for that caar. The
ingineer should av blowed his warnin
becordin to rool fifty; moind that, mother;
he niver Civ the squake OF whustle; not
wan"
He sank into another doze from which
he awakened a few minutes later to eX-
claim in IA loud and angry voice, ITO hi
wi the job: I'll no. pay for that caar."
At that moment 'Tamas" Speers passed
the window with his bundle on his back.
1t was IA small bundle to contain the net
proceeds of years of hard labor, "A narrow
compass to inclose the tangible results of
all the hopes and fears, the struggles and
privations, the dreams, ambitions and
longings of mans life; but "Tamas'
blessed its lightness and stepped forth as
gayly as if he knew that to the great goal
of humanity, he who rides in palace cars
arrives no more swiftly or surely than he
who tramps the ties.
! Speers was an old hand on the section,
and as O'Donoghue saw him pass the win
( dow lac repented-so at least let us hope
of his harshness, for he raised his head and
took the pipe from his mouth. as if to call
"Tamas' back, but like the great majority
of good intentions this one came too late
AT that very moment the boss himself
received his thine" and with a choking
groan fell back upon the pillow dead
When Mrs. O'Donoghue, who was seated
/ beside the bed in her biu Ockinu chair he.