The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-22
CATCHING A TRAIN.
He Didn't Have Much Time 10 Spare. but
Got 1t All Right.


A man sat in an up town restaurant
ON Sunday afternoon eating what the
waiter called an egg omelet" He was
at peace with all the world, and he had
plans for using that afternoon in the
pursuit of pleasure. Just as he buttered
his last piece of toast messenger boy
strolled into the room, talked moment
with the cashier and then came over to
him. The messenger boy handed the
man telegram. The man tore it open
and read message to this effect:
imperative that you should be in Ell
mira at 0 o'clock tonight"
Tho man read the message through
twice and then looked at his watch. 1t
was 3:05 o'clock He jumped up, rushed
over to the cashiers desk, paid his check
and hustled out to the street. He walked
rapidly to ticket Office on Main street,
entered and asked for q, time table. He
found that the only train that would suit
his purpose left Buffalo at 4:O5 o'clock.
1t was then $40
The man decided that he had time
enough to go home, change his linen, get
his grip and get back to the train. He
ran down Eagle street and caught Nj
agara street car. AS he climbed up the
steps he saw by the city hall clock it was
S:l4 o'clock. The conductor told him that
it took III minutes to go to the corner of
= Massachusetts street, where he wanted
to get off, and that as it was Sunday it
was probable that the car would get there
on time. He lived five blocks up from
Niagara street, and after some rapid fig
Irir, 1,,1 a Il
rifle
The car reached the corner of Massa.
chusetts street two minutes ahead of
time. When the man struck the ground
it was exactly 3:2S He ran briskly up
the street. After he had gone three
blocks he took off his cuffs and unbut-
toned his collar. He unbuttoned his
vest also and loosened his suspenders.
When he reached his home, he was prac-
tically ready for his clean linen. He
tore into the house and looked at the
clock. The hands stood Mt 1888.
There was wild paving through bu-
reau drawers, frenzied search through
cuff and collar boxes, grab for a grip
and tunbling of hairbrush comb.
night shirt and one or two other things
into it, muttered curse or two at a re-
fractory cuff button, and ut 3:3S the man
was running toward niagara street. a
block from that street he heard IL car
coming. Half way down the block the
car crossed the street. The man sprinted.
ran n block ut top speed, caught the car
and sank brcathless into seat, not for
getting, however, to look at his watch.
He had made the journey in three min
utes. 1t was 841 o'clock.
The car bowled along Mt q good rate of
speed. When it reached tho corner of
the Terrace and Main street. the man
had recovered his breath, and it was 3 :57.
He jumped off the car, but was stopped
by an acquaintance and detained three
minutes before he could break away.
Then he thought that he would have to
have some cigars, and he entered a place
where they We're sold and bought some
he looked at his watch when he came
out OF tho door and saw that it was
4Ol 80. Then ensued mad race. He
reached the station and ran into the
ticket office, noticing by the clock on
the wall that it was 4:04 o'clock. "Gim.
mo ticket for Elmiral" he gasped
throwing 81 bill through the window.
The ticket agent was provokingly slow,
and when the man got his ticket it was
4:O5 o'clock-time for the train to start.
The man made two bounds and was
out in the train shed. He saw his train
standing over to the left and ran over to
it like hundred yard sprinter. He
reached it i'll time, climbed on, dropped
into seat and tried to get his breath.
The train didn't start.
Whats the matter?" asked the man of
the passenger who sat i'll tho next seat.
isn't this train for the eastr"
Eyes" was the reply.
Thine for it to go, amt itf"
Eyes, but we've got to wait 40 min
utes for connecting train from tho
west"
And the man thought of his hustle and
said with much emphasis, well, Pm
darned"-Buffalo Express.