The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-03-21
BOUND I'd GET THERE.
Railroad officials story of Two En-
glish Lads who Were in a Hurry.


an experience with two English tour
lists that was ont of the ordinary. |
was in a large western city in charge
of the passenger business of trans
continental railroad which ran two
special trains a week to the Pacific
coast One afternoon | was about to
close my desk and go home, when the
local ticket agent came into my Office
with two young men. 1t was not nee
eSsary to look at them twice to under
stand that they were Englishmen.
They were the typical, tall, big-boned,
blonde-haired men whom one recognizes
Immediately as being English. They
were dressed in ultra English style,
and carried themselves with the self
confidence and independence of men
who thoroughly believe in themselves
and are utterly Indifferent to the esti-
mate placed upon ahem by others. |
call them men, though they could not
have been over eighteen or nineteen
years old. The agent told me that
they wished to see me about matter
OF business. assured them that | was
ing what they could want of me. Thj|
taller of the two acted as spokesman. \
I've want to get to San lraYSises,S
he said. Tin time to connect with the
next steamer for Japan"
Il am very sorry" | replied, but our
special train which connects with the
steamer passed through here two tours
ago.
They looked serious at this, but did
not seem overcome.
II suppose, said the taller one, that
the next regular train will be too late
20 connect with the steamer"
20. yes said |, you would be de-
layed about week in San Francisco"
20, that will never do" he replied.
I'VE must catch that steamer. You
will have to make some arrangement
by which we can overtake this special
train
] was paralyzed by the cool assur-
ance with which he suggested this.
The train he wished to overtake was
known as the Golden Gate special, and
was a record breaker. 1t was one of
the fastest trains on our road, and we
were proud of the time it made. Yet
here were couple of youngsters who
wanted to know whether they could
not arrange to catch it with the same
calmness that they might have asked
for cup of coffee. | smiled on them
pityingly.
Don't you know" said l that this
is an exceptionally fast train, and that
it is almost impossible to beat it? Why
even if it were possible to do what you
asked, the expense would put it out of
the question"
They listened calmly and without
change of expression. Then the one
who had spoken before said
Yes, | know all about that, but we
have got to catch that boat. We are
attached to the British embassy at
Toxic, and have been travelling on a
leave of absence. Our time will be up
the very day that that boat reacIsssSs
Japan. We must be there at that time
because we have promised to. We had
intended to catch the previous boat
but we were having such good time
that we thought we would chance it
and wait over Now nothing can be
allowed to interfere with our plan"
We'll, / said, II don't see how | can
aid you, sorry as may be for YOU
The Englishman looked at me in a
bored sort of way, and said:
81 don't see why there is any need of
arguing about this. We want a special
train to overtake that special, and if
we can't do it any other way we will
have to follow it across the continent. ;"
| looked in amazement at these two
clerlls-that is what they amounted to.
| suppose, at least what we would CON
slider them in this countrywide were
coolly asking for a special train to cross
the continent. | was not at all CON
WINGED that they appreciated the enor-
nifty of their demand. In fact | felt
more amused than credulous.
Il suppose, | said, you have some
idea of what it will cost you to do
this?''
SO, we are willing to pay whatever
it is was the reply in a drawing
tone.
at will cost you three hundred dol
lars if we overtake the special at the
first stop" said |, five hundred dollars
if we have to wait for the second stop
and one thousand dollars if we 90 clear
across. 1t is barely possible that we
can make a connection at the first
stop"
The Englishman made no other re-
ply than to thrust his hand into his
trousers pocket and pull out big roll
of bills. He counted out one thousand
dollars and laid it down on the desk.
''Of course he said, II presume if
we make the connection that you speak
of will get back what have paid in
excess.
saw that he was in earnest. took
out three hundred dollars to guarantee
MS and returned the rest to him with
the understanding that he was to paw
the conductor if he missed the first
connection according to the terms |
had outlined. | at once set the ma
chinery in motion to get out the train.
1t required a good deal of work. In
the first place, we had no engine in
which the fires were up, and found it