The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-06-08
A RAILWAY KNIGHT.
The Story OF a Train Boys
Bravery.

The Story OF a Train Boys
The Chicago special bore an unusual
~ heavy load that day.
Vacation was over and homeward
travel had begun. There was not q
single empty seat in any of the four
slcepers, and at each stop there were
new demands for berths.
Spirited conversations between tho
Wagner conductor and irate passen-
gers who had failed to bespealk their
berths were frequent, and the last
berth, the upper one in the rear car,
reserved for the conductor himself,
had just been given up to Hurried,
all important parsonage who had in
sisted on his right to whole section.
So now things began to quiet down.
Tho passengers unbent from their dig
nifty and began to compare vacation
notes; the men betook themselves to
the smoking department, and the
train boy ceased for awhile his jour
neys through the cars. offering his
zines
Trade this side Of Niagara didn't
amount to much. He had learned that
by experience.
At first magazines sold pretty we'll
but the real demand did not come till
after they had passed Suspension
Bridge and the stop at Falls View sta
ton was made. Then was the time to
offer souvenirs of Niagara for sale.
Indeed Dan knew about how many
copies he would sell
A few months experience on the
train had given him q pretty keen in
sight into the habits and desires of the
passengers
At q glance he could tell who would
and who would not buy of him, and
just what women needed q little per-
suasion and pleasant smile-to in
duce purchase.
In fact Dams smile was q valuable
part of his stock in trade, and he used
it to advantage, for it was q pleasant
smile-and it made the round, freclkled
face very winning.
He was sorting over his books now
preparatory to one more trip through
the cars, before offering peanuts and
candy again, when the train drew up
at a dingy, dilnpidated station. They
were stopping for water he knew. and
he went to the platform and jumped
to the ground.
It was a relief after the rocking
train.
Much to his surprise he found the
conductor in earnest conversation with
two women.
''Oh, but you must take her some
now, ne nedru Inc younger the
women exclaim in a distressed voice.
''You see there amt any other way
to send her, and her mother expects
her sure, and she'll be at the station to
take her of, and she'll be q real good
girl and not trouble you q bit, won't
you, Bessie?"
Here she pulled forward a little blue
eyed girl and the conductors eyes
rested thoughtfully on her.
Dan drew near-he was interested to
know what the conductor would do.
They'll be most crazy if she don't
come" added the other woman. 'And
it will put them out dreadfully cause
they've got to start right OF for Colo
RADIO"
tor, and he put one foot on the steps Of
the car and stood, watch in hand, ready
to give the signal.
''Say, I'll kinder keep an eye on the
kid, if that's all you want" Dan said,
awl<wardly, to the women. Don't
know much bout children, but guess
some of the women will tend to her?''
ductor.
"An right-I'm villing-jumpabo board,
will you, we're late now," and the con :
ductor waved his hand.
Dan seized the child and placed her
lightly on the platform, and the train
began to move. He listened to the part
ing directions of the two women, and
threw back the silver half dollar one
Of them tried to slip into his hand
with a toss Of his head, as he shouted:
II amt no porter, and I'm ADDING this
to 'blige you"
Then he held the child tightly while
she waved her tiny handkerchief till
the station was q mere speck in the
distance.
Then he took her into the car and
left her to amuse herself with the rolls
of lozenges while he made q trip
through the other cars By the time
he got back she had made friends with
q lady across the aisle, who offered to
share her berth with the child, and be-
fore the afternoon was over she WA
playing games all over tho car, and to
Dams intense amusement she insisted
on eating supper with the man who
had made the greatest fuss over his
berth, but who. Bessie insisted, looked
"just like grandpa"
So Dan kept only . general oversight
Of the child. and finally whom she dis-
appearsd behind the heavy custsius 81