New-York tribune., 1895-08-04
AN INSPIRED BLUNDER.
THE RAILROAD MANS STORY.


Graduated 1, This branch of knowledge NJ
wiswam n small station tbfae miles from santa
toss coi where I replaced Tho "sretioh boss
during his vacation grin away, boys WAS
alitns "eeneraI uiility parts" that summer be-
cause Of financial disaster-w which you can spell
"poker" II you like'
All outbOund trains stopped at Wigwam i7f
water. and the depot master at Santa Rosa use'
to send empty bOxcars 10 walt on our s'det'aoNs
until some homeward- bound "frelghter coush re-
turn them where they belonged. Ihese cars "'-
fered ideal hiding places for tramps' ana ro"s "e
tween trainhands and such unprohtao'e wy
ayers were Of frequent occurrence ana OF u''e''e
aspects both piteous and humorous. I've Seei "
Methodist parson turned out. VINO had sPe"' ''e
money for his fare on charity. ana We 'ooNeu VII
at the expelling OF swell Temporarily oee
CARED BY riotous living. whose name Is Nho""
among YOUR -Four Hundred Often my sy'"Pa
tbios we're opposed to the interests OF my com
many and once I attempted an evasion OF us
,ules-w,th the result that. except fcr some
bodv's "inspired blunder." | should be nauhteo
by the responsibility Of a tragedy
Nv term of service was The man whose
suhs,itute I had been you'd come back 10 MS
most within couple ot hours the AFTERNOON
was hot the little office very still. ana nap ds
sisted me to get rid OF some irksone tme' "neh
across the borderland between sleeping ana wax
ing heard a voice:
''W'ill you give me drilk!
The voice was refined, and so familiar that
reused completely and confronted my VISITOR
He leaned against the doorframe-a d'ngy'
droon,ng figure. whose hair and half-srown
beard were dusty past guessing TER or's'n''
co,,r vhlla his dark eyes made odd contrast
al era
were familiar. after the same elusive fashion as
his vo.ce.
"Who you?' l asked or'sKly' We seen
YOU somcwhcre?"
Tho tramp drew his grirly brows together IN a
bewildered ,rown
"Nattse" he mutterei. hesitatingly. Il re-
-,o-,he- Won now" He dropped on the end OF
h.,ch bes,dc him. I'm Terry R0lfe. and dead
boat" ne gasped
Nv memory bore him prompt testimony anu
turning to a cupboard produced bottle ana d
s,aas He swallowed the whskey win 'he '"'"-
,cl eagerness and difficulty Of faintness ana OF
throat parched almost to paralysis.
watched him. curlously comparing my last
sight Of pleasant prosperous Terry RoNe WIN
,,,s h~ole,. down tramp. He ard his chum. Jim
Crosby. belonged - party of engineers IN whose
cor,nanv had camped FOR several weeks during
tho preceding spring. Those Two were just rom
tho Fast-thc "tcnierfect' 81 the lot-ratAer
r,vcn n picturesque sombreros and brilliant silk
sashes yet jolly comrades
"uavc you been long on the road?' asked
when he gave me back the glass
IA few days"
Where from?"
He stared at his shabby boots without reply.
Mentally reviewed the list OF catastrophes In
recent daily papers and could recollect no men
ton u the name of Rolfe.
Hard luck I'm afraid-ehT
He nodded.
Where is your chum?-'doubles'' We used 10
call you"
He looked dumbly UP at me. while into his eyes
came that which none OF us behold often-thank
God,-but which at first meeting we know 10 be
despaX
Then his head drooped. and he tainted.
got him down on the floor. and worked over
him until he revived little.
"Why should bear this" he murmured half
consciously. Il would c, no other man 1--we who
had killed JIM He caught his breath with
sobbing cry that hurt t. hear. My darling.
must go TO her, must tell her how r His
voice sank lnaudibly.
And remembered hearing that he was to mar
rv lin Crosby's pretty sister next autumn.
Well bOys We read the Bible occasionally IN
Colorado and we ind lessons which IL our lives
there such lessons teach US to prefer the Samar-
itan To- the Pharisec. even when our neghbor
proves 10 BE- stained by the blood OF friend and
mad with the resolve 10 tramp across continent
10 see once more the sweetheart from whom his
crime will part him forever
Rolfe rallied some strength after he had eaten
the fragments Of my dinner. and bathed his blis-
tered feet But he refused my offer Of ticket on
the night express to the East
81 cannot risk meeting any one-from Trini
dad he said hOarsely
bethought me OF certain boxcars. waiting on
our sidetracks 10 bee carried during the next
twenty-four houns many hundred miles further
from Trinidad Within on. OF these empty vans
proposed To install him. and 50 label II that neither
tramp nor rcial would disturb his solitude until
II reached tho limit Of its Journey where he could
probably slip out undetected. This plan he ac-
ccpted eagerly and just before the time for my
own departure accomplished that defraudlng
OF the company who paid ME to protect their in
tereests.
you don't want thanks" he exclaimed when
left him In the dusky car, with jug of water and
some crackers "As for shaking hands" he end
ed. shudderng. you have guessed what mine
have done
was going whence he had come. as had been
summoned to Trinidad by the division superin-
tcndent at that point ] should soon be familiar
with the details OF poor Rofe's tragedy, reflect
ed as settled myself In the smoker" The con-
ductor took a seat beside me when we were fairly
or and remarked that We had escaped the won't
ed fight to dispofseas secreted tramps.
There Is one chap however, supposed to be
tramping this way. whom should like to meet"
he continucd-"Terencc Rolfc."
Terence Rolfe?"
Young engincer-you know him. Watts you
went down the road with his party few months
ago"
"Creat chum of q fellow named Crosby 2"