Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-31
HOW THEY CAUGHTIT
TWO ENGLISH LADS WHO HADN'T ANY
 TIME TO SPARE.

 ing person, said railroad official, ''and have frequently had cause to wonder at him. Some time ago I had an experience with two English tourists that was out of the ordinary. was in large western city in charge of the passenger business of a transcontinental railroad which ran two special trains week to tho Pacific coast. One afternoon 1 was about to close my desk and go home when the local ticket agent came into my office with two young men. It was not necessary to look at them twice to understand that they were Englishmen. They were the typical tall, big boned blond haired men whom one recognizes immediately as being Eng fish 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 estimate placed upon them by others. 1 call them men, though they could not have been over 16 or 10 years old The agent told me that they wished to sec mo about matter of business. I assured them that I was at their disposal and waited, wondering what they could want of me. The taller of the two acted as spokesman.
 We want to get to San Francisco he said in time to connect with the next steamer for Japan =.
 "I am very sorry replied, but our special train which connects with the steamer passed through here two hours ago.
 "They looked serious at this, but did not seem overcome.
 "'I suppose said the tall one, that the next regular train will be too late to con- nect with the steamer.
 Oh, yes, said I, you would be de- layed about week in San FranciscoP
 '' Oh, that will never dol' he replied. 'We must catch that steamer. You will have to make some arrangement by which we can overtake this special train.
 II was paralyzed by the cool assurance with which he suggested this. The train he wished to oyertake was known as the Golden Gate special and was a record breaker It was ono of the fastest trains on our road, and we were proud of the time it made, yet here were a 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 a cup of coffee. I 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 itP Why, even if it were possible to do what you asked, tho expense would put 1t out of the ques- tion.'
 '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 at tached to the British embassy at Tokyo
 af 1, sence. Our time will be up the very day that that boat reaches 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, noth ing can be allowed to interfere with our plan 4f
 Well, said, T 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:
 I 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
 II looked in amazement at these two clerks-that Is what they amounted to, suppose, at least what we would consider them in this countrywide were coolly asking for a special train to cross the con- tinent. I was not at all convinced that they appreciated the enormity of their de- mand. In fact, felt more amused than credulous
 I suppose l said, you have some idea of what it will cost you to do this2'
 "'Oh we arc willing to pay whatever f ho i'm n d xrlt tan
 "'It will cost you $500 if we overtake the special at her first stop, said I, $500 if we have to wait for tho second stop and $l,000 if we go clear across. It Is barely possible that we can make connection at the first stop
 Tho Englisbman made no other reply than to thrust his hand into his trousers pocket and pull out big roll of bills. He counted out 1000 and laid them down on the desk
 "'Of course, he said, I presume if we make the connection that you speak of will get back what have paid in excess.
 II saw then that he was in earnest I took out $500 to guarantee us and returned the rest to him with the understanding that he was to pay the conductor, if he missed tho first connection, according to the terms had outlined. at once set the machinery in motion to get out the train. It required good deal of work In the first place. we had no engine in which the fire was up and found it would save time to have one brought on from another sta tion. Then we had to send for an engineer who would be capable of running the train at the high rate of speed that was de- manded and still avoid unnecessary risks As ours was in the main only single track road, we had to telegraph all along the line to keep the track clear of freight trains and arrange to have the ordinary passenger trains side tracked at conven- lent times and places. Altogether about four hours were taken up in these prelim- inaries During that time the English men loafed around, looking very bored and not at all interested in car efforts to hurry things. When it was announced that the train was ready, they invited me to drink to tho success of their trip in bottle of wine, condescension on their part that amazed me, and the last saw of them they were lowing from the rear platform of their car as the train went flying out of the depot. They made the connection at the first junction, as learned that night by telegraph. How fhav avar did if I don't bpovv brt bovo