Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-02-07
HE APOLOGlZEO,
But His Apology Was Amended at tho
Last M oment.

But His Apology Was Amended at tho
Last Moment.
Under the great shed Of one of Chi
cago's principal railway stations stood
train about to depart on far journey
into the west, the engine suffering and
trembling under it's overcharge of steam.
Conductors and brakeman were swing
ing their lanterns and bustling about
full of importance and everything but
information. Passengers were scurrying
down the long aisles. putting into the
coaches, dropping their bundles into
seats and sinking in after them with
looks Of thankfulness that they had not
missed the train and that there was at
least chance to rest.
Outside was Ntt1e old man dressed
in tho grease besmeared uniform Of a
depot employees swinging carelealy but
with the air of supreme Importance
along the side Of the train. He wore on
bis head a cap of the Tourist" pattern.
which had been pulled ovsr hisL ears 90
hard aud so often that II retained little
il any Of ito original shape. His whis-
kers were Of the "billy goat" cut. and
between his teeth was tightly clinched q
black clay pipe. on which he pulled
oomplacently. In his right hand he car
ried hammer, with which he raped
the car wheels a. he passed, carefully
listening to the "Eing" to make sure
that they were in order 30 stand the
whir1ing over the rails expected Of
them. Under tho last car the little man
found one wheel that did not ring to
suit him under the blow Of his hammer.
he tapped it again, but with no more
satisfactory result STRENGTHENING up,
he shouted to a couple of assistants who
tsudged along from the other end Of the
station.
"Take out those wheels" he ordered
when they had reached him. But the
conductor Of the train. overhearing the
order, began to expostulate In five
minutes he was to pull out.
whats the matter with those
wheels?' he demanded Of the little man
with the hammer.
"Take them out, say was the only
reply.
but how are you going to take them
out when we leave in a couple of min
utes?" demanded the conductor.
"Idon' care when you leave, replied
the memorable little man, and turning
to his assistants he repeated the order,
"Take out those wheels.
At this juncture man carrying a
"grip," and who appeared to be recog-
nized by most every one as person of
authority, stopped on bis way toward
the forward end of the train on an ad-
joining track.
"Oh, I guess those wheels will stand
the run all right, he said in an authori-
tative way after the situation had been
explained to him.
"Well, your guessing has nothing to
do with it, snapped the little man in
blue. "Take out those wheels, say"
Everybody seemed startled at the lit
tie mans hot answer, the man to whom
it was addressed no less than the others.
Tie engine bell of the latter's train be-
gan to ring, however, and he hurried
away and swung himself on the back
platform.
"Well, you've cooked your goose, "
muttered the conductor, turning on the
reso]ute little man in blue. "Do you
know who that was?"
"No, I don't know. Who was it?"
"No one but the vice president Of the
road.'
"Oh, murther. Was that the vice
president? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You talked as if you didn't care,
that's why"
A week later the same little man
stood in the vice presidents Office, hat
in hand, trembling with fear for his job
and with an apology ready on his lips.
II didn't mean just what I said the
other night" he began when he finally
got the vice presidents ear. "If I had
known it was you''-
"What you said what other night?"
interrupted the vice president, not rec.
ogniziug his visitor.