Saint Mary's beacon., 1896-02-27
Now He ApologIzed.

OuueF tue greks sneo OF one q
Chicago's principal railway stationi
stood . train about TO depart on q
far jesrney into the west. the en-.
gine sputtering and trem bling un.
der its overchsrge of steam. Con.
ductors and brakemen we're swing.
ing their lanterns and bustline
about, full Of Importance and eve.
rything but information. Passen-
gers were scurrying down the long
aisles, putting into coaches, drop
ping their bundles into seats and
sinking in after them, with looks
OF thankfulness thss they had not
'|hlsslI1 shs xsain - mt l.fs was
at least . chance to rest.
Outside was little, old man.
dressed in the grease besmeared ua-
form OF depot employe. swinging
carelessly but with the air Of su-
preme Importance along the side OF
the train. He wore on his head N
cap of the "tourist" pattern, which
had been pulled over his ears su
hard and 80 often that it retained
little. il any. Of his original shape.
His whiskers were of the billy goat
cat, and between his teeth was
tightly clinched black clay pipe,
on which he pulled complacently.
In his right hand he carried ham,
mer, with which he raped the car
wheels as he passed, carefully list.
rning to the ring to make sure
that they were in order to stand the
whirring over the rails expected Of
them.
Under the last car the little man
found one wheel that did not ring
to suit him under the blow Of the
hammer. He tapped it again, but
with no more satisfactory result.
Strengthening up, he shouted to a
couple of assistants, who trudged
along from the other end of the sta
ton.
Take out those Wheels he Or
dered when they reached him. But
the conductor Of the train, over
hearing the order, began to expos
tulate. In Ave minutes he was to
pull out.
What is the matter with those
wheels p he demanded of the little
man with the hammer.
lake them out, / say was the
only reply.
But how are you going TO take
them out when we leave in cou.
pie of minutes demanded the con.
ductor.
Il don't care when you leave, re-
piled the inexorabIe little man,
and turning to his assistants. hs
repeated the order Take out those
wheels
At this juncture q man carrying
a grip, and who appeared to b,
recognized by most everyone as :
person in authority, stopped on Iii
way toward the forward end of /,
train on an adjoining track.
'Oh, | guess those wheels vii
stand the run all right he said il
an authoritative way after the situa
ton had been explained to him.
well, your guessing has nothini
to do with it, snapped the littl
man in blue. Take out thos
wheels, | say
Everybody seemed startled at tn
little mans hot answer, the man l.
whom it was addressed no less thai
the others. The engine bell of tb
latter's train began to ring, howey
er. and he hurried away and swunl
himself on the back platform.
We'll, you've cooked your goose,
muttered the conductor, turning oil
the resolnte little man in blue. D
YOU know who that was =
NO, / don't know. Who was it:
No one bat the vice-president 0
the road
'Oh, murther Was that th
: vice president? Why didn't yor
tell me p
'You talked as il you didn't care
that's why
A week later the same little ma
stood in the vice-president's Office
; hat in hand, trembling with fea
, for his job and with an apolog
} ready on his lips.
Il didn't mean just what sal
the other night he began when h
, finally got the vice-president's eaI
If | had known 1t was you
] What you said the other night
interrupted the v;ss-prssidsnt, nc
recognizing his visitor.