The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-15
He A%PoLoGIzED.
But Hh Apology Was Amended at the
Last Moment.

ARotoS5 was <AInchueu at Gn6
Last Moment.
Under the great shed of one Of Chi
cago's principal railway stations stood
q train about to depart OH a far journey
into h west, the engine sputtering and
trembling under its oyercharge of steam.
Conductors and brakemen 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 t~hankfulness that they had not
missed the train and hat there was at
least a chance to rest.
Outside was q little old man dressed
i'll the grease besmeared uniform of a
depot employee swinging carelessly but
with the air of supreme Importance
along the side of the train. He wore on
his head q cap of the Tourist pattern,
which had been pulled over his ears so
hard and SO often hat it retained little
if any of its original shape. His whis-
kers were of the chilly goat cut, and
between his teeth was tightly clinched a
black clay pipe, OH which he pulled
complacently. In his right hand he car
RED q hammer, with which he raped
the car wheels as he passed, carefully
listening to the ring to make sure
that they were i'll order to stand the
whirring i've 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 his hammer.
He tapped it again, but with no more
satisfactory result. Strengthening up,
he shouted to n couple of assistants who
trudged 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 tho
order, began to expostulate. In five
minutes he was to pull ont.
Whats the matter with those
wheels?" he demanded Of the little man
with the hammer.
reply.
But how are you going to take them
out when we leave in q couple Of min
utes?" demanded the conductor.
"Idon't care when you leave" replied
the memorable little man, and turning
to his assistants he repeated the order,
"Take ont those wheels" r.
AT this juncture q man carrying a
grip" and who appeared to be recog-
nlZed by most every one as a person of
authority, stopped OH his way toward
tho forward end of the train on an ed
joining track.
ooh, l guess those wheels will stand
the Il all right" he said in an authori-
tatlve way after tho 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, I say"
Everybody seemed startled at the lit
tie mans hot answer, the MAJ to whom
it was addressed no less than the others.
The 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
resolute little man in blue. "Do you
know who that was?"
mo, / don't know. Who was it?"
"No one but the vice president of the
road"
"Oh, mnrther. Was that the vice
president? Why didn't You tell me?"
"You talked rs if you didn't care,
that's why"
A week later the same little man
stood i'll the vice presidents Office, hat
Ill hand, trembling with fear for his job
and with all apology ready on his lips.
81 didn't mean just what l said the
other night" lie began when he finally
got the vice presidents ear. "If l had
known it was YOU
"What you said what other night?''
interrupted the vice president, not rec
ognizing his visitor.
"About taking out the wheels, SIR -
suffered the little man in blue.
"Oh, that was all right" good ma
turedly responded the vice president.
THAT'S all right. You were doing your
duty rs you understood it. Don't worry
about that"
And anyway" went on tho little
man, emboldened by the assurances of
the vice president, anyway I can't be
supposed to know every fool who comes
along and tries to tell me my business. -
Chicago Inter Ocean.
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cure wss effected. He says he has since
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ard all who have done so have spoken
highly OF it 1t Is for sale by the Chas.
Lyle Drug Company.