The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-11-07

ute Of ner time. ana being but now
forty-nyc minutes late. desired TO pro
coed on eastward to Hcgarth for the
meeting, rather than risk having to
WAL at Williamson. The order was
pro pity given. for express trains are
things which must be humored by train
dlspatcnsrs. This, Of course, made II
IeremD,ory to stop COZ at Hogarth aud
give her a revised order In conformity
with that now held by the conductor
or No 1. 1t was easy enough. All that
was needed was 10 call up the operator
at Hogarh and tell him to display his
red signal and stop the approaching
freight train. Kenneth understood
what was 70 follow. You cannot tramp
over trdnscontlnental line for month
without acquiring a thorough knowl-
edge OF Its telegrapnlc secrets, II you be
TN operator. Kenneth was acquainted
with the Significance Of the various nu-
neral signals which the dispatchers
used so as to economlze on time-'3S'
was the warning to make ready to re-
celye a train order, III" meant for the
operator 10 repeat what he had receiv-
ed. and 80 on. And so when the anx-
ious dispatcher called upon the boy at
Hogarth and said. ''30 No. 6O2," the
shabby man OF the Morse was aware
that what was wanted was the display
OF the red signal and the consequent
Lolding Of No 602 for revised orders.
But, to his surprise the boy did not
make the customary response, "37 No.
6O2," which would be the short way OF
saying, II have hung out my red signal
and will hold No. 602 for orders" In
stead, he scratched his head in n puz-
zled way, and after a moment tele-
graphed back to the man who was d.
recting tim, How that? What do
you mea?T
IL Is very likely that the disaptcher
had an attack Of vertigo at that moment
when he realized that a fast freight
train and heavy passenger train were
approaching one another on a curving.
twisting track, each going at highest
speed and each seeking to make a DIFF
ferent station for passing and when he
realized at the same time that lout OF
student did not understand what was
was wanted of him. Painstaklngly and
slowly the dispatcher licked back. Il
mean to put out your red
lantern for No. Coz" Slowly It
came, indeed, but If the ticking was
slow the beating Of the heart of the dis
catcher must have been rapid enough.
The boys face lighted up. In tangle
of enthu siasm he ratified of this an
swer, jumbling his words together In
way uniptelligible to any but waiting
ear: Alright, Iwillputit out"
With Il smile at this change of events
which had arranged II so that No. COZ
would stop after all and give him
chance to mount an end sill or climb I'M
der a ca, Kenneth rose and walked
up the platform. 1t was not a long plat
form, for the town was small, but by
the time he had reached the end he saw
the light of No. Coz swinging into the
only five miles OF straight track on the
road. and he realized that in few min
utes. obeying the command OF the red
lantern on the target, she would stop
and give him a chance to get on board.
He turned to look back at the signal
light and his face took on a stony mask
of dismay. He was to be disappointed
again. The light was not shining.
Doubtless the order had again been
changed. The language he used was
inelegant and outspoken. The train
Grew nearer. He could hear the rapid
sound o; the locomotives exhaust and
there was no hope OF her stopping.
Suddenly "A fearful thought came to
him. He remembered thar he had not
seen the boy put OFT the lamp at all.
What if
He rushed back to the window like a
fury. where's your red signal for this
train?" he shrleked. "Stop this train.
Stop her! The dispatcher has orders for
her"
Very likely the DO; would have told
the ragged and dirty tramp to mind his
own business but for that allusion to
the dlspa tcher Heaven permitted the
fool to hive thought at the right time.
and in an expostulating, mumbling way
he said: mo. he amt. He told me to
put the light out and I've been five
minutes tiyin to pu, 1t out. Had to take
1, apart before l could blow 1t out, and
now II smokes like ali the -"
There was no time for him to COM
plete his smile. foi Kenneth was
through the window now and had the
red office flag in his hand. He seized the
hall lamp from the telegraph table, and
with the flag folded about the chimney
TO give the crimson hue Of danger he
rushed to the platform, the lmprovised
rec sigma sending iis dim message Of /
warning weakly down the track toward /
the laundering engine Of No. COZ. now
scarcely fifty yards away.
Weakly but Il answered Its purpose,
for. although the trains momentum
carried II far past the Office. she came
back In response to that well-known I
signal. The kids red light blew out
and | had to help him fake one up" /
said Kenneth TO the conductor. and I
then he sat down to take the order. 1
pushing the boy aside as though he /
were no. to be considered. Chicago /