The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-14


thing unusual was going on. Everybody
was busy. Three or four switch en-
gines--noisy little tugs of the rail--were
putting and snorting amid the sea Of cars
that covered the freight yards. Down
at the roundhouse the day foreman, III
a newly washed suit of oyercl0thes, hur-
ried to and fro with crumpled copies of
telegrams from the train master. Inc
boss wiper, with. his gang, was clearing
the circle in froHt of the house of dirty
waste and humps of coal. One of the men
was sweeping the turn-table with new
broom. Now a yard engine came by
with a freshly painted mail car, and an
other followed it with a mile or so OF emp
ties, reminding you of a little black ant
at one end of fish worm.
The superintendent had gone lnto the
dispatcher's office to talk with the tram
master about meeting point for NO. Q
and the presidents special This was
the new president, who, with the CHAIR
man of the board of directors, was max
ing his first tour of inspection.
Every one must be busy without APP
pearing to try to be- The section boss
saw that each man was at his shovel
and waved ''slow'' signal himself to
show the officials that they had been doing
had gone out that morning, occupying a
camp stool on the rear platform of No. 3.
All these things combined to show to
the most casual observer that something
was up. In the face of every officer of the
road at his particular point there was
a look Of anxiety, as though he might
be repeating:
He'll cut me off or let me stay,
Just as he happens to feel to-day
Tue division superintendent who had
just gone into the dispatcher's office was
an exception to the rule that all subor-
dinate officials are afraid of a new MAN.
agement. He knew his business, and
knew he could go with the retiring man
ager to another road. The train master
was of q different caste. He was as
nervous as a maiden lady in her first
bicycle suit Having sent the trick
man away he was handling the trains
himself, to make sure that everything
was 0. KID.
Il sent girl over here yesterday-an
operator"-said the superintendent after
they had fixed the meeting point, land
you sent her away. | have instructed
her to work Her father was the engineer
| hope you viii be good enough TO put
her to work Her father was the eginneer
the ditch on the east end, and she is
the only support her mother has
The trainmaster muTnbled something
about the company running unnecessary
risks for charity's sake, when the super
intendent cut him off with the informa-
ton that here was no charity about it.
1t was just an act of simple justice and
decency, and he hoped the trainmaster
would not only give the girl something
TO do, but that he would take special
care Of her and keep her out of trouble.
The man at the key said he would en-
deavor to find place for her, but he
positively refused to be responsible for
her. 'sThen, sir" said the superintendent,
II shall cease to be responsible for you."
and there followed a scene in the midst
of which pale girl slipped into the
room and sank upon seat outside the
railing unobserved by either of the angry
officials.
The superintendent, after pacing the
room time or two, paused at one of
the windows overlooking the yards. The
presidents special had for the moment
been forgotten by the dispatcher, who
now turned to the key to send the order
for the meeting.
Still smarting from the effect of the
turbed.
The office was now as still as death,
save for the clicking of the keys and
the slow measured ticking of the great
clock above the dispatcher's desk-the
clocks on the entire system. Presently
the dispatcher jerked the key open and
began to call Westereek, and when he
got them said:
Train No. s, conductor Smith, viii
take siding for special west Eng. So at
Eastercreek."
Now he began calling the operator at
Lookout siding, and when he answered
the dispatcher shot him an order that
almost burned the wire:
Especial west engine So, will meet
train No. s at Westcreek."
The pale girl sprang to her feet. The
dispatcher turned and saw her, and
when he realized that she must have
overheard the quarrel between the super
intendent and himself his anger rose
against the innocent young woman, and
the other official, seeing their embarrass-
ment quit the room by side door.
"hTr. GOodlough, you've made a great
mistake said the girl.
'Have IP' shouted the trainmaster.
land do you expect salary for correcting
meY
"What?' yelled the man, ''do you
mean to-"
''For heavens sake man." pleaded the !
girl, ''see what you've done-look atsthe
clock-there'll be collision in less than
10 minutes. You'll be murderer if you
fail TO save those trains"
YOU'RE about as crazy as they get"
said the dispatcher, and really she looked
like a mad woman, with her big eyes
burning in her pale face OF sudden
she turned, darted out of the office and
ran dGwn the stairs as an actress quits
a burning hotel.
''She's a bird in a telegraph Office"
muttered the trainmaster going back to
his desk "Ah, well! I'm sorry for her
and glad she's gone. / presume she's
lost her mind grieying after her father:
but what could have put that fool no.
ton in her head? Can it be-" and then
he stopped short, staring at the train
sheet in front of him, and one would