Evening star., 1897-02-13
THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
BY CY WARMAN.
Copyright. 1877, by Cy warman.)


Any one could see by the air of industry
that pervaded the place that something
unusual was going on. Everybody was
busy. Three or four switch engines+noisy
little tugs of the raiI-were putting and
snorting amid the sea of cars that covered
the freight yards Down at the round
house the day foreman. in a newly washed
suit OF overclothes. hurried to and fro
with crumpled copies of kilograms from
the trainmaster. The boss wiper, with
his gang, was clearing the circle IT, front
of the house of dirty waste and humps of
coal. One of the men was sweeping the
turn-table with a broom. Now
yard engine came by with freshly painted
mail car, and another followed it with a
mile or SO of cmpties. reminding you of
a little black ant at one end of a fish
worm.
the superintendent had gone into the
diSpatche-'s office to talk with the train
master about meeting point for No. s
and the presidents special. This was the
new president, who, with tie chairman of
the board of directors. was making his
first tour of inspection.
Every one must be busy without appear
ing 10 try to lie. The section boss saw that
each man was at his shovel. and waved
slow signal himself TO show the Off
cials that they had been doing something
to the track. The roadmaster had gone
out that morning, occupying camp stool
on the rear platform of No. S.
All these things combined to show to
the most casual observer that something
the road at this particular point there
was a look of anxiety. though he might
be repeating:
He'll cut me off or let me stay.
Just as he happens to feel today.
The division superintendent who had
lust into the diSDa tcherS Office
an exception to the rule that all subordf-
nate officials are afraid of new MANAGE
ment. He knew his business, and knew he
could go with the retiring manager to an
other road. The trainmaster was of
different caste. He was nervous a
maiden lady in her first bicycle suit. Hav-
ing sent the trick man away he was
handling the trains himself. to make sure
that everything was o. KID
Il sent a girl over here yesterday-an
operator. said the superintendent. after
they had fixed the meeting point. land you
sent her away. 1 have instructed her to
call here again this morning. and 1 hope
you will be good enough to put her to work.
Her father was the engineer who was
killed when the fast mail went in the ditch
the east end. and she is the only sup
port her mother has
The trainmaSter mumbled something
about the company running unnecessary
risks for charity's sake, when the superin-
tendent cut him off with the Information
that there was no charity about it. 1t was
just 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 especial care of her and
keep her out of trouble. The man at the
key said he would endeavor to find a place
for her. but he positively refused to be re-
sponsible for her. Then. sir. said the
superintendent. II shall cease to be re-
sponsible 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 unobseryed by either of
the angry officials.
The superintendent. after pacing the room
time or two. paused at one of the win
dows overlooking the yards. The presi-
dents 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 tilt
with his chief. his mind was disturbed.
The office was now as still DEATH save
for the clicking of the keys and the slow,
measured ticking of the great clock above
the dispatcher's desk-the clock that
marked time for all the clocks on the entire
system Presently the dispatcher jerked
the key open and began to call Westcreek
and when he got them said:
Train No. 3. Conductor Smith. will take
siding for special west Eng. IS at East
creek
Now he began calling the operator at
Lookout siding. and when he answered the
dispatcher shot him an order that almost
Special west. Engine SO, will meet train
No s at Westcreek"
The pale girl sprang to her feet. The dis
patcher turned and saw her. and when he
realized that she must have overheard the
quarrel between the superintendent and
himself his anger rose against the innocent
young woman. and the other official seeing
their embarrassment. quit the room by a
side door.
Mr.. Goodlough. you've made a great
mistake" said the girl.
Have T. shouted the trainmaster, land
do you expect salary for correcting mee'
Look at your sheet. You've"
What yelled the man. do you mean
For heavens sake. man." pleaded the
girl see what you've done-look at the
ten minutes. You'll be a murderer if YOU
fail to save those trains''
You're about as crazy as they get" said
the dispatcher and really she looked like
mad woman. with her big eyes burning In
her pale face OF sudden she turned,
darted out of the Office and down the
stairs as an actress quits a burning hotel.
She's bird in telegraph Office" NUT
tered the trainnaster 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 notion in her
head? Can il be" and then he stopped
short. staring at the train sheet in front of
Lin. and one would have thought to look
at him that his eyes had caught the wild
light that was in the eyes of his visitor
and that the malady he seemed to see in
her mind had been suddenly transmitted
10 his Now he glanced quickly from the
sheet to the clock "Twenty-seven," he
said. and he knew by heart that No. 8 was
due az Westcreek at tw'enty-eight. and he
reached a trembling hand for the key and
began calling the operator. Ten. twenty
thirty seconds went by and no answer came
Forty. fifty. nfty-five seconds. and he fancied
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