Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-09

which assisted her greatly. but the time
came when she was compelled to gain a
livelihood for herself. She had no rela-
tives upon whom she could rely, for assist
ance, and she had to get employment or
go to the pOorhouSe.
She tried in vain to secure employment
| as clerk or assistant of some kind in stores
and offices, but there were no vacancies.
There was but one thing left-to become
a servant in some private house. She had
situation in that. capacity when the
thought came into her mind, why not APP
ply to the railroad company for a position
life. on the railroad and perhaps the Off
cials would take compassion on her. She
and laid her case before that official. He
offered to assist her to the extent of his
power. II she was willing to learn teleg-
raphy he would get her a good position
solutely nothing open at the present time
unless she was willing to accept a job as
The last words he added in Jest. but the
penniless woman looking for bread and
butter was not there to Jest. The word
acted upon it then and there. The super
intendent nearly fell out of his chair when
she calmly remarked that she would like n
time to assure him that she meant what
she said, and then he tried to argue her
out of the notion. hut she would not be
deferred from following in the footsteps Of
her dead husband. The superintendent
thought she was crazy. and that it would
be a good joke to refer her to the train
master with instructions to put her to
work.
Accordingly Mrs. Mulligan was given q
note to the man intrusted with the move
ment of trains. and the next day she was
SWinging a lantern on the top of an extra
west" The superintendent discovered that
the joke was on the wrong side. but decid-
ed to let matters stand as they were. think
Ing that she would soon tire of the work
and turn in her resignation. But Mrs.
Mulligan proved to be a woman of extraor-
binary staying qualities, and soon demon
strated that she knew considerable about
the business. She had made many trips
on the road with her late husband. dur
ing which she had taken advantage of
nails and many other things pertaining to
the train service. So that, with the as
sistance Of other train hands. she soon
attained a high degree of competency. and
Is now regarded as a permanent fixture on
the road.
Not long since the conductor in Mrs.
Mulligan's crew became temporarily dis
abled and 1t fell upon her to take charge
OF the crew. She made several trips in
charge of fast extras and acquitted her
self so creditably that the superintendent
paid her the compliment of extending his
congratulations. Mrs. Mulligan takes pains
to keep things tidy about the caboose in
which the crew rides. Through her eff
forts the floor has been nicely carpeted.
the windows curtained and the seats newly
cushioned. She has adorned the walls with
paintings. calendar pictures. etc, and 9TH
erwise improved the interior of the car
until 1t looks like q coZy little parlor on
wheels.
Mrs. Mulligan's ambition is to become a
passenger conductor. and she expects to
gain her promotion to that position by per-
forming her work as it should be per-
formed. She is about 30 years of age, tall,
erect and good looking.