Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-04

A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE,
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~~<% OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Every one was pleased when Jim
Fsrrar got his appointment as en-
gineer, for he was a fayorte with all
from the carcleaners up to the su.
perintendent himself.
There had only been two events in
Jim's life that equaled it in impor-
lance One was when he married
Mary, and the other when their little
girl came ~ o" Their sum OF h,
man happiness complete.
Jim, SAID the superintendent, 40
he stood respectfully waiting, cap in
hand, you have keen in rhe employ
OF this company, man and boy. many
years. 1t is, as you know, unusual
to give az engineer on his first run a
passenger train, but we have the full.
est confidence in you. iou are IN old
fireman, hold an engineers certificate
ana are, am sure, Is competent to
enter on your new duties ns many NJ
the Older men on the road. There n,
your appointment. uur orders are
70 take cut NO. Seven in the morn
ing ana remember--an engineer holds
the lives of his passengers IN his
hands Jack IIaily is Your fireman.
and with pleasant smile the super
latendcnt dismissed him.
Jim went out OF The Office with n
ut heart; the long cherished anil
AN was realized at last, an il meant
mo1 ray TOO, and he though; Of Mary
And the little girl at home. 1t had
"yen hard work sometimes making
Goth ends meet, but that was all past
now.
ihe first thing Jim did to celebrate
his good fortune was TO march
straight to the store and buy the wife
I new bonnet, the identical one she
had seen and longed for, and then
the little girl must have new dress.
100, l'e had never bought such a
thing before. Mary had always pur-
chased the material and made 1t up
herself, but he could not wait for
mat. There were so many different
dresses shown him that he could
hardly make up his mind which to
choose, for Jim had grave misgiyngs
as to his own taste-but he finally de-
clded on bright red one, upon the
saleswoman assuring him 1t was the
latest thing, consoIing himself with
the thought that il it did not prove
becoming, it was at least bright and
cheerful, which was something.
That was a happy home that night.
The little girl had to try on the new
dress to show how well she loonod in
IT, and Jim told her she need not keep
1t for Sundays, but could wear II
whenever she pleased. "rhe bows ~ =.
think you are danger signal" he
said, and laughed loudly out OF the
pure happiness Of his heart. Then his
mates began to drop in to congratu-
late him, and there was a general iol-
LITIGATION, for there was not man
who did not wish him we'll
Next morning Jim took out mo.
Seven and Mary was standing in the
doorway holding up the enid that
she might see him as he passed lhe
house, and Jim was the proudest and
happiest man that ever stood in cab
as he waved his hand to them and
whistled loud and long in answer to
their good-byes.
His daily run was to l. and re-
turn, and he had just passed p
junction on the return trip. being
n short run OF home, when
Jack laily, leaning out OF the cab
window looked back along the
stretch of track along when
they had just passed. "Jim," he said
there's train a-followiD
us up. faint a regular. must be a !
wild Enlightenment can't be- thai. !
there amt no cars. Seems like the |
'uperintendent's special"
Jim looked-"Coming pretty fast
co." he said, and he reached for the
ever and blew warning whistle. To
MS surprise, the strange engine paid
10 attention TO his signal.
What's the matter with that fell
ow?" said The fireman, uneasily,
he'll run us down ii he don't look
MT
Jim gave one quick backward
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