Evening journal., 1898-04-19
Gave las RvAL a FAs1 aIos.
Courtship OF California Conductor
Ilrnnght to a snddcn Tcrrlinntinn.

COurtship OF IA California Conductor
brought to a sudden Tcrmination.
On the Southern Pacific railway IN
California. not far from Moiave, is a Ia
tie station. spur track" box car for
telegraph Office and a section houst
composing the whole. The station
house Is. or was, presided over by a.
handsome and hearty Irish woman.
who kept heuse for her husband. The
''hands.' Being Chinese, cooked for
themselves. The duties Of the agent
consisted Of reporting the passage OF
trains lnone Of them stopped) and
feeding himself Two or three miles
10 the west was what is termed in that
section a milk ranch. This ranch con-
tanned a widow and three buxom girls,
her daughters.
One might have supposed that the
agent, being "Johnny on the spoi,'' as
It were, stood better chance than the
rest of the railroaders, but such was
not the case. There was a certain con-
ductor, Hardy by name, who leaned i'm
the direction of the widow, and he was
]
operations was unique and daring. He
would send his train ahead, leaving the
caboose at me station. Then, of course,
taking account of other trains due, he
would wander over to the ranch and
spend all his spare cash In milk and
his spare time in blarney. Returning he
would station himself on the front
platform of the caboose, like a trolley
man, and "let her go, Gallagher" down
40 miles of grade, while he controlled
the car by means of tho brake, catch
| his train at the next station and pro-
ceed
The agent did not like this very we'll
Unfortunately for him his duties were
such as to confine him to his box car
Office almost continually. so that he
had no chance TO prosecute his suit. ex.
cept when the ladies paid visit to the
station house. After much breeding
he decided to put a stop to further pro.
ceedings on the part of the conductor
and awaited his opportunity 1t was q
bright day in June when the trair
pulled in, and as the-conductor gave
the engineer joyful and significant
high BALI the latter pulled out, leav
ing a caboose at the station. There was
short salute and q hurried departur,
as the conductor left the agent and tn,
latter proceeded to business. He frs
placed q "chock" against wheel Of III,
var and then disconnected the brak
chain. He placed the connected chaii
IN such a position that touch woul,
displace il and then awaited the return
of his hated rival.
Like a triumphant gladiator Hard
returned. With scarce a look at N
agent he assembled the platform, kicke
oil the dog" that held the brake, an
{ with mingled feeling of security an
pleasure felt the car move down tn
grade. That car certainly moved. Cor
nuctor Hardy was heard TO say after
, ward that nothing could have passe
it but lightning. The inhabitants q
Mojave tell to this day of a yello,
streak which flashed through thei
town and was gone almost as soon a
it arrived. That was Mr.. Hardy an
the caboose. AS luck would have
= the train had gone into a siding, so tina
the track was clear, and after dovelib
fight of about 30 miles thdwild caboos
. came TO a stand. Mr. Hardy "nevs
: came back any more," so far as III
widow was concerned. - Anacond
/ MINT Standard