The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-08-11

standing on O side track, waiung TOT
the south-bound passenger to pass. Jim
Atkins, q long. lazy boy OF about Is, 4
brother of Grace's shambled up 10 the
NIB and said, in q voice too low for the
loungers to overhear:
''Say, Dan, Grace sea she wants ter
see you Jest a minute"
"All ight!" said Dan, with something
in his voice as near like eagerness ashe
was ever known to come. Where
abonts Is she?"
"In the little room Jest back OF the
s'loou." Dams countenance fell at the
last word.
"You know what the rules Of the Den
yer Is bout their men goin' into s'loons
while on duty" faltered Dan.
'Shucks!" CALCULATED Jim, con-
temptuously. "A man that amt got
sand enough to take little risk to get
10 see his gal amt much good. Grace
said tell you she ainr well, nohow."
"Not well?" interrupted Ben Stikes.
briskly. "Dan, you just stay here an
I'll 90 an see If"
"Naw, you wont!' exclaimed Dan,
humiedly, as he jumped down from the
cab; I'm goin' myself.H
This was the nearest that Dan was
ever known to come toward displaying
any resen tment toward Ben. AS he
strobe away one of his brukenen came
hurrying after him.
"Say, Dan," he queried, anxiously.
"you amt goin' over to Atkins are
your
Dan nodded.
"Well, wouldn't. The or Mans in
town--eo they tell me; KEN in at $40,
an goin' out on the south-bound. God
only knows what he's stoppin' here for.
but IL he was to ketch you In that sa-
loon, he'd fire you, shore"
| Dan muttered some confused reply,
but still kept on toward the saloon. II
was nearly dark now, and when he
opened the door the big coal oil lamp
hanging behind the bar had been light
ed. Passing through without stopping.
he hurried into the room behind. There
he remained for about five inmates in
conversation with Grace. Just what
passed between them nobody knows,
but when Dan reappeared in the saloon
II was noticed that broad smile was on
his face.
shade up, did you, Dan? Glad 70 hear
IT," said big Bill Atkins, the proprietor
Of the saloon. Us he whacked Dan In the
ribs good-naturedly with his ponderous
fist
Dan said nothing, but nodded mystic
riously.
Then ne hurried TO the front door in
so much confusion that he collided at
full tilt with man who had Just en-
tered.
"Why don't you run over fellow p
exclaimed the newcomer, rather rough.
| ly. Then. stepping back he took good
look at the offender.
"Great Scott! In aint Dan Russell!
You are the lost man on the Denver I'd
ever have expected to see IN here. And
in such FIX, too"
It was the "Old Man." There Is nc
need 70 give his name or his official sta
ton. He was Dams superior officer in
railroad circles, and that settled the
matter. Dan hung his head and hurried
out into the gathering darkness to make
what he knew would be his last run OF
No. 16.
"What In the devil brought you In
here just at this tme?" growled Dill At.
kins as ne scowled at the newcomer.
The 'Old Man." who was not 40 very
old after oil. bowed rather deprecating
ly.
a young lady sent me o note, re
questing me to call. suppose II wa.
on business of come kind. It was Mis-
Atkins, your daughter, presume"
That night Grace had q stormy inter
view with her father. The more h
stormed, the more She wept II had al
been intended for joke. She had sen
for the 'Old Man" Just u tease Dar
and to make him little Jealous. Sh'
had never once thought any harm couit
come Of II. So she protested betwee,
her sobs. But her father only reiteratet
with lion-like roar that although h.
knew she was one Of the blankedes
fools in Texas, he knew very well sh
had never been such fool as that
OF course Dan was not discharged
that distinction is reserved for highe
officers in railroad circles Engineer
merely get fired; and that was wha
happened to Dan. If he had been ma
Of another kind, he might have worke
the proper wires and got of with only
short lay-of. Even IL he himself ha
begged hard enough matters NIGH
have been compromised. As 1t was, h
merely gave up his place without say
ling q word. Nobody was surprised I
learn that Ben stikes had been Pre-
NOTED to Dams place at the throttle G
No. 16. In few days Dan began quie'
ly to look about for another Job. II
soon obtained place under the sectio
foreman Of section only few mile
from the Chicken and Bread town. A
the foreman was married man, he IN
his family lived In town, Dan bunke
alone in the section house. II was a
humble Job for the former engineer, br
II