Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-06-23
HOLDING THE EXPRESS,
BY GEORGE ETHELBERT WALSH.

Sim going to make out my applica.
tion for promotion to the junction this
morning." remarked Ray Stannard,
emphatically. 81 don't believe the
railroad would ever promote one if he
ai Int ask for it.
Probably not, Ray" answered
Arthur, his brother, and senior by two
<ears. ''But on the other hand you
might lose your position if you seem
dissatisfied. I've been promoted twice,
and l never once asked for an adj
vance,
'"That's the difference between your
store, where the officers are all gentle
men, and the J. T. & w. railroad,
xhere you don't know who is the
authority. Those who pay me my
wages never come down to see me.
They even send an agent down to col
lect the monthly bills. If could get
Up at the Junction in the main office
night get chance to work up. But
down here at this small station I'm
not noticed, and nobody knows
whether L do my work well or not"
''Do you believe that?" Arthur
asked. Don't you think they know
up at headquarters what agents do
their duty thoroughly? / don't know,
but I'll bet they have record of you,
and every other employe ON the road.
'Well, my record is clean," Ray re-
piled. "My reports have all bee COR
rect, and have never made a mistake
of a serious nature in my Office. -
''Then should say such record
will tell in your favor in time"
''In time? Yes, when I'm an old
man. I've been here four years-ever
since 1 left school and I'm no nearer
promotion than at first"
Arthur shook his head. At the fork
in the road they separated, and
Arthur's last words to his brother
were:
Don't do things hasty, Ray. Re-
member, we must support mother, and
If you lose your position things will
go hard this winter"
''Oh, they won't drop me-" Ray
answered, little proudly. "They
know that I'm valuable to them, and
they won't get another agent here to
do their work so WELL. :"
The two brothers worked about a
nile apart-Arthur in large factory
below Jamesport, and Ray in the rail
road station just outside of the village
Four years before Mr.. Stannard had
3ied, leaving his wife and two children
practically penniless. Both of them
w6re at school at the time, preparing
Tor college; bur with praiseworthy
zeal they gave up their cherished plans
without murmur, and secured en-
ployment te support their mother.
Arthur was doing wellin the wooden
factory, waere he was liked and
trusted, and Ray had always per-
formed his duties satisfactorily as
He was quick at figures and good
Elegraph operator.
But as the months and years passed
lis ambition to secure position in
Me main office at the Junction grew
Apon him, but seemed to be doomed
10 disappointment. His position was
more irritating because his brother
had 4wice in the same time been pro-
Aoted in the factory.
satisfied this morning, as he left
Arthur, and trudged on toward the
railroad He entered the small station
md proceeded slowly to perform the
routine duties of his Office.
Then, when the morning express
Aad passed and the way bills had beer
made out, he sat down before his
desk and began t. write out his appii
sation.
'It's the only way I'll ever get ad
vanced," he muttered to himself, as i
so strengthen any wavering of his de
cisiou. GIVE waited four years fol
some recognition of my service from
the company, and at this rate it vii
never come. l believe every one who
succeeds in railroading has topush hi
way forward
Satisfied with this argument, h,
proceeded to f anne his thoughts, ant
to put them upon paper. He found
when he came to enumerate his goot
points, that he had done nothing ex
traordinary-only administered tn,
affairs of his Office intelligently, an,
without any serious mistakes.
Ray had fair gifts as writer, ant
his petition was we'll worded. Whe
finished he read it over t.
see if it sounded just right
He was right in the mids
of it when his telegraph instru
ment began to click. He listened t
its sounds, and read the message
'sHold the west bound express q
Jamesport until further orders. Trac
is torn up between Jamesport and til
Junction. E. TT"
Ray took mental note of the II es
sage and glanced at his watch.