Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-07-14

He looked At mo a momen. In a
half-quizzical, halfmlschisvous man
ner, and replied;
Say, Fred, I've heard some OF tho
boys on the line say you was dead gone
on that piece, and have an idea she
Is on your trail, too, for she made mo
tell her all about you while my train
was lying there this morning waiting
for No 7. Did you never see her2"
mo, never had the pleasure OF
meeting Miss Rankin"
miss Rankin? You mean Mrs. Ran
kin"
Mean wha-a-a'at?"
MRS. Rankin. thought you knew
she was widow with two kids at her
mothers, up In Arkansas City ! guess
she's square enough eort of woman,
but when you see her, old man, I've
an idea you won't want second look.
She's no spring chicken! Forty II
she's day, and she doesn't need q
better protector than that face OF hers.
And temper! Gee-whlz! My hind
brakeman asked her the other day IL
that face didn't pain her, and she
grabbed up n coupllng-pln and let 1t go
at him. He'd have been dead brakey
II he hadn't been good dodger. He
never sticks his head out of the ca
boose window now while we are at that
station, for she's got It in for him"
The passenger whistled and he hast
ened to his train to pull out as soon
as the track was clear.
How cruelty my Idol was shattered.
After the trains had gone, l sat 40 IL
dazed In fact, was 80 absorbed In
dIgestlng the startling information /
had CLEANED from Armstrong that I
neglected to report their departure, and
the "jacklng-up" received from the
dispatcher for my inottentlon to
duty served to still further increase the
III temper into which the conductors
story had thrown me. The snappy
clicks OF the instruments had scarcely
ceased to convey to my ears the mer-
tied reproof, concluding with the ster-
eotyped chestnut which dlspatchers al
ways crack In such cases, Don't let II
occur again. ere heard a call from
Edmond. Heretofore had fairly
sprung to the table to respond to that
call, but now felt no desire to enter
q conversation with the ogre who pre-"
sided at the key at that distant station.
1t was with no gentle touch that / an
swered her CALL
Say, Sd" (my personal sIgnalD, Its
too bad, but u shld tend to biz. Hal
ha! hal Was sleep or reading letr
I'm ur girl?"
Thus came her consolatory message
in the abbreviated conversational style
Of the telegrapher, and It served to
fan the flames Of my anger into a Gerco
heat. Had II been the nice little NAL
den OF my dreams who had slung such
chaff at me over the wires would
have smiled and thought 1t real cute.
but that fright! Bah!
81 DIT no as II interests VT l was
doing. I'm 2 busy to talk NV"
l snapped the words off with spite
full sharpness and closed my key with
thump that almost sprung the cir
cult breaker.
"Well needn't bite my nose of cor
DR. 1.-THE dlspatcher) turned you over.
Call me up when II get In cd humor.
I'VE something to 50 to H."
My gentlemanly instincts sharply re-
proved me for treating her In such an
ungentlemanly manner. Had she ever
led me to believe she was young and
handsome? Was she to be blamed be-
cause she was widow, wore carica-
ture in lieu of face and was the
mother of two children, no doubt az
ugly as herself? | felt a tinge OF
shame for having spoken so Grossly to
her, and with softer touch Of the key
replied:
81 beg pardon, madam. I've got bad
hedake today, and feel cross as bear.
Forgot was talking to lady. VT Y
want to 50 to met"
20, I'm real sorry ur not WELL for
I've been ticipating pleasant visit with
u. The agent here Is on No. s. and I'm
ordered to Ark. City, and I thought II
twould be greeable to u Id 80 up on
freight trn and stop over t'r for pass
enger ts eveng. want to the old
stain again"