The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-11-21

" Nasa@a Nine host t the re-
general IN a IL l.
a9er, looked the man in the eye for a
moment, and then, as the speed of the
train did not slacken, said CURLY, wav-
ing him away: Bridge watchmann'
= a moment later our train sucked
through deep cut, roared across a
long bridge and swept mp the slope to
The west.
Notice how that porter SHE'D when
the engineer answered the watchmau' 8
hag?' asked the manager.
= we had an experience, years ago,
with train robbers, and this porter
has never been able to live it down. |
was on the Hannibal and ST. Joe at
the time" he went on, dividing his
chances between me, his cigar and the
speed recorder over the back window.
- He pressed the button again and the
porter responded instantly. The man
aSer moved his thumb slightly and
the porter pulled the blinds.
The veracity OF the speed recorder
hal been questioned, and we hal
been holding our watches on it be.
tween stations, but now lost all in
terest III the speed Of the traiu or the
reliability of the Indicator.
= When Que of these interesting SOL
diers Of the rail who has begun the
battle as water boy and who ends as
president of the road lie has helped
to grade becomes reminiscent I al
ways listen, fer he has lived volumes
of thrilling stories.
Out on the road the general man.
ager delights to forget tho busy grind
OF the Office, to watch the blue rings
rise as he smokes, to think, and (if he
can trust you) talk over the exciting
incidents of the past
This thing happened on n Sun
day evening" resumed the MANAGER
when the porter had teeterei softly
down the side aisle that led to the
other endfoi tho car. "About eight
o'clock [ heard q sharp rap, rap on
the front dnor :. Knew that the SER
want had just gone out, so [ stepped
to answer the knock. As [ reached
for the handle the rap, rap was re.
peatei with added earnestness. was
annoyed, for L had gone to some ex-
pense to have q system Of bells put in
the house, rathe" rare thing in St.
Joe at that time; but now TO nv
amazement the knob turned. tho door
opened slightly and man lodged in.
Excuse me, Mr.. Blank said he:
i want to get in out of the glare of
that street lamp, and [ was not sure
that any one heard-pull that shade,
please, he said parenthetically.
Now, thought |, here's IN limo
cent sort Of crank, 50 l pulled the
shade on the parlor window. Still
my visitor appeared uneasy.
Would you mind stepping into a
room little further back?' he asked,
earnestly.
this way. .
My wife was in tho sitting room
with the children, and not wishing 10
disturb them lei my visitor into the
dining room where the gas was still
burning low.
"As [ turned on the light my visitor
shranh back into tho hall.
Pull that shade, he said. and
when | had drawn the blinds he
stepped into the woll-ligLtel room.
For n moment he waited. as one
waits listening for expected foot
atsp5.
Z presently he looked me full in the
face AMI said, frankly: I'm q rob-
Der.
'YesY
" Yes, I'm a roJbcr. We are going
out to Roy8 Branch TO hold up No. 3
tonight We went ont last Friday
night, but we mistook 80. 3 for II.
Seventeen waplate that uiyht. When
We had discovered our mistake 10 was
TOO late, in fact the engine had nj.
ready passed as before we realized
tbat il was not tho freight.
In those days, explained the
general manager, "auj for years
previous, we were constantly being
stored out against fake r0bbors. We
wOuil learn that % certain train was
- be held mp at certain time and
place. We would arrange Il, haye de-.
tectiyc3 on tho train, post tle engineer.
e1d i'm nearly every case ID would
prove tJ ba false alarm. Plenty OF
hoid-ups thcro had been ON other
roadg, but on tlc Hannibal nud St.
Joe, nome
''Aul bow do you account for lhatlr
] asked, my interest veeriug for tho
moment.
"Ou, said tho manager, with n
piglt wave of his hand. ns though
the matter wero scarcely worth OK
p'oiuiu~ Mrs SlmucIs always had
nm aH"3I. OYER our road sho was
o.