The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-18
The Train Boys Romance,

| ward Platform Of the front car picked
up its slack abruptly and swung TO the
heavy door, catching Bsiley's thumb and
butting his head against the jamb. That
| is why Bailey failed to see Ruth at the
| window of the hotel, who at that time
was fraRtically waving a big bunch OF
hollyhocks. Bailey. instead, was seeing
| stars.
Bailey was s.butch'' on the night ex-
press between Denver and Leadville, with
| the promise of job firing after the hol-
| iday rush Ruth set the table and waited
on the guests in the Denver hotel where
Bailey sometimes dined. Bailey was
short, broad of beam, bullet-headed, rath-
er illiteTate, but a hustler. He had a
little snub nose, buried in the freckles
| which covered his face. 1t looked for
all the world like a ripe strawberry nest
| ling in bed of pimply sand. The red hair
| which covered his head commenced sort
| of Eruption on his face-BaiIey was
| threatened with a beard. Ruth was tall,
| fairly plump, had pleasing face, twice
as much booklore as Bailey and, like him,
| had plenty of latent and displayed en-
ergy.
For months Bailey had been casting
| sleeps eyes at Ruth. She caught them
hot off the bat and sent them back with
a swift shot of her bright brown eyes
face to blend in one bloom redder than
his hair, while the soup 1oated into lis
windpipe This created a diversion and
covered Bailey's confusion, but did not
rid him of the chatting of the crew In
deed. this had gone so far that Bailey
had offered to shoot up" with the head
brakeman.
Wheeve Bailey procured those holly
hooks nobody knew but himself. They
do not grow on the slopes OF the Rockies
but ne got them. You see his was taste
that demanded plenty of color and album
dance of size He had hesitated to
speak from both bashfulness and fear
until the promise of the fireman's job
set his heart pounding like the air pump
on the engine AS he backed out of the
master mechanics office he lost his dig
nifty, threw his cap in the air and dis
appeared. He had limited to Ruth that
ne expected the job and promised to tell
her when he come to diner. So when
he failed to show, Ruth's fluffy shirt
waist concealed a wildly beating heart;
she thought he had failed.
Here, Ruth" said Clara shortly be-
fore train time; there's a bundle for you
left at the back door. Looks like your
wash"
For me?" and Ruth's eyes grew big
and round. "Why, who in ever? Law.
it's that Bailey. WASH indeed" she
added. wrathfulIy You better mind
your own business, Miss Clara
well, We needn't git huffy. 'S'big
huff. sakes alive, where did he git
EN-? And such purity ones. My, and
letter. What's he say, Ruth?"
oh nothing much. He says he's bot
a job firing
What, that kid?'
kid yourself He's as tout as any
man. don't see why he shouldn't fire
if he wants to. He says he'll git seven
ty-five month"
Then you won't see the table here
long that's sure"
Ruth made no reply, but stole away to
read her letter again. 1t said:
'Dere Ruth got her. 1 go out right
after New Years at seventy-fYe. It's a
cinch. Let's you'n me couple up. If it's
a go, wave this bokay frum the winder.
amt got the sand to cum to diner,
but I'll see her, you bet. Yours as ever,
BAILEY b"
Well, Ruth waved the bunch, but Bailey
did not see her you bet" He was
busy for the first few miles binding up
that sore thumb. He made a few trips
through his train before he remembered
Ruth and the flowers.
well, I'm a maverick" he said, sud
denly sitting rown in blank dismay. I'D
orter hev a garden. Wonde if she got
'em. Durn me if I know, but 1 was 10
lok out. Well, I CUES 1 had better get
on another division, after that"
Bailey was desperate. At the end Of his
run turned over his kit, took layoff for
two weeks and then bought bottle of
beer. He sat down at a grimy table and
drank the stuff, despite the protests of
his stomach. Then he accepted an offer
from the boss, who knew him, TO act as
Lookout" for a faro bank. Five days
later Big Jim Rockwell, his engineer,
found him there nursing a sore thumb
and smoking a cigar with the air of SUI
wisdom.
What are you doing here, kid?" asked
lin.
Lookout"
What hurt your thumb?"
TANNED her in the door last trip
Sorry for We. Reckon ye didn't see
nothin' that day?'
What was there to sep
''Nothin much"
big Jim was dining at the Criterion. |
Ruth waited on him, and the big fellow
saw she was not happy. He esayed to 1
comfort her.
Seen Bailey Iately?" he asked
mo, l amt. Don't want TO, neither"
snapped the girl, dumping his dinner With /
a thump and flying away. She lowered /
at distance, and Jim tagged her.
81 seen him yeterday," he said, coolly, /
He was nusing an injury
Whats thet?"
Bailey got TANNED last trip out"
Ruth gave a cry and fed from the room |
leaving Jim gasping with establishment 4
She speedily with cloak and hat on.
I'm going to Leadville With you Mr.. /
Rockwell" she painted. You just show /
NE where he is
''Oh, he'll get along all right, m'dear. /
He butted into the car when I pulled |
her out-a lettle mite too swift. mebbe /
He never saw nothin' but stars
We'll" said Ruth. with swift smile.
I'm going, anyway. Mind you show me
right"
On arriving at LeadviIe Ruth ,nabbed
Jim as he was skulking of TO warn Bal
ey. Where's he att" demande the girl
jim pointed out the place in silence.
Then he watched her trip over the street
and enter. Then he ducked Both walked
right up 20 where Bailey sat smoking
huge cigar.
You just come right out Of here she
said. Il got something to say to you.
Mr.. Bailey. Think you can sneak away
ike that?'
Bailey fell OF the chair and wide
nouthed followed her TO the pave (
nent.
where you beeng" asked Ruth. indIg-
laBtIy
'.Leadville"
ID YOU send me a bunch OF holly
locks2'
''Yessam''
why didn't you come back to see if
.ot 'em?"
Well I got damned in the door and
couldn't see nothiu'. Then 7 forgot tIH
come u. Then It didn't seem 10 Be no