The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
BY
GEORGE
AIDE

chlnef stole fuFtive glance at the
slender. authenticated nurse, who was
standing at the foot Of the bed, looking
al her patient with professional interest.
so her name was Jessie.
The doctor says he'll be an right in
Few weeks" said Jessie. coming around
10 rearrange the pillow. Sinner saw
her smooth the white slip with gentle
concern and stralgh;en the eoverlet under
Iommys arm, and he had 70 feel a little
jealous Of his friend. For Jessie was az
trim and fragrant as morning flower
mat had just opened and ne could not
remember that anywhere along the road
he had seen prettier girl
"Jessie's all right" he said. eneourag-
sngly. If she's goin' into the nurse bust
ness, think III go out In the yards and
let switch engine knock me on the
track"
IF you and a switch engine ever come
together. think the engine would be the
one 70 go OF the track" she suggested
"oh. let up" he said I'm not as tough
as all that. Am l, Tommy
Sinner amt a bad fellow" said the
injured man, with a grain II was tellin'
her about you a while ago"
How did II come up" asked skinner"
D
x was not" said Jessie. decisively but
she was blushing and "Shiner" saw her
embarrassed for the first time.
IL was certain that she had asked about
him. so when Sinner left them and
went out TO hear how much longer the
train was 10 be "laid out" he was
warmed by the pleasant knowledge that
she did not hO.d him in contempt. even II
she had called him boy" and tried 10
''ki6' him.
In day or two Tommy was taken
home. but not until Jessie had delivered
10 Sinner" several important bulletins IS
TO his Improvement. Sinner" gave her
box of fgs from his stock as token Of
esteem and she CONSIDERABLY RETAINED
from laughing every time she looked at
him and 30 it was the fair beginning Of
serious love affair.
With skinner" 1t was serious almost
from the start because he soon came
to the opinion that she was the best
looking and brightest girl In the world.
No doubt Jessie began Ii in fun. but she
could rot long remain Indifferent to
sinners" superior qualities. for he came
out In new uniform and kept himself
painfully clean and had some little pres
ent for her almost every tire that the
train pulled in and she came 20 the door
to meet him. "ShiLer" went out or his
run every morning and came back in the
evening, the train arriving at DellbOro on
the return trip about 3 o'clock. At first he
saw Jessie only In the morning, as she
was supposed TO return home early in the
evening and lived several blocks from IN e
hotel, but Sinner could rot endure the
thought OF separation for twenty-four
| hours at a stretch. so he began TO suggest
that she come down 10 the evening train.
Several nights a week he foI I'D her there,
accompanied by one or two trusty young
women of the nelshborhood, and she was
always just as surprised and delighted TO
see skinner" as If she hadn't seen him on
the same platform about twelve hours
| previous. AS for "ShiEer' he felt himself
growing at the rate OF an inch day. He
had awakened to the knowledge that
| he amounted TO something. At first it
| seemed strange TO him that the adorable
! Jessie could possibly be attracted nv such
an unworthy creature as himself, but 80
the days passed and he perceived that he
was number one" with her. and that in
stead OF holding him in contempt she actu-
ally liked him, he rode all day in a train
nhANA NOlANttANu eur III Win DIIdlfSe.
Conductor Button, the passenger brake
men. the engineers. and firemen, the
agent and operator at Dellboro, and the
general public that frequented the station
knew about Sinners love affair. The
fates had not provided sinner and Jes-
sic with any sylvan dells or messy re-
treats, and so their love-making, if II
could be called such. was mostly conduct
cd nv OLE
| long hand-ciasps more eloquent than
speech. The train stopped OILY few min
utes, just long enough for them to look
at each other yearningly and exchange a
few eommon-places which were not sup
posed to represent their real feelings, and
! most certainly did rot
1T was a large red day in Sinners"
| calendar when ne had a substitute take
mis- run for him, and he stayed over at
Dellboro to attend the county fair Jes-
sic was waiting for him at the station.
( with blue parasol, starchy shirt waist,
I a new pair of tan shoes and other glory
OF apparel. Skinner" was stricken with
( admiration when he saw her and said.
My but you look poor IN that get upr'
! This was his way Of passing a comp!l-
ment and he meant that she was simply
| beyond compare.
Tney had n very busy day of Il. and If
! they overlooked any shooting galleries or
| merry -go-rounds it was because Sinner
| didn't see them. Along in the afternoon
| they were In the grand stand watching
the rural Judge" in the high box try to
| start several fractions horses in n run
| ming race, and skinner" who had some
thing heavy on his mird, sat up close to
has ~. ~
and talked 10 her quietly. n
Jessie. do you think fellow that's
| goin to get married needs any money!
| he asked
- little money wouldn't hurt" she re-
| piled, laughing.
But s'pose he didn't have very much
| Of the coin. Had il ought to stop him?
| Would you throw a fellow down because
he didn't have the spondulix?"
THAT depends on who the fellow was -
well, I'm the fellow, all right. I'm
| old enough TO get married now. IL / amt
old enough TO get some money together.
You needn't think for a minute that I'm
goin' to be butcher on-a train al nv
| life. I'm out for something better. Now.
I've got tip that Benson, that has the
news stand in the Union depot, is goin'
10 give it up the first of next month
He's saved up enough t6eopen a cigar
! store up town. There's hundred a month
in 1t for a hustler. and IL l can get il I
can be in the city all the time, and have
little fiat in a new building about two
blocks from the depot and be right in IL -
Although Skinner" had been very indi-
rect about H. Jessie knew that this was a
| proposal of marriage.
That sounds first rate" she remarked,
but you haven't got the stand yet. Won't
there be a lot of people after it?"
II s'pose So"
Who has the say as TO which one gets
it,"
THE superintendent OF our road is the
big man. III he says the word. get it on
the same terms that Benson had IT,"
do you know the superintendent"
mo. but I've got a scheme. His wife Is
down ar Clarendon Springs for a few
days. She'll be coming back this week
]