The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-11
::: A RAILWAY INCIDENT.
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The transcontinental train rolled into
the town of DOdgeville. Kan. and halt
ed at the station for dinner. \ gong
rang furiously. and the word "Restau-
rant" stood out in seductive capitals.
Few passengers could resist the com
bined appeal The rush for coffee sand
witches and pie was quite after the
headlong style which years ago alarm
ed Martin Chuzzlewit one women
only hesitated, tourist OF nervous
temperament. She was hungry; her
lunch basket had grown odiOus-but
might not the train go off and leave
her to the mercy of cyclones and grass
hoppers? She hunted up the conductor
Of her car and made known to him her
state Of famine and fear
"Step off. madam" said the official
gallantly, "and enjoy your dinner. I'll
see that you don't get left
BY and by the engine began to pun
automatically; then a bell cling-clang-
ed. a thousand little wheels turned.
and with impressive dignity the hun
ger appeased train resumed its iron
way.
The conductor Of the EspanOla start
cd ND from a column of war news and
glanced out in alarm. He had forgot
ten until then his promise-his sacred
official promise! \ woman stood on
the platform waving frantlcally ut the
departing train. She looked a little
stoutcr than the nervous woman he
had promised to see aboard, but II
must be she. He hadn't noticed her
particularly. He wished he'd never
seen her at all. With a sinking Of
heart he rushed into his car and looked
toward No. 6, hoping against hope TO
see Il occupied. II was. but not by the
trusting woman. 1t held a valise, a
telescope. a roll Of rugs, an air pillow.
an umbrella. novel or two, lunch
basket. a pair Of slippers and a pug
dog. He didn't see the woman's peck
etbook. but 1t was probably shut up In
the teIescope-sO miserable reflection
suggested And her ticket would be in
it-Of course,
He hurried through the forward cars
as fast as he dared TO gO-!t would not
do to frlghten passengers found
that powerful parsonage the general
conductor.
you must back up TO the station
he gasped. woman left. promised
she shouldn't be"
"You should have kept your promise,
Smith" was the cold reply. NO use
to talk. We're started now"
"But that woman" persisted the
sleeping car conductor. lis a tourist
If we leave her, wen offend her whole
party. They will all come back by an
other route and give us bad name
Remember. our road makes a speciality
of the tourist business. We must go
back and get that woman. To leave
her in DOdgeville'-
ooh, Dodgeville reformed long ago
interrupted the train conductor. Its
a very good place to be left in. |
s'pose, though. wen have to 90 back"
he added as be gave a signal for re-
versing the engine. "Of course we
can't afford to offend tourists. I'll
warrant" he went on in biting tone,
that woman hasn't her pocketbook
with her. It's on the floor likely, I'M
der the seat. That's
The reliyed conductor waited TO hear
no more. He must be on the platform
of the Espanola ready to help the nery-
Gus woman on board.
AS he went skimming through the
day coaches on his way to duty his
eyes lighted upon a figure that seemed
family familiar, upon a face that
smiled at him in placid recognition.
Railway powers Of every line! 1t
was the very woman for whom the
train was backing to DOdgeville.
He understood it all in one unhappy
fash. After enjoying her dinner, as he
had directed, the tourist had gone Of
her own volition in search of social en-
joyment, for here she was having an
easy. joyous chat with some acquaint-
ances.
II am trusting my luggage to your
care, conductor" she said sweetly.
"I'll be home presently"
For a moment the man stood irresO-
lutte. Should he turn back and explain
- cit -, . 10
whom he had Just wrung an unusual
concession? He decided to let things
take their course. There was nothing
TO be gained by explanation. The
train, to the bewilderment of a stretch
Of coaches and countryside, was al
ready nearing the Dodgeville station.
He must wait for the derision of his
superior-fOr a more serious result pos
sibly.
He gave the smiling tourist a sour
look and hurried onward But as he
advanced his face beamed with a sud
den inspiration.
The train slackened, stood still, and
a stout, excited woman was deity mo-
toned to q certain platform. She was
helped aboard by a sleeping car con-
ductor, who seemed remarkably ready
for the service.
"You can just as well walk through
the sleeper to your day COACH" he said
as the woman announced a wayside
destination.
The train conductor saw from a dis
lance this cordial reception. "Singu-
lar" he muttered, that a through pas
senger would carry TO dinner with her
an umbrella and a valise. But there's
no telling what a woman will do on
trains-or anywhere else" - Chicago
Times Herald.