The Delawarean., 1900-08-25
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:. A railway INCIDENT. ::

rant" stood out in seductive capitals.
Few passengers could resist the COM
bined appeal. The rush for coffee, sand
wiches and pie was quite after the
headlong style which years ago alarm
ed Martin Chuzzlewit One women
only hestated, 4 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 10 him her
state Of famine and fear.
Step off, madam" said the official
CALAMITY, 'and enjoy your dinner. I'll
see that you don't get left"
BY and by the engine began to puff
asthmatically; 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 EspanoIa start
ed up from a column of war news and
glanced out in alarm. He had forgot
ten until then his promise-his sacred
official promisel a woman stood on
the platform waving frantlcally at the
departing train. She looked a little
stouter than the nervous woman he
had promised to see aboard, but it
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. g. hoping against hope to
see it occupied. 1t 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 pOck-
etbook, but it was probably shut up in
the telescope-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-it would not
do to frighten passengers-and 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, we'll 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"-
"Oh, Dodgeville reformed long ago"
interrupted the train conductor. ITS
very good place to be left in.
s'pose, though, Wen have to go back, "
he added as he gave a signal for re-
versing the engine. "Of course we
can't afford to offend tourists. I'll
warrant" he went on in a biting tone,
that woman hasn't her pocketbook
with her. It's on the floor likely, un-
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 nerv-
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 ut 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.
Il am trusting my luggage to your
care, conductor" she said sweetly.
'Tll be home presently"
! For q moment the man stood irreso-
lutte. Should he turn back and explain
the situation to the veXed official from
/ whom he had just wrung an unusual
i concession? lie 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 derlsion of his
superior-for more serious result pos
sibly.
He gave the smiling tourist 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 deftly mo-
toned to 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 dis
tance this cordial reception. "Singu-
lar" he muttered, that 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