The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-16
published SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT,
One S.r1,nner Might
By w. j. PATMORE
Copyright 1900 by W. Patmorel

patient and ready, for its journey to the
north seemed to intensity a thousandfold
the overwhelming heat of the night.
The guard of the van next the engine
stepped from his compartment, and, taking
his red handkerchief from his pocket
passed il over his perspiring forehead
Il say. George" he remarked to the fire
man. leaning Hstlessly over the side OF
the tender. eff we amt soon off and / get
a breath O. fresher air than this, shall
Ia to jack up"
It's wds on this footplate. Ben" an
swered the fireman. as the guard walked
away down the platform.
Jack Armstrong, the driver. thick-set,
fair-haired, chestnut-bearded giant, looked
round at George. his fireman, and said:
Its just Internal tonight, that's what
1t is; and we shant get any relief till we've
had storm. You ought to have gone off
and had a nights rest"
George Strengthened himself up I'm
afraid 10 give in too much" he said. 1--WE
had 10 leave so many times the last month
or two, they'll be wanting me to see the
companys doctor; and it's all UP with me
If I once do that"
Nonsense. mate" said the driver, in a
kindly tone. Nobody can help bein' a
biz of color. and months rest will pull
YOU round. faint as If you wasn't in a
club, and our fuudll help you as well. you
know
Il know" said the fireman. modify. "but
you know how I'm fixed: you know what
hole I'm in, what with being security for
my brother and one thing and the other.
The club money would be all right If
wasn't behind hand, but hung up as / am
with debt 1 must keep worxin', Jack, I
must. / can't help myself; the missis and
the kids can't starve. and that's wot it
'ud mean with this ere loan Office down
on me and only club money comm in
well. it's no use OVERRIDING it, mate, and
# you lose your strength that heart trouble
you complain of amt likely to improve.
Seen anybody about it?'
mo, that's what I'm afraid of. If I once
get sent before the doctor he'll spot it; and
then I'm done"
Jack Armstrong, shaking his head SYM
pathetically. took his oil can and moved
round the engine, examining his charge
that he loved and was as proud of as If 1t
had been child, while his fireman George
resumed his listless lounge against the
tender.
Suddenly the clang of a bell down the
platform rings out and the various shouts
and cries that accompany the start of a
train are heard. Men who had been shaking
their thirst at the refreshment bar in
copious draughts raise their glasses, tilt
their heads back as far as they will go. and
drain the liquor to the last drop. Passen-
gers standing and lolling at the carriage
doors languidly take their places in the
sweltering compartments. Porters with
their last load of luggage hurriedly push
their barrows, laden with portmanteaus.
bags and boxes TO the guards vans, which
quickly swallow the hundred and one arti-
Giles.
"A belated passenger scuds from the book
ing office to the train and hurriedly jumps
in. treading on the outstretched feet of
the other passengers. and dropping his
umbrella, his vaIise, his hat and himself,
partly on the one vacant seat and partly
on the knees of lady OF uncertain age.
who likes to travel with gentlemen with a
view to putting their pipes OUT The
lady scowls and expostulates, the gentle
man apologies and puts his awkwardness
down to "the eat
A countrihed looking man, with stolid
face and pair of watchful eyes, passes
slowly along the train. glancing casually
I'm each compartment as IL seeking place.
A tall, gentlemanly looking fellow, whose
face is curiously muffied up and concealed
considering the oppressive state of the
temperature, energies from the waiting
room and stands apparently lost in thought
in the shadow of the doorway smoking
cigarette. From time TO time he casts
hasty and furtive glance at the countrified
man, as he passes farther and farther to-
wards the rear of the train. Then as the
hands OF the station clock point to the
hour the express is timed to start, he
crosses the platform quickly, darts into a
frst-class carriage, and shutting the door
behind him locks it and exclaims. Thank
God. I've escapedY'
Tie clocks of the neighborhood outside
are heard Ginning and striking the hour.
the doors of the carriages are heard being
banged TO, the sobs of a girl parting from
her lover are heard close by, the whistle
OF the guard at the rear of the train breaks
shriny through the heavy atmosphere. the
long train moves slowly out of the station.
and its exhausted load of perspiring pas
thought that few minutes run will carry
them from the choking, asphyxiaticg air
OF the metropolis into the fresh and re-
viving breath of the country beyond.
Through the gathering gloom of the night,
through the inky darkness of the noisome
tunnels. the train sweeps on with sullen
roar and ever-increasins speed and at last,
with clatter and dash, draws up at Will
lesden Junction.
A few minutes stay there. an interval
chiefly marked by an unearthly clatter of
empty milk cans, and then the train is OF
again Windows which had been raised
against the grit and drift of the tunnels
are now lowered, the travellers settle them
velves for their long and weary journey,
aud a deathly stiffness prevails, broken
Only by the monotonous roar of the train
through the night. The elderly lady SOL
emily warns the discounted men around
her that the fine for smoking in a nom
smoking compartment is 40 shilings. The
youth who has dropped a sympathetic tear
at Euston on the nose of the weeping dam
sci solaces himself with a pipe, sucks at a
bottle and begins TO tell his companions
funny stories