The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-11

the first Golden Gate excursion started
across the continent, he was pronounc-
ed the very man for the place, a place
which demanded diplomacy as well as
knowledge of the train service. Dingley
was popular with the travelling public.
Men liked him because he never talked
politics but was a good listener Wo-
men liked him because he knew the
romance connected with every point of
interest on the line. And children loved
him. He was always ready to make up
a whist hand, and on Sunday evenings
when the train dragged across uninter-
esting deserts. he led the singing with
an old-fashioned collection OF gospel
hymns.
But Hinchman knew nothing of all
this. He saw in Dingley only a quiet.
stoop-shouldered fellow of 40, who did
mo- fill out his uniform well, and who
shuff1ed into the office each trip with
an air of self effacen1ent that was not
a good advertisement for an up-to-date
enterprise like the Golden Gate ex-
cursions. Beside, Sam was a man
without friends in the seats of the
mighty He had no inconvenien rela-
tives on the list of r. P. stockholders.
So the managerial mind decided that
Sam should be the first r. P. man to
step aside for one with M. r. 6; N. af-
fliations The decision was not easily
executed, however. Sam had trying
way of sending in correct reports, and
overwork held no terrors for him. 1t
had always been customary TO permit
excursion men absolute rest on the first
day after their arrival in Boston from
the trans-continental trip, but Hinch-
man changed all that. Dingley was or
dered to report at a. m. the day fol-
lowing his return. and each time he
was sent scurrying over the city or to
nearby towns after passengers. The
office force watched the game and
talked ii over when Hinchman was
out. But they never preached the sub
ject to Dingley. In all matters dealing
with company affairs, Sam had a way
of his own OF closing ears and lips to
gossip.
So Hinchman waited, not patiently,
bit with secret wonder and chagrin at
Sans calm assumption of new and ar
duous duties. He brought in passen-
ger lists that made Hinchman weary.
opportunity came. One day Dingley
came in from his run. looking like a
man who had been on a protracted
spree. His eyes were bloodshot, and
the hand that laid reports on Hinch-
mans desk trembled violently. Hinch-
man accompanied his sterotyped VERY
well. Mr.. Dingley." with a curious
his thick but colorless lips.
He gathered up the reports. and the
smile became more pronounced Ding
ley's usually labored and precise hand
was wavering and uncertain. Before
he had checked off half the report.
Hinchman discovered four mistakes in
figuring and some atrocious spelling.
Not that a man could be fired for in
correct figuring and poor spelling, but
Hinchman had a vague feeling that at
last his hand was on the entering
wedge. He walked to the rear office,
where Dingley sat, resting his head on
his hand, his eyes closed YEARLY.
"A party of eight at this address are
planning on making Los Angeles next
month, Mr.. Dingley. and you'd better
run out there this morning. There's an
East Newbury local at 1890"
No one save Dingley heard the re-
mark, or what followed never would
r7ve happened. There was an hour be-
@-o train time. and Dingley. relaxing,
i'few himself upon te leather couch.
Zen the excursion manager returned