The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-10
A RAPID =
PROMOTION
BY W. R. ROSE.

The day was one of October's rarest.
The car windows were all open and the
swift motion created pleasant draft that
carried no suggestion of coughs or colds
with it. 1t was car No. 81 of the main
/ line, and the conductor was No. 3S1.
He was a pleasant appearing conduct
or, was No. 381, young and well built,
with bright gray eyes and his cap tilted
back on his head in true boyish fashion
! He was an alert conductor, too, and keen
] ~ alive to the responsibilities of his place
He helped old ladies and children aboard
he made the passengers sit closer, he kept
/ a sharp supervision over all the details.
There was a tall man with gray hair
/ and white mustache on the back plat
I form, a very well dressed man, who
seemed deeply interested in the trip. He
had boarded the car while No. 3S1 was
inside collecting fares, and, as this collect
/ ing process took some time, the gray
! haired man had a chance to make study
of the roadbed as the car rumbled along
4 He was looking over the platform rail
when No. 381 tapped him lightly on the
shoulder.
Fare, please"
The gray haired man slipped his fingers
IulO LIS CuduSG DOChGl anu NlGW Jul O
half dollar AS he pushed it toward No
3S1 he slightly turned his head.
"George!' He couldn't repress a little
start of surprise.
'Hello, father" said No. 3S1 as he
thrust the coin into the proper pocket
"Tickets?'
mo" replied the gray haired man with
some sharpness. He stared hard at No
3S1 as he counted out the change and
thrust it into his hand
Transfer"
"No" snapped the older man.
"How are you, father?"
"Well enough. How is it with your
Zine" laughed No 391 Then he
looked a little wistfully at the gray haired
man. 81 wouldn't mind shaking hands
with you. father. It's four years. you
know, since ] had the chance"
The old man slowly put out his hand,
and No. 3S1 gave it warm pressure.
Getting down to the husks. George"
"Husks, father? Oh, | remember now.
You allude to the unfortunate young man
in the Sunday school lesson. the young
man who lived on husks and tended
swine Yes, yes. But there have been nc
husks on my menu. father, and the end
seat car hog is the nearest approach to
the porkers No; get three good meals
day and carry home my SD every Sat
urday night" He laughed as he said it.
his eye on the interior of the car,
But can't you get something better
than thisw
Haven't tried You see. this was the
best | could do after being thrown out OF
q better job by the burning of the bicycle
factory, and promised the trolley super
intendent that would stay in the employ
of the road at least year if they'd take
me on, and just six months of it have
passed. Change here for the Ellinwood
belt line"
The old man followed No. 39l with his
keen gray eyes that were very much like
the conductors, though deeper set, and
a new light came into them.
"You are married, George?"
81 wrote you that | was, father"
There was a little silence.
Sand have little boy, father, three
years old | wish you could see him
Why can't you? We live at No. 81 Corn
wall street, close to the end of this line
You'd be very welcome father"
The face of the old man hardened, and
he shook his head.
81 have very little time" he said. II
am here on important business"
Every WELL" said No. 3S1 quietly
You'll be welcome any time" Then he
added: 81 take the down car here. Good
by" He leaped off, caught the rail of the
! approaching car. waved his hand and was
gone.
The old man sighed as he turned back
Somehow he seemed to have lost all in
terest in the condition of the roadbed
When the end of the line was reached
he stepped from the car and looked about
him. Then he walked over to the start
er's little station.
"Wil you kindly direct me to No. q
Cornwall street," he said
Ten minutes later the gray haired man
| Knocked at the door of the little cottage
on Cornwall street A neat young WON
an responded 1t was not favorable
hour for calling, but the young woman
bore a trim appearance, her hair was
nicely arranged, and there was an air OF
refinement in her greeting that the old
man liked.
''This is the home of No 3S1. be-
lieve,'' he said as he raised his hat
mean of George Glazier,"
"Yes, sir. hut he is not at home. He
will not be home until +"
81 have come some distance to see
him." said the gray haired man.
She looked at him with new interest
He was an old man, and she fancied he
| looked tired
"WilI you come in and restY' she asked
in her gentle voice. Perhaps you can
leave a message"
"Thank you" he said and followed her
into the pleasant little parlor. His keen
gray eyes travelled about the room and re-
turned to the woman 81 beg your par
don." he said. but would you mind Civ
ing me a little of your time?
She looked at him wonderingly and
then seated herself.
"You can't really be happy here" he
said abruptly
She started at the suddenness of the re-
mark
81 do not know what you mean" she
said
81 mean that this little house, this lone
some neighhorhood, the lack of nice
clothes, the fact that your husband is hut
a poorly paid employee. the desire for
those things that just a little money
WOulO secure, uuSt uihhe Jou Ni'Noii'S IL
ed at times"
Her color rose. She held her dimpled
chin little higher.
do | look discontented?' she asked
"Could | be discontinued with so much to
be thankful for? We have our health, we
have a coy home. we have our little
Stephen"
"Eh" cried the old man, you have
what?'
sour boy. our baby boy. His name is
| Stephen
"His name is Stephen" the old man
repeated and was silent for moment
Then he gently added. May | see him.
"He is asleep" replied the young moth
or Then she looked at the gray haired
man little severely Il trust, she said
''that your business with George is not
planned to make him disconnected. l
think you will fail. We are both agreed
that George isn't appreciated at his true
worth-at least have tried to make him
think so. But he is doing the best he ca-.
What could he expect? He came out of
college without the slightest knowledge of
what earning living meant, and then he
met me. Perhaps we were wrong, but we
were young, and George braved his father
to marry me- Well, it was something of
struggle, but we met it with courage.
and we never despaired."
She threw defiant little look at him as
she uttered the last words.
81 had no desire to hurt your pride, y
said the gray haired stranger. IF | did,
beg your pardon. Lonely old men grow
peculiar, you know. But, here, fancy |
can explain a little of the business that
brought me to your home. | came to the
city to buy controlling interest in the
company that employs your husband.
have been looking over the property and
in doing so ran across him. IL liked
his appearance. but at the same time
am free to say that to my mind he is not
the man for the place" He paused and