The Somerset reporter., 1902-03-27
THEIR LAST
M E E TING
By Cy Warman
By Cy Warman
Copyright, 1902, by cy warman

outer office and asked to see the gener-
al manager. Every morning the office
boy had given him a blank form to fill
out.
"Mr. A."
"Wishes to see-Mr. B."
"Business-private."
AS often as the boy went in with the
slip of paper he came back with the
answer, "The general manager is too
busy to see you"
In time the employees learned to look
not at the clock for the hour of 10, but
to the gate that swung In the lcw
fence. When he had come and gone
thirtyseven times, leaving thirty-sev-
en- neatly filled requests behind him.
the manager instructed the boy.
Mr.. A" said the boy and closed the
door of the private office. leaving the
two men alone. The general manager
was embarrassed. Instead of a long
haired, hollow eyed crank, with soled
linen covering his concaved chest. his
caller was well dressed. intelligent
looking gentleman.
Delighted, delighted, Mr.. b." said
the stranger, advancing with out
stretched hand. $50 good of you to see
me. Yes, did call the other-yes, yes,
know how busy you are! Just so, just
sol Ah-hr
The men shook hands hurriedly, ey-
Ing each other precisely as pair of
prizefghters enter the ring.
The manager noticed for the first
time peculiar look In the mans eyes.
"Sit down. said the stranger, and the
railway man sank back into his swing
ing chair. Il shan't take much of your
time-this time" said the visitor, hook
ing one leg over the corner of the table
and sagging into a comfortable pose
The manager felt fidgety under the
strangers inquisitive, soul searching
eyes.
i've got good thing" said the man,
keeping his eyes upon the managers
conscience.
II was afraid of that" said the man
ager half playfully, but the man did
not smile.
you have some heavy grades on
your line"
"Yes' asscnted the manager
You have doubtless observed that 1t
is almost invariably upon a mountain
that the air plays out. Just when they
are needed most is when the brakes
refuse to work. You know that don't
you?"
"Yes"
"Well I've spent sIeepless nights
working out system that will always
work and s,ye millions of money now
lost in wrecked rolling stock and thou
sands of useful lives"
What is your scheme? My time is
limited"
First of all, you shall build for me
mammoth windmill on the banks Of
the Missouri. The ceaseless winds that
come crying across Colorado and Kan
sas will push the paddles in the big
wheel. which. revolving, will drive a
great pump that will force air through
n small pipe to be laid along the line
under the les Beneath each water
tank upon the mountain side we shall
build an air tank, so that while the
fireman takes water the brakeman can
take air. filling the air drum with good
valley air, and then there will be no
trouble. 1t is because the mountain air
is too light TO hold that the trains get
away on the hills. Knowing this, the
blood of irnocent men, women and
children will be upon your head if you
fail to protect the lives of your pa
irons"
"Fll see you again about this" sal =
the manager, putting on his hat an
leading the way out through a private
door All the way out the man kert
close to the manager. The elevator
dropped them to the ground floor. The
manager called a cab. AS the door
closed the man reached through the
the managers hand and said signin-
cantly, looking deep into the railroad
mans soul. You won't lose me"
The inventor continued to call upon
the manager, every day at first, then
twice u week and later only three or
four times a month.
One evening the general manager sat
in a box at the theater. Between act
a gentleman who sat almost directly
behind the railroad man left the box
for a moment. Presently the general
manager became aware that his friend
had resumed his seat, and with Lis
gaze still on the audience, remarked.
81 lose half the pleasure of the play
because of an innate dread of fire. |
wish somebody would invent some
thing that would put out fire without
drowning people,
81 can do it," said the man at the
managers elbow
"HowW
How do you put out candle"
well, l would blow it out"
Exactly. First I would lay a sys-
tenn of air pipes under the building"
The manager felt a chill creeping
slowly over him. Somewhere he had
heard that voice before He began
slowly 10 turn his head, but his neigh
Dor put a hand upon his shoulder and
bade him listen you tremble when
your own life is In danger" said the
man, but you do not tremble for the