The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-17
Prank H. SPearman's Railroad Stories
The 0berators Sto1y--De Molqy -Four
CONTINUED from Page Two

trouble and young Giddings shaking
like a leaf, the chief called Rat River.
Then he called Elcho, asked for Spe-
cial 326, and Elcho again repeated
steadily: s,. -
Special - s2e -left-here-on
Order-79-at-7:55 p. M
Martin Duffy bent before the mes
sage; young Giddings, who had been
whispering to Tracy, dropped on a
stool and covered his face.
Don't cry, Giddings.' 1t was Duffy
who spoke; dry and parched his voice.
TITS nothing you-could help" He
looked around and saw Tracy at his
elbow. Barnes" he said, but he
tried twice before his voice would car
ry. "Barnes-they will meet in the
Ginnmon cut; Giddings told you?
Bob forgot, forgot my order. Run,
Giddings, for Benedict Morgan and
Doubleday and Carhart-quick!''
Giddings ran, the Rat River call
echoing again down the hall behind
him. Rat River was closest to Rock
Point-would get the first news Of the
wreck, and Martin Duffy was calling
his recreant brother at the River; but
the River was silent.
Doubleday and the company sur
geon, DR.. Carhart, rushed into the
room almost together./ Then came
with a storm the wrecking boss, Ben
edict Morgan; it was only an evil hour
that brought Benedict Morgan into the
dispatcher's office. STOPPED and 81
was calling Rat River. Carhart
watched him just a moment, then he
took Barnes Tracy aside and whisp-
ered-and, going back, bent over
Duffy. The chief pulled himself up.
LET Tracy take the key repeated
the doctor. "Get away from the table
a minute Martin. 1t may not be as
bad as you think"
Duffy looking at the surgeons face,
put his hand on his arm. It's the De
Molay train, the Special 326, with
Bucks car, double-headed. Oh, my
Cod can't stop them. Doctor, they
will meet!"
Carhart unfastened the fingers on
his arm. Come away a minute Let
"A head-ender, eh?" croaked Bene-
dict Morgan from the counter, and
with a frightful oath. "A head-ender!"
shut up, you brute!,' Kissed Car
hart. Duffys hands were creeping
queerly up the sides of his head.
Sure" growled Benedict Morgan
Shut up 49,
Carhart was a quick man: He
started for the wrecker, but Duffy
springing stopped him. For Gods
sake, keep cool, everybody" he ex-
claimed, piteously. There was nc
one else to talk, to give the orders
Bucks and Callahan both on the spe-
cial-may be past order-giving now
Only. Martin Duffy to take the double
load and the double shame. He stared
dazed again, into the faces around as
he held to the fiery surgeon. "Mor-
gam he added steadily, looking at the
surly wrecker, ''get up your crew
quick. Doubleday, make up all the
coaches in the yard for an ambulance
train. Get every doctor in town te
go with you. Tracy, clear the line
The master mechanic and Benedict
Morgan clattered down stairs. Car.
hart, running to the telephone, TOLD
central to summon every medical mar
in the Bend, and hurried OUT Before
he had covered a block, roundhouse
callers, like flaws Of wind before {
storm, were scurrying the streets, anc
sounded the harsh clang of the emery
ency gong for the wreckers. ~
Caught where they could be caught
out Of saloons, beds, poker joints, Sal
walton barracks, churches,-the men
of the wrecking crew ran down the
silent streets, waking now fast into
life. Congregations were dispersed
serted, bells enptied, barracks ra1ded
at that call, the emergency gong call
! fell as a flre-bell, for the Mountain d.
vision wrecking gang.
While the yard crews shot up and
down the spurs switching coaches into
the relief train, Benedict Morgan with
solid volleys of oaths was organizing
his men and filling them at the lunch
counters with huge schooners of cot
fee. Cathart pushed again thru the
jam Of men and up to the dispatcher's
office. Before and behind him
crowded the local physicians with in
strument bags and bandages. The
office floor, they sat down about the
room or lowered around Cathart ask
ing for details. Doubleday, tall and
grim, came over from the roundhouse
Benedict Morgan stamped up from
the yard-the Mountain division was
ready.
All three dispatchers were in the
room. John Mallers, the day man
stood near Tracy, who had relieved
relief run. Elchos had been notified
of the impending disaster, and al
Tracy's elbow sat the chief lookins
hxedly at the key-taking the bob O:
the sounder with his eye. A dozer
men in the room were talking; bu
C11Cy oUOhS 1o 4ACiA sWAAO SpSSdhluS Wal
on the life Of a fuse. Duffy, with sus
pense deepening into frenzy, pushed
Tracy's hand from the key and, sliding
into the chair, began once more to cal
his brother at Rat River.
"R, R, T r, T r, t.
clicked the River call. ..R. 7 -R, Z
II, T Bob-Bob-Bob,'' spelled thu
sender. ANSWER me, answer
answer, answer. r, T r, T r., q
r, t. q
4 And Barnes Tracy edged away AM
leaned back to where the shadow hit
his face. And John Mallers, turnin,
from the pleading of the current
stared gloomily out Of the windoy
across the yard shimmering under tn
double relay of arc lights; and youn,
Giddings, who couldn't stand titus
couldn't stand it-bending on his stool
shook with gulping sobs.
The others knew nothing of tn
heart breaking in the little click o
the key--all knew the track-kney
where the trains would meet. kney
. they could not, by any possibility, SCI