The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-11-04
WHEN PIGGY
TOOK THE KEY
By MARJORIE STEVENS
Cop, right 1908, by 4. e. Mcclure
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


In fact. it made precious little d.f-
ference TO him ut just this moment
whether any trains ran on the ID. X.
and c. tracks at all. His engagement
with Miriam Bentley had been sudden
ly dcrailcd, and that was trouble
enough for him He had appointed
himself wrccking crew of one To act
that very night ut the church fair and
possibly to undo the mischief wrought
by toe much steam in the form of
hasty words. And then had come the
orders from Headquarters to stand 10y
his instrument until relieved
Brownsville WAS an unimportaut sta
ton in the center of Il thriving farm
ing section Its stockyards and grain
elevator dwarfed the passenger sta
ton, and there wasn't enough bust
hess In the whole town to support n
night telegraph station. In fact, Don
aid. with his luSty helper and ,nessen-
ger boy, Andy Johnson, constituted the
entire y, X. and G. force.
Young Murray was not afraid of
work, and 1T any ether time the order
10 remain nj his post for twenty-fuur
hours would have affected him not at
all IIut tonight he thought of vii
son, Graham. donaldson and the rest
all clustered about the table where
Miriam was selling fudge and other
homemade swcctmeats, and his hands
We're plunged into his pockets, even as
his soul was plunged deeper In gloom.
The idea of disobeylng orders. how
ever never entered his head. though
he did not fully realize the danger
which beSet the road This strike
through the great wild west was not
tile ordinary SETTLING turmoil of sud
den dissatisfaction which yields quick
~ 10 pacific treatment. 1t had been
Il prolonged. quiet struggle between
capital and labor. with no apparent
gain Oh either side. but an attempt To
install a yard force of "scabs" at Mid
ford Junction had prccipltatcd active
demonstrations. Seeds of trouble had
been sewn with reckless hands In the
s'opS and Yards, where the stolid
Snedes. seeing their Jobs and com
Portable home lives threatened. had set
their teeth hard And when Swcde
says nothing, but draws his eyelids
down To II narrow slit, railroad author
lilies know that trouble is brewing in
the brain behind that stold face.
Andy Johnson stuck his head into
the door. Murray caught sight OF II
vivid rcd nccktie and knew what was
coming
You won't need me. Will you? |
want to take in the fair again"
Andy's long, hank body, clad in Il
wonderful store suit of gray, green
and brown checks, followed his good
naturcd face. He closed the door, and
his voice took on Il whecdling tone.
'rherc's eoin' to be such doin's,
honest there is. Mr.. Murray! That
there fish pond just takes my eye, and
you get the funniest things what you
amt eSpcetin To get. Then there's
gOin' to be II votin' contest tonight,
That silver toilet set cost SO much no
one won't buy ii. 80 they're goin' to
vote it off To the most popular lady
present"
Murray's face was suddenly ilu
mined
cor course you can go, Andy. There
won't be much doing here tonight BE
sides. | want you to do some voting
for me" He laid II five dollar bill on
the table Miss Bentley must have
that prize"
"Of course she will. Everybody likes
Miss Miriam" assented Andy, with
eyes fairly dcvouring the bank note
But we want her to be 50 far ahead
of the other girls that they won't be In
the running. See? Now, you vote that
money slow. Have 1t changed and vote
it Il quarter at time"
Andy nodded and then. filed with
turned TO go.
wait Il minute"
Murray drew a pad toward him and
bit his pencil nervously. But at last
the note was finished and carried away
by the elated Andy II read
My Dear Miriam-I am sorry that /
cannot be with you tonight when you win
the prize. for of course you will win II.
Andy will vote for me, and when 1t Is over
won't you send me word how many votes
you received? | ask very little, and it In
so lonely down here. | must stay because
there is trouble of some sort up the line.
j know II can't be as bad as the trouble
that has been In my heart since we quar-
relied. Yours. DONALD.
Murray went out into the passenger
room and stared up the street where
the lights from the town hall shone
gayly. Then, with sigh, he returned
to his little Office locked the door and
threw himself on the carpet covered
sofa for nap. He was reused by
sharp call at his keyboard.
'Trouble brewing along the line,
sang the little ticker. "Al Reeves, with
a gang of Swedes, has slipped out Of
town. Keep sharp lookout for No 3"
No. 3 was the u. X. and G 3 crack
train. II carried the mall and the bulk
Of the cross continent passengers.
Murray WAS wide awake now He
went the rounds Of his little station.
sure that all was secure. Then
he examined his revolver and laid II
within easy reach on the table and sat
staring at tie instrument while he re
viewed the dangerous points between
Brownsville and the stations east and
west. There WAS the cut seventeen
miles east. 1t had once been favor.
tie spot with train robbers. but little
harm could come there from n dcrail-
ment The one dangerous spot was
the Jamison arroyo. below the town
by three miles AT least If No. 3 was
stalled there and the fast freight hap
pend 10 " iliti after it round the curve,
as it usually did now that the time
card was demoralized by weak service,
there might
Murray closed a nervous hand over
his revolver Nothing must happen
He sat thus with strainlng ears for
half an hour. TO him 1t seemed as
II hours had passed when suddenly
lie heard a faint tap AT the outside
door. Very cautiously and with re-
yolver In hand he stepped TO the door
and asked In firm clear voice