The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-29

When this happened i hadn't been rail-
reading a month, and | was up with my
conductor on the carpet, sweating from
sheer grogginess and excitement. The
job OF front-end brakeman on a mountain
division Is no great stake for man Or
dinarily, but it was one for me just then.
We knew when we went into the superin-
tendents office that somebody was to get
fred the only question was who-the
tran crew or the operator? Our engine
crew were out of it; it was up to the
conductor and to me. Had the operator
displayed red signals? The conductor
said no. / said no, the operator said
yes. but he lied. We couldn't prove it;
we could only put our word against his;
and, what made it the worse for me, my
conductor was something of liar him
self.
| stood beading in cold sweat, for /
could sec with half an eye it was going
against us The superintendent, an up
and-up railroad man every inch and all
business, but suspicious, was leaning the
operators way the strongest kind
There wasn't another soul in the little
room as the three of us stood before the
superintendent desk except a passenger
conductor, who sat behind me with his
feet on the window ledge, looking out
into the yard.
"Morrison's record in this office is
Clean the superintendent was saying of
the operator, who was doing US smooth
as smokeless powder. "He has never to
my knowledge lied in an investigation
But. Allbers," continued the superin-
tendent, speaking bluntly to my conduc-
tor you've never told a straight story
about that Rat River switch matter yet
This man is a new man." he added, throw
ing hard look at me. Ordinarily I'd
be inclined to take the word of two men
against one, but l don't know one at all
and the other has done me once. l can't
see anything for it but to take Morrison's
word and let you fellows both out. There
wasn't any wreck. but that's not your
fault-not for minute
"Mr. Rocksby," l protested, speaking
up to the division boss in a clean funk
the prospect of losing my job that way
through a lying operator. took the heart
clean out of me-"you. don't know me. 1t
is true, but l pledge you my word of
honor
What's your word of honor?" asked
the superintendent, cutting into me like
a Ratchet. 81 don't know any more about
your word of honor than do about you. :"
What could / say? There were men
who did know me, but they were a long
cry from the Rocky Mountains and the
headquarters of the Mountain Division
l glanced about me from his face. gray
as alkali, to Allbers, shuffling on the
carpet. and to Morrison, as steady as a
successful liar, taking my job and my
reputation at one swallow, and to the
passenger conductor with the glossy
black whiskers; but he was looking out
the window. What do | know about
your word of honor" repeated Rocksby
sharply. "Allbers. take your man and
get your time"
wave of helpless rage swept over
me. The only thing L could think of
was strangling the lying operator in the
hall Then somebody spoke. "Show your
papers, you damn fool"
1t came calm as sunshine and cold as
Northwestern from the passenger conduc-
tor behind me, from Dave Hawk, and it
pulled me into line like a bugle call
felt my English all back at once. Every
body heard him and looked my way;
again il was up to me. This time I was
ready for the superintendent, or, for that
matter, for the blooming Mountain Divi-
sion. had forgotten all about my papers
till Dave Hawk spoke. / put my hand,
shaking. into my inside vest pocket fol
a piece of oilskin-it was all l had left;
| was a good way from my base that
year. l laid the olskin on the super
intendent's table unfolded ii jealousy
and took out a medal and letter that,
in spite of the carefulest wrapping, was
creased and sweated. But the letter was
from my captain, and the bit of bronze
was the Cross. Rocksby picked up the
letter and read it.
Have you been in the British army?"
he asked CURLY.
"Yes. sir"
He scrowled a. minute over Picton's
scrawl. laid il down and gratified his
curiosity by picking up the medal. He
studied the face of the token looked
curiously at the dingy ribbon. twirled it,
saw the words on the reverse, For Val
our" and looked again at me.
'Whered you get this?" he asked in
dicating the Victoria.
I'm the Soudan, sir"
Dave Hawk Kept right on looking out
the window. Neither my conductor nor
the operator seemed to know just what
the row was. Nobody spoke.
What are you doing here?" Rocksby
went on.
II came out to learn the cattle bust
ness" His brOws went up easy like
Then / went bad with mountain fever"
and he looked decent at me-
You say you had your head out the
cupola and saw the white signal?" he
asked. sort of puzzled.
Il saw the white signal Rocksby
looked at the operator, Morrison.
Wen adjourn this thing" said he at
last, till l look into it a little further.
For the present so back to your runs"
We never heard any more of it. Allbers
got out quick. l wanted TO pick up my
stuff and turned to thank Dave Hawk.
He was gone.
1t wasn't the first time Dave had pulled
me out of the water. About two weeks
before that l had crawled one night uT
on the front platform of the baggage at