Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-10-13
Trains That Pass
In the Night
BY C. CLAYTON BROWN
Copyright, 1908. bU C. c. BrotDn
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- OMERVILLE, being only da
Office. was usually closed for tn
night promptly at o'clock. Blu
- at Il o'clock one exceptionall
cold night carly in December the fir
light from tie little Office stove re
vealed two youthful forms huddle'
close to its grateful warmth and eal
ncstly engaged in whispered conversa
ton.
The little building which served as ;
station for the y. Il. and w. railrOa,
ut SOmerville also afforded accOmmO
da:ion for II residence in its upper stO
ry and was occupied by the family o
Silas Carver, the station agent. Th
family consisted of Silas, his wife ant
their daughter Nellie, an eXtremel!
pretty girl about sixteen years Of age.
Somervillc was an unimportant sta
tion. and the salary attached to 1T
agency was so small that in the win
ter season Silas used to add few dol
lars TO his scanty income by the salt
of chest protectors to hapless travellers
By frequently rcciting the merits OF
the protectors Silas had convinced him
self that it was simply foolhardy no
10 wear them in cold weather and in
sisted upon his wife and daughter
wearing them throughout the winter.
Some four years before Ned Mars
den, orphaned and homeless at fifteer
years of age. had been taken in by 81
las as helper at the station. He haC
proved himself Il bright. ambitious boy
and had acquired so thorough knowl
edge of telegraphy that he had. upor
Silas' recommendation been appointed
night operator ut Litchfield. sever
miles north of SOmerville.
There he mt first gave promise of rap
id advancement: but. unfortunately, ht
had become hope,csSly cnamorcd OF
pretty Nellie Carver. and Nellie had lie
come more than interested in him. SC
he soon began to spend most Of his
days in her society at Somerville. for
feiting the sleep so essential for a sat
isfactory performance of his duties al
night, and in consequence rendered the
company indifferent service. He had
finally been discharged.
Siias. having recommended him, sc
highly. regarded this as personal af
front and had upbraidcd linn unspar
ingly and also laid strict injunction
upon Nellie to have nothing more to dc
with him.
1t immediately became necessary fol
Ned to see; Il position cl 'cw@cre. but
to leave without seeing Nellie WIS not
to be thought Of. His Familiarity with
tie habits of the Carvcrs suggested to
him the case with which Il meeting
might be arranged if she would admit
him TO the Office after her parents were
asleep. To this Nellie had con 'ented.
though with much misgiviag, for she
was not given to deceit of any kind.
"Oh. Ned" she whispered, you
shouldn't have asked me To do this!
What would father say if he knew it?"
81 know it. Nell" replied the boy.
but I'm going away tomorrow. per-
Laps forever. and couldn't 30 witlort
seeing you. He'll never know it any
way"
81 hope not. I'm sure" said Nellie,
only partially reassurcd. but | mnst
tell mother. have never deceived her
before. and l do feel so guilty"
".ill right. YCu may tell mother. and
Just give her this from me-" IN ;wercd
he. ut the same time pressing DOyi'h
kiss upon her half resisting lips.
stop. Ned! DO stop. Tell ne all
about yourself. where yon are going
md why. Oh. what is the matt"r?' she
concluded. for Ned had suddenly leaNed
% the table on which the telegraph in
strumcnt was husily ticking.
"Sh. Just a minute" he cautioned
md listened eagerly to the clicking in
strument. Suddenly lie exclaimed in a
horror stricken voice: Great heavens.
Nell. the operator ut Denis failed to de-
liver an order to the limited to meet
the southern express here! Both think
they have right of track and are sure
to collide if something isn't done to
prevent It, The train dispatcher is
frantic. Listen! He's calling Somer-
Vile now. hoping to find 81 awake. He
might us we'll he calling somebody in
4 graveyard for all the good it II do
him"
"Why. no. Ned! You can answer him.
Do, See what he wants"
"Not much" replied Ned grimly.
That's Sam Smithers. the dispatcher
who reported me for being fresh one
night because when | was half asleep
gave him the same number on three
different engines. and when he said
All engines look alike to yen. guess.
told him. No: there's one out there
in the sawmill that looks little differ
,nt from the Others Let him sweat 1t
,ut. If | did answer him he'd only tell
me to do what I'm going to anyway.
Then he'd get all the credit for it."
"Wh-wh-what are we going to do.
Ned?" stammcred the frightened girl.
"DoY returned he scornfully. "Why.
stop them. of course. We want the red
lantern first. Where Is it?"
"Oh. it's not here, Ned! Father lent
i to the church people to be used In
decorating the hall for their fair tomor'
Tow night. You know. this is not a
night office. and we never use it."
That's nice. Never mind. Wen take
the white one and wrap the red flag
around it; do just rs we'll"
but there is no red flag!" walled the
unhappy girl. "The local ran over 1t
yesterday. Father ordered another at
once. but it hasn't come yet"
"Wcll. that beats the devil" exclaim-
ID Ned in disgust-"a railroad office
without n danger signal. To think OF
Ola 81 lcct'lring me for neglect OF duty!
don't know what we will do now
unless" y" continued hopefully. "yOu
have or " rod rrl'icGnt
"But | haven't. Ncd"' cried the sirl
n utter despair. Mine is white"
Then l guess we're stuck. But no!
lou wear a chest protectOrT"
YES"
Good. Is it Il red one"
"Yes.'