Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-07-07
The Promotion
Of Thomas
BY EDWIN ]. WEBSTER
Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
&>90$


NTHEN half a dozen financial mag
w mates, sitting in a Wall street
Office, arranged the consolidation of
the L. & o. and Great Western rail-
road systems they did big thing
from g. business point of view. BY
means of the consolidation rates
could be raised, and, above all, run
ming expenses could be cut down.
The magnates were much pleased
when they figured out the amount
which could be saved by cutting
down expenses, But somehow it did
er end of the line.
Tom Willis, fireman on the Mis-
souri, express, was among those hit
hard by the reduction in expenses.
The consolidation of the two rail-
roads meant that the number of
trains on the L. e. 0. would be re-
duced. And Tom was among the men
who received notice that their serv-
ices would not be required after the
end Of the month. No fault was
found with his work, but with fewer
trains less firemen were needed, and
Tom, having no pull at headquar
ters." was one Of the victims.
What made it particularly hard
was that Tom, after many efforts,
had finally nerved himself to tell
pretty Helen Draper-as far as a
tongue-tied, bashful man could
how much he thought of her. Tom
was big and strong, and had the rep
utation of being one of the pluckiest
men along the line. Evidently the
reputation was undeserved, as for
months he had been in fear of Helen,
who was slight and brown-eyed, and
dimpled, not in the least a person
who would have been selected as the
model for picture of a fear-inspir-
ing subject. After he had told Helen
what he thought of her, and heard
her soft-spoken answer, Tom Willis
would have strenuously denied the
existence of his former state of ter
ror. But this would only have been
another case of belittling danger
after it has passed.
Then, just when he and Helen were
planning their future, came the news
that he was to be laid off at the end
of the month. Tom climbed into the
cab of the engine in very despond-
ent mood that evening. If truth be
told, with this dependency was
mingled warm resentment against
the railroad company. He had served
the company faithfully, why should
he be turned off just at the time
when life had looked brightest.
Surely, old John Inglis, the en-
gineer, had evidently heard the news,
for as Tom entered the cab he
growled out: Tough luck That
was all he said, but even that was a
good deal for John Inglis, who had
the reputation of being the surliest
man on the road. He also had the
reputation of being afraid of no
man, whether tramp, train robber or
railroad president.
For over an hour the Missouri ex-
press sped west. Then, just before
little bridge was reached, in one of
the worst places on the road, red
lantern was seen. swung frantically,
On the track ahead.
Old John Inglis turned on the
emergency brake and reversed the
big engine, almost with a single
move. The train stopped with lar
which threw the passengers out of
their berths. Then, while engineer
and fireman were peering into the
darkness, trying to make out the
trouble, two men sprang into the cab
of the engine. Other men were seen
running towards the express car. 1t
was plain what had happened. The
train had been stopped by train rob
bers.
The men who had sprung into the
cab wasted no time. One of them
commanded Inglis to pull ahead with
the express car, which by this time
had been cut off from the rest Of the
train. Surly John Inglis grumbled
when he took orders from the dis
patcher. He certainly was not going
to take them from train robbers.
$50 to the devil" was his only re-
ply to the command to cut off tho
engine.
The train robber was on the point
of shooting. Then he changed his mind.
and, picking up an iron bar from the
tender, dealt the engineer terrific
blow on the head. Inglis slipped to the
floor Of the cab, where he lay in little
huddled heap. Both robbers turned to
Tom.
I'VE mean business. Cut off quick or
we'll hurt you worse"
Tom Willis hesitated. Should he lose