River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-06-23

later her own bell rang, and then the
car began to move forward.
She had never been on a train before
never been out of New Orleans; but
for all that she understood ner duties
as well as though she had regular
run Her father had been messen-
ger, and her brother was one, and Ben
had many times told her the details OF
his trip All her life the home con-
versation had been of messengers and
their work and ambitions. She must
manipulate the ventilators of her 20
cars so as to have the heat just right
TO bring the bananas to prime mar
ketable condition when she reached
her destination. A few degrees too
much either way might mean the loss
Of a great many thousand dollars to
the company.
1t was nasty trip, as 20 had pre-
dicted. When they started, the outside
thermometers were down to 81 de-
grees; six hours later they had risen
to 70 degrees, and the next morning
they were back to 81 degrees, and fall
ing. 1t meant constant shifting OF
the ventilators, with an impossibil1ty
of keeping the car thermometers from
fuctuating uneasily. Zero weather
would have been infinitely preferable.
for then the ventilators could have re-
NAMED closed and the fruit would gen.
crate enough heat of its own. That
night and the next day Della did not
trust herself to sit down once, for feac
she might get drowsy or momentarlly
relax her vigilance. Too much depend
ed upon obtaining the very best re-
suits just now.
She was careful to keep herself out
of sight as much as possible, and this
she was able to do the more readily
on account of the fruit train making
few stops At Memphis 20's cars were
switched off to connect with train
west, and her own section was at
tached to a train which had just
pulled in from Galveston, her engine
returning to New Orleans with lot
of empty cars.
A few hours later, at watering
stop, the new conductor caught sight
of her as he was hurrying along the
train She was just sliding the door,
but too late. -
"Hello!" he cried, pausing abruptly;
ga woman-tramp."
Della slid back the door.
mo, sir" she answered, quietly,
holding up the papers she had taken
from Ben; 81 am in charge of this Sec
ton l haven't had good chance to
speak with you before"
The conductor gave long whistle,
which ended in an apologize cough.
But his face heightened visihly.
"A woman in charge of fruit sec
toni" he calculated. Whats the COM
pany thinking of? Next we know
girls will be put in as conductors and
brakemen and engineers. Well, we'll!
But l beg your pardon, miss. Hello!
They need me down yonder," and he
hurried away, still choking resent
fully.
Seven days later Della entered the
company's office at New Orleans. The
manager himself happened to be in,
and he seemed to recognize her by the
familiar looking papers she carried in
her hand He came forward quickly.
But at that moment a figure which had
been lounging about the street door
a white, anxious-faced man. who had
been peering into the Office most of the
time for the last eight days-also saw
her, and rushed in. She turned to him
first
"How are you, Benz" she asked, Gag
erly; "all right?"
Eyes, yes; but you? What have you
full of talk"
The manager was beside them now.
'"Is this Miss Delia?" he inquired.
Eyes, sir. Here are the receipts your
commission agents gave me They said
the fruit was in prime condition"
The manager took the papers and
glanced them over hurriedly.
Eyes, yes; they're all right" he
said But we knew that before Our
agents wired us. They said the fruit
was in the very best cotdition-as
good as they had ever received. Ii
hardly know what to do about this.
It's a most untoward thing, and should
receive our severest censure, our most
unyielding disapproval. And yet you
did as we'll as our very best messen-
ger-better, almost. / suppose we
shall have to pass it over. But such a
thing must never occur again. Mo-
as her gaze went inquiringly toward
Ben-"we have not discharged him;
only suspended him for investigation.
He may go on the next trip. And you
well, it was a most untoward thing;
but suppose you did the best you
could under such short notice. You
may stop at the cashiers window for
your money, and-yes, there's little
recognition for you there also. You
saved us from a possible great loss
But, remember, the recognition is &C.
companied by our most severe GEN.
sure