River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-06-23
An Unauthorized
Substitute
Copyright, 1904. hy Daily Story Pub. Col
BY FRANK III. SWEET


those 13 hours the great vessel had
been emptied by half thousand hur-
rying stevedores, and the fruit trans
ferred to nearly as many ventilated
cars, made up into dozen or more
long trains, whose engines were puff
fing impatiently to be off. AL the cars
had been given little artlnc1ai
warmth preliminary to the moist fruit
generating heat Of its own, and the
stoves removed; and now the messen-
gers, in charge of sections of ten to 20
cars, were fastening to their stations,
ready to start on the long trips to vari-
Gus parts of the north.
Two of the trains had already pulled
up from the company's wharf to the
main line, and third was sounding
out it's last signalling whistle when
girl hurried down track nine, with a
blanket, covered with napkin and eV-
identity containing a lunch. Messenger
16 was swaying unsteadily at the open
door of a car, and the girl went
straight to him, her eyes bright, her
cheeks flushed. But as she drew near
she suddenly recoiled, look Of terror
coming to her face.
Benz" her white lips tried to say;
but no sound same from them.
The MAJ passed a hand across his
brow, weakly, holding to the car by
the other. The girl went a step
nearer.
What does this mean?" her voice
quiyered, hoarsely. ooh! Ben"
L I, tn hn aTrU
seemed to penetrate the mans dulling
brain, for tremor went through him
and he Strengthened suddenly, as
though by great effort. But for some
moments he could not speak, though
he evidently tried hard. The dull eyes
opened and shut heavily, and again the
hand pressed across the forehead, as
though to force some intelligence into
the clogged brain. Then:
Don't speak like that, grille" an
unrecognizabIe voice mumbled. m
not drunk. l never drank drop ii
my life. You know I-speak-true.
It's a d-r-u-g"-his voice drifting back
again into the stupor.
The girl was beside him with swift
movement, the basket thrust into the
car, her hands placed firmly upon his
shoulders, her eyes close and gazing
straight into his, lovingly, compel
lingly.
'Ben!"-the voice forcing itself into
clearness and steadiness-"look at me-
now, hard. What is it? Think"
The man made supreme effort
cit was Messenger 12-Timson, you
know-the man you refused. He
offered me a drink of water, and /
took it. Then he crossed to track three
and jumped on board his train. 1t was
the one that just pulled out"
but what did he do it for?"
Don't you understand, Della pa
sharp agony quivering into the voice
"This trip was to furnish the money
for our wedding, and Timson knew it.
He planned it just before my train
starts, so 1 will lose the trip. There
IS no time to find a substitute. My
train will go without me, and the
company will be angry and discharge
me for drunkenness, and-and''-his
eyes again becoming dull and his form
swaying more heavily-"and-I am
losing mySelI. can see you
Quick! grille; you must find the man
ager and tell him it-isn't drink. A
q discharged messenger cannot-get-
work anywhere"
He lurched forward and would have
fallen, but she caught him in her
strong supple arms. A quick glance
up and down showed that no one was
in sight. The train on track five was
just leaving the wharf, and six was
sounding it's last warning "cl-ang."
Half carrying and half leading him,
she hurried messenger 16 TO the near
est outside entrance, only few yards
away. Several drays were standing
about, waiting for job. She mo-
toned imperiously to the owner of the
nearest.
Listen, Ben,". she said, slowly, t.
ting her lips close to the ears of inc
now almost insensible man in an eff
fort to make him hear and compre
bend; "I-am-going-to-
home You-mustn't- Incompatible
--for-I-will-fix- right
will take these" He was holding his
train papers tightly, and she I'M
clasped them gently from his fingers.
Then, as the drayman came forward
with a knowing look at the dropping
figure she was upholding, Take this
man to his home at once, IL Rue Cit
ronelle Here is a dollar"
She hesitated little, glancing at the
drayman doubtfully. But there was no
time for explanations. She could hear
the engine on track seven changing its
bell for departure. Every moment was
precious now; and, after all, it did not
matter what the drayman thought
There were things of vastly more im-
portance.
and down. A man was running in her
direction, heading toward the rear of
train nine. She recognized him as mes
senger 20, and a friend of Ben's. She
stopped at the door of the car in which
was her basket. AS the man drew
near he saw her and slackened his
pace somewhat.
Hello, Miss De1ia!" he called:
"come to see Ben off again, have you?
And brought him another nice lunch,
too! Well, we'll, but he's a lucky dog
/ wish were in his shoes. You must
excuse my hurry, though. This train
pulls out in three minutes, and l want
to reach my section"
Della could hear her heart humping
in it's anxiety.
sSVo,,y cpotiCn iS in tbe rear I SIM