Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-06

 spring ana was within, sliding the door quickly behind her. She could hear men running along track eight and the train pulling out. A few moments later her own bell rang, and thsn the car began to move forward.
 She had never been on train before meyer been out of New Orleans; but for all that she understood her 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 few degrees too much either way might mean the loss Of a great many thousand dollars to the company.
 It was a nasty trip, as 20 had pre- dicted. When they started, the outside thermometers were down to 31 de- grees; six hours later they had risen to 70 degrees, and the next morning they were back to 31 degrees, and fall- ing. It meant a constant shifting of the ventilators, with an impossibiiity of keeping the car thermometers from ductuating uneasily. Zero weather would have been infinitely preferable, for then the ventilators could have re- mained closed and the fruit would gen. crate enough heat of it's own. That night and the next day Della did not trust herself to sit down once, for fear she might get drowsy orr momentarily 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 of to connect with a 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 a lot of empty cars.
 A few hours later, at a watering stop, the new conductor caught sight of her as, he was hnrrying 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,
 No, sir.' she answered, quietly. holding Up the papers she had taken from Ben: T am in charge of this sec tion. I haven't had a good chance to speak with you before"
 The conductor gave long whistle, which ended in an apologetic cough. But his face heightened visitly.
 "A woman in charge of fruit sec- tion!" he ejaculated. What's the com pany thinking of? Next we know girls will be put in as conductors and brakemen and engineers. Well, well! But 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, Ben?o she asked, eag- erly; "all right?'
 Yes, yes; but you? What have you been up to. grille? The office has been full of talk
 The manager was beside them now.
 "Is this Miss Delia?" he inquired.
 t'Yes, sir. Here are the receipts your commission agents gave me. They said the fruit was in prime condition
 The manager took the rapers and glanced them over hurriedly.
 ''Yes. yes; they're all right" he said. 'Rut we knew that before. Our agents wired us. They said the fruit was in the very best eoEdition-as good as they had ever received, I--I hardly know what to do about this. It's most untoward thing, and should receive our severest censure, our most z Q11y ACA011AE nA. y ~AAo JCI yOA did as well as our very best messen- ger-better, almost. I suppose we shall have to pass it over. But such a thing must never occur again. No'- 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 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 possible great loss But, remember, the recognition is ac- companied by our most severe cen- sure.''
 PROTESTS AGAINST CHINESE Native Chief of Bechuanaland Ob-