The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-07-01


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 I'M
portanca.
inside, she again glanced sharply up
and down. A man was running in her
direction, heading toward the rear of
train nine. She recognized him as mes
senger 20, and 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 Delia!" he called;
"come to see Ben off again, have you?
And brought him another nice lunch,
too! Well, we'll, but he's lucky dog.
l wish were in his shoes. You must
excuse my hurry, though. This train
pulls out in three minutes, and | want
to reach my section"
Della could hear her heart humping
in its anxiety.
Your section is in the rear, | sup
pose?" she questioned, raising her
voice so that he could hear and try
ing to keep it from betraying too great
interest in the answer.
"Yes,"-Over his shoulder-"the 13
rear cars Ben has the forward 20.
switch off at Memphis for Jefferson
City, and Ben goes on to Columbus.
It's going 10 be a nasty trip, I'm
afraid"
Delia's face cleared She had learned
all she wanted to know. There was no
one else in sight. and 20's back was
toward her Placing her hands upon
the floor of the car she gave light
spring and 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 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 her duties
as well as though she had a 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 70
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 a 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 20 degrees, and the next morning
they were back to 81 degrees, and fall.
ing It meant a constant shifting Oh
the ventilators, with an impOssibillty
of keeping the car thermometers from
fiuctuating uneasily. Zero weather
would have been infinitely preferable
for then the ventilators could have re-
manned closed and the fruit would gen
crate enough heat of it's own. Ihat
night and the next day Della did not
trust herself to sit down once, for fea:
she might get drowsy or momentar1ly
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 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 lot
of empty cars.
A few hours later, at a watering
of her as he was hurrying along the
train She was just sliding the door,
but too late.
.Hello.@' he cried. pausing abruptly;
"a 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. | haven't had good chance to
speak with you before"
The conductor gave a long whistle,
which ended in an apologize cough.
But his face heightened visitly.
"a woman in charge of a fruit sec
tion." he calculated. whats 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.