The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-24
For Duty's Sake...A Thrilling
Story Of Railroad Engineer
By ALLAN Gal RIGUS

IL came right down TO the test he wasn't
quite sure he wanted to know the truth
always the blessed chance. But TO know
TO know absolutely-is sometimes to close
the door forever against hope.
The sun had gone down in blaze Of
glory. "A fresh breeze whispered in the
willows and furtively ratified the sunfow-
erS. Away TO the south twinkled the lights
of vagrant prairie fire. In the west the
lightning hared in an aureOle of flame about
the snowy turban of giant thunder-head,
and faint grumbles of thunder came now
and then from behind the clouds, like the
murmurings Of some discontinued Tital.
The crickets-the little sisters of the
night-chanted vespers in a quavering
reedy chorus. katydid stabbed the ST.
lence with its sybillant warning and from
the lake came the sleepy twittering of the
water fowls
The family was sitting on the porch The
father smoking, the daughter idly strum-
ming on a guitar, Mark seated in the back
ground-where he chose to be.
a neighbor logged up on an awkward
farm horse ana left the mail. There was
letter for the girl. a long, yellow envelope
with 'R. r. B." printed in the upper left
a sharp gasp, rose tremblingy to her feet
and entered the house Presently Mark felt
touch on his arm through the open win
dow She beckOned him in.
Read! she cried, thrusting the letter
into his hands; its from your Mr.. Fobes.
| wrote TO him; was afraid you wouldn't
Mark held the sheet up to the light and
gazed at it vaguely. II can't make it out"
he said. weakly, the letters seem to run
all together. Read it for me, Mar-Mar-
jorie."
And this is what the letter said:
And so Mr.. DanVerS thought he jumped.
Well, if he had ii wouldn't have been no
killing disgrace. L done it myself. But you
can tell him for me that he didn't. l pulled
him out through the cab window with my
own hands after the bump 1 had to pry
loose IL a
pretty stiff knock on the head There
wasn't no wreck to speak of. Would have
engine like he did. The old man was ask
ing me the other day where he was and
when he was coming back. Says 1, Next
WILLIAM FOBES."
"P. S.-The papers said he was hero
isn't it too good!" she cried jOyousy.
Now you can go back, can't your
Mark slowly mopped his perspiring fore
! head. -.
ly, but I'm not going
Not going?" She lifted her brows in
He shook his head. 81 had it all thought
out in case something like this did happen.
When L came along here running wild,
with my headlight smashed, did you people
figure on what you were going 10 do with
me? Didn't you take me in without a
word-wlthout considering your own feel
1ngs in the least? Haven't you kept me
until L was good new and treated
me white all the way through. And now
| that I've got a chance to get back at you
| do you reckon I'm the man to pull out
| empty, when 1 ought to stay and help you
| people over the grade?
Your father needs some one all the time
! on the farm-he told me so himself, and he
| said he'd be sorry to see me leave. An
other thing he said once. too, mighty near
! put me in the clear, that if-that if-he
could find some one as good as me he
wouldn't mind your marrying him. only
| he mustn't take you away from home
| he Couldn't stand that
| so you see, Marjorie. I'm not agOing
| judge there's other folks can do their duty
besides you. I'd ought TO told you long
| agO-how matters stood with me. l reckon
| you know that I've loved you from the
! first. I've been carrying the signals plain
| enough, and / reckon, too, you know why
L haven't said it right out Its because
! couldn't bear to ask You until L knew
what | could offer you. | didn't want you
/ to have a husband with coward branded
| all over him. I've got some money at
| home, enough to buy the Mills farm-right
next south. You'll be close home then
/ that is if you want me-do you Marjorie?'
| She took a step backward. DO you
think" she cried. that can't see through
| Why are you doing this? Are you simple
| enough to believe that any girl would mar
| ~ a man who proposed 10 her for duty S
| sake?"
at isn't that" he answered. 81 love you,
| and you know it, and I'm staying here be-
| cause ought to, and L m willing TO do 1t
| glad 10 DO IL III Ism any use lOF you u
| say anything. | won't go.
| You will" she flashed a swift smile at
| him, there's no need of your staying. /
| don't you see Mark that-why you foolish
| boy, why don't you ask me TO go with
| you?"
| Lord, Lord" he said moment later,
| looking down at her proudly, your way
| is going TO be the best way after all. Its
| lust going around a high mountain by a
| pleasant road. instead of climbing over IT.