The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-09
An Unauthorized
Substitute
Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
BY FRANK H. SWEET

Copyright, 1901, bS Daily Story Pub. COY
HE Honduras, loaded with bananas,
had been in only Is hours; but in
those IS hours the great vessel had
been emptied by half thousand hur-
rying stevedores, and the fruit trans
TERED to nearly as many ventilated
cars, made up into dozen or more
fing impatiently to be off. All the cars
had been given little artificial
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 its last signalling whistle when a
girl hurried down track nine, with q
blanket, covered with napkin and ev-
identity containing lunch. Messenger
16 was swaying unsteadily at the open
door of car, and the girl went
straight to him, her eyes bright, her
cheeks flushed. But as she drew near
she suddenly recoiled, a look of terror
coming to her face.
"Ben!" her white lips tried to say;
but no sound same from them.
The man passed a hand across his
brow, weakly, holding to the car Ivy
the other. The girl went a step
nearer.
What does this mean?" her voice
quivered. hoarsely. ooh! Ben"
Something of the agony in the cry
seemed to penetrate the mans dulling
brain, for tremor went through him
and he Strengthened suddenly, as
though by a 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
unacceptable voice mumbled. I'm
not drunk. never drank drop in
my life. You know I-speak-true.
It's 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! 1.-THE voice forcing itself into
clearness and steadiness- 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 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, Dalia? 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 I will lose the trip. There
is no time to find 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 myself. I-can't see you.
Quick! grille; you must find the man
ager and tell him it-isn't drink A
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 10 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, put
ting her lips close to the ears of the
now almost insensible man in an eff
fort to make him hear and compre-
bend; "I-am-going-to-send-you
home. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
-for-I-will-fx-it-all - right. l
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 UNFOLDING, "Take this