The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-09-21


dreary, the landscape traversed by the
road never had great claims to at
tractiveness. and to-day the absence
of contrasting light and shade com.
pletely stripped it of its even mediocre
interest. \ driZZly fog had settled
upon the world. cloaking With gray
the fields and woods and buildings and
brushing the car windows with pro
voking mist.
With one exception the passengers
We're dull! and diSgrunsled. Nothing
was to be seen outside. and little in
side. Even the train-Goy had subsidized
into gloomy despair, recognizing the
futility Of trying to dispose of his
wares to such IN unresponsive COM
pany.
The only trace of animation in evi-
dence adown the aisle of the whole
train was found in the coach behind
the smoker. Here baby Justify pro-
tested against goodness knows what,
and here group of sympathizing kin
endeavored to comfort him. Certainly
he could not rightly complain CT neg
lect. He was being regaled with at
tentions the most SolicitouS, and espe-
cially from his custodian-a girl Of
fifteen. who patted him and danced
him and tempted him with All endless
variety of distractions. But her wiles
were in vain. He refused to be turned
aside from the shril recital of his
woes, real or imaginary.
Occupying double seat opposite,
Horace Kilroy, general superintendent
of the western division of the road,
fumed and demonstrated under his
breath. He repented having come into
one of the ordinary coaches, but. on
the other hand, how otherwise was he
to pursue his pet method of keeping
posted OH all the workings of his de-
partment? He argued that unless he
sometimes doffed his official privilege
of private car and pass, and rode on a
ticket. like everybody else. he could
not gain the complete knowledge which
he was after. He was thus brought
into close contact with patrons and
employees, and if lie WAS enabled to re-
main incoSnito SO much the better.
In truth, the inGulgences of his hob
by had its disadvantages also. and
was now putting the finishing polish
OH what he considered to he the most
disagreeable trip lie ever had taken
over his line. But he was determined
to stick it out. He had encountered
number of offending matters in both
management and manners. ard he was
headed hoVlewartl with his notebook
full of memoranda which boLel i'll for
his SubaiternS.
In the Chicago office the force. of
clerks was waiting in fear and trem-
bling the arrival Of the executive.
From 4 single curt. decisive message
addressed to the chief clerk all appre-
hended that trouble was in store for
somebody. Whenever the general su-
perinterdent came back cross and ner-
vous his immediate subjects paid the
penalty for being present.
Superintendent kilroy gazed OH the
baby as Oh an intolerable nuisance.
He made resolve that he would pro-
pose to the management Of the system
the introduction, as III experiment, of
q special coach. noise-proof, for the
conveyance of babies and party. No
doubt the travelling public would hail
this as blessed innovation.
Perhaps he would favor the probib-
i;ing the carrying Of children without
an adult escort. Here was 4 case iD
point across the aisle. Reclining half
at length in his corner, from beneath
his hat tipped over his eyes lie wrath
fully scrutinized the ease" Five
children unattended-one baby, and
the eldest one mere echit-outraseouS.
Had mother OF Other mature person
been with them Of course that baby
would not be acting so; it would BE-
quiet somehow. The superintendent
possessed vague ideas concerning ba-
bieS. lie being bachelor.
The little family obtruded itself upon
the superintendent observation rath-
er more than he desired. He could
shut it out from neither sight nor hear
inS. The fact was very irritating. He
was of the opinion that at least tw" of
the children badly needed washing.
Yet conscientiously he could not blame
the busy young body in charge.
She herself was GiSheveled, but was
doing lie: best. She had worried,
motherly way about her that was
quite at.yariance with the two slender
tiaxen braids hanging down her back.
Her face WAS round and pink. and her
eyes were / clear gray-5lue. She wore
a plain. sober-colored frock, with none
of those pretty ribbons and dainty
tucks so dear to the heart of any girl.
However. she bore an air of neatNess.
as much neatneSs rs was compatible
with the ultimate supervision of four
active juniors-a miss Of eight, a miss
of six. Il rogue of three. and a regular
rascal assuredly, 10 more than ten
months. With these to right and to
left and in front. and Il huge telescope
l,ar threatening her from the rack