Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-04-07
WHY THE ROAD
WAS BLOCKED.
By HORACE SEYMOUR KELLER.

! When Harry Gale, the young operator
at Jardley's Junction, received the or
der to hold all trains on the siding un-
| til further orders from Grains Crossing
his face bore unmistakable signs of the
seriousness of the occasion. Calling up
Bateman, where the repair gang was
located, ne rapidly clicked to Bates.
Something wrong at Grains Cross
ing. All up trains take the siding here.
Send Holdridge first train
Bates shrugged his shoulders, turned
to the night caller and asked:
rs Holdridge in his quarters?"
Eyes; | saw him go in late about
midnight"
What was his condition."
Same thing; staggering"
Again Struggling his shoulders, Bates
clicked a few words to Jardley's juno.
ton, and was answered briefly:
Drunk or sober, send him"
Call Holdridge at once. He's got
ten minutes to catch the first up train
FOR Jardley's Junction. Hurry, boy!"
Ten minutes afterwards when the
train slackened at Bateman, half
dressed, moody, angry man was bundled
into the caboose, where he settled down
ike a sack of meal to finish his disturbed
sleep from which he had been so sud-
denly reused. Thirty minutes after
wards the train was on the siding at
Jardley's Junction; and in the little
station Harry Gale and the trainmen
were trying to waken Holdridge from
us stupor He mumbled, thick
tongued and discordantly while Harry
pulled his ears, hit him on the back and
handled him roughly.
Rouse yourself, man. There's work
to do. Wake up, say"
Say, let fer rest, Gil me time rest.
boys"
You must wake up, man. Clear your
brain. Something has gone wrong at
Grains Crossing, and"
WHAT"
The stupid leer passed from the mans
face. He brushed his tangled hair from
his brow and drew himself together.
Rising, he shook his head as though
trying to rid his brain of the fog that
clogged its working. The dazed look
vanished, and he asked:
Harry, what's the matter up at
Grains Crossing?"
That's why sent for you-to find
out what it means You must go there
at once
81 see because she's there-my An
ME"
"And it's a shame, too. A slip of
girl alone in station on the Sugar
Loaf"
Easy, Bill! They put my little girl
smart and brave. She's as good as any
man living at the key"
mo time to talk, Holdridge. Annies
all right But, she's a girl-alone UP
there, and"
"Is the pony track cycle here, Harry"
Eyes; here's the lantern. Now hustle
for all you are worth man. Make her
spin"
The pony cycle was placed upon the
track, the lantern fastened in front;
and with waving of the hand Hold
ridge bent to the task and sped away
in the darkness toward Grains Cross
Ing
tits about time we heard from Hold
ridge He must have reached Grains
Crossing by this time"
The trainman's words were inter
rupted by call from the Crossing Then
came burst of profanity which made
the wire sizzle. But Harry caught An
MES familiar touch in the following
which flashed over the wire:
Excuse pa for swearing. He started
in to send message and tell all about the
trouble. Swearing is wicked, even over
the wire. Poor Widow Strckland's
baby came down with Group about an
hour ago. I had to go for doctor. as no
one else lives within mile. Sweet lit
tie thing, baby is. Loves me so. Before
going l blocked the road north Hope
nothing has happened. Pa has had
great scare. Sorry l gave you any
bot ar"
Bill, the trainman, said, after Harry
told why the Sugar Loaf had been
blocked:
"Well, II that don't beat all! This
road stopped for baby"
"Recollect, Bill" broke in Turvy, the
fireman, you've got baby of your own
at home Amt that kid worth more to
you than the entire railroad system in
the state?"
81 amt got no more to say boys. An
ME is all right"
'She's great little girl. Stopped the
whole gearing OF the road for "a baby"
THE road is clear now, and business
may resume" said Harry. after a few
more clickings.
I, The train drew from the siding. and
puffed on its way up the mountain road.
The down train came through all right
Harry Gale waved his hand to a man
standing on the rear platform-Hold-
ridge-who lifted both hands above his
| head and shouted
Since that eventful nirht Holdridge
! has not taken drop; he says the scare