Smyrna times., 1905-01-18
EQUAL TO THE
EMERGENCY
BIZ FRANK II. SWEET
Copyright. 1904. bU Frank H. Sweet

line and a third was sending out it's
last signaling whistle when Il girl hur-
riod down track 8 with a basket COW
pred by napkin, evidently containing
lunch.
Messenger 10 was SWaying INSTEAD
uv at the open door of a 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 came from them.
The man passed a hand across his
brow weakly holding to the car by the
other. The girl went a step nearer.
"What does it mean?" Her voice
ouivered hoarsely. "Oh. Benz
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 The dull
eyes opened and shut heavily, and
again the hand passed across the fore
head as though to force some intelli-
gence into the clOgged brain. Then:
"D-don't speak like that, grille" an
unrecognizable voice mumbled. I'm
not drunk. l never drank a drop in my
life. You know I-speak-true. It's
a drug" his voice drifting back again
into the stupOr.
The girl was beside him with a swift
movement, the basket thrust into the
car her hands placed firmly upon his
shoulders, her eyes close and gazing
straight into his, lovingly, compelling
ly.
Ben" the voice forcing itself into
clearness and steadiness, "look at me
now, hard. What is it? Thinkv'
The man made a supreme effort
1T was messenger 12-TlmSon, you
know"
She knew. She had refused Tim
sons love-
He offered me drink of water, and
l took it. Then he crossed to track 8
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, Delia?" a
sharp agony quivering in the voice.
This trip was to furnish the money
for our wedding. Timson knew it. He
planned it just before my train starts,
so will lose the trip. There is no time
to find a substitute. My train will go
without me, and the company will be
angry and discharge me for drunken
ness and-and''-hi eyes again becom-
ing dull and his form swaying more
heavily-"and I'm losing myself. 1
can't see you. Quick, grille, find the
manager and tell him it isn't drink. A
"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 both ways showed no
one was in sight. The fruit train on
track was just leaving the wharf, and
6 was sounding its last warning call.
Half carrying and half leading him,
she hurried messenger 10 to the near
est entrance, only a few yards away.
Several drays were standing about
"dillllS lOI JOD. Ouc AuOl4OlCu AAiPC
riOusly to the owner Of the nearest.
Listen. Ren," she said slowly, put
ing her lips close to the ears of the now
almost insensible man in an effort to
make him hear and comprehend. Il
am going to send you home. You
mustn't worry a bit. l will fix it all
right" He was holding his train pa
pers tightly, and she unclasped them
gently from his fingers. Then as the
drayman came forward: Take this
man to his home at once, II Rue Citro-
nellie. Here is a dollar"
Inside she again glanced sharply
around. A man was running in her dt-
rection, heading toward the rear of the
train. She recognized him as a friend
of Ben's.
Hello, Miss Deliar' he called. Come
10 see Ben Off again, have you? He's
lucky dog But you must excuse my
hurry. This train pulls out in three
minutes, and must reach my section"
Della could hear her heart humping
in its anxiety.
Your section is in the rear, l sup
pose?" she questioned. with assumed
carelessness.
Hes"-over his shoulder-"the eight
cen rear cars. Pm messenger %. Ben
mas the forward twenty cars. switch
OH at Memphis for Jefferson City and
Ben goes on tc Columbus"
AS he hurried away Delia's race
cleared. She had learned all she want
ed to know. Placing her hands upon
the floor Of the car she gave hgh'
spring and was within, sliding the dool
quickly behind her. A few moments
later her own bell rang, and then the
car began to move forward.
She had never been on a train be
lore, never been out Of New Orleans
Dut her father had been a messenger
ana Ben had many times told her tn
details Of his trip. She must manipulate
ue ventilators of her twenty cars s.
as TO have the heat just right to bring
the bananas to prime, marketable con
uluon when she reached her destina