The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1905-03-01
EQUAL TO THE
EMERGENCY
Copyright. 19o4. bp Frank II. Sweet
BIZ FRANK II. SWEET

SOAAAAAAEn
Ben" her white lips tried to sa.
but no sound came from them.
The man passed a hand across hi
brow weakly, holding to the car by til
other. The girl went step nearer.
"What does it meanY Her vOiC
quivered hoarsely. "Oh. Ben!'
Something of the agony In the or
seemed to penetrate the mans Dublin
brain. for tremor went through hir
and he Strengthened suddenly, q
though by a great effort. The du
eyes opened and shut heavily. an
again the hand passed acrossithe fore
head as though to force some INTEL
gence into the clogged brain. Then:
don't speak like that, grille" a
uN -cognizable voice mumbled. "I'r
E& drunk. never drank drop in m
life. You know I-speak-true. It,
a drug" his voice drifting back agai
into the stupor. n
Tie girl was beside him with swif
movement, the basket thrust into th
car her hands placed firmly upon hi
shoulders, her eyes close and gaZin
straight into his, lovingly, compelling
ly.
"Ben," the voice forcing itself int
clearness and steadiness, "look at m
now. hard What is it? Think!'
| The man made supreme effort.
1T was messenger 12-Timson, yoV
! know
She knew. She had refused Tim
sons love.
''IIe offered me drink Of water. ant
and. jumped ON board his train. It wal
the one that just pulled out"
Put what did he do it for?''
Don't you understand. Delia?" {
sharp agony quivering in the voice
This trip was to furnish the money
| for our wedding. Timson knew it. HI
planned it just before my train Jtarts
so will lose the trip. There is no tim'
to find substitute. My train viii g
without me, and the company will b.
ans And discharge me for drunken
nessS and-and"-h eyes again becom
ing dull and his form swaying more
heavily-"and I'm losing myself. j
can't see you. Quick. grille. find the
manager and tell him it isn't drink.
"a discharged messenger cannot gel
work anywhere" ..-
He lurche1 forward and would have
fallen. but she caught him in hel
strong. supple arms.
A quick glance both ways showed nc
one was i'll 81, ,~ht. The fruit train or
track was Just leaving the wharf. and
WAS sounding its last warning call
Half earring and half leading him
she hurried messenger 1G to the near
est entrauee. only few yards away
Several drays We're standing about
waiting for job. She motioned impe-
riously to the owner of the nearest.
Listen. Ben." 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
IN going to send you. home. You
mustn't worry bit. | 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 lis home at once. II Rue Citro-
nellie. Here is Il dollur.'
Inside, she again glanced sharply
around. A man was running in her di
train. She recognized him as friend
of Ben's.
Hello, Miss Delia!" he called. Come
to see Ben off again. have you? He's
lucky dog. But you must excuse my
hurry. This train pulisEout in three
minutes. and must reach my section ~
Della could hear her heart humping
in it's anxiety. ....
"Your section is in the rear, l sup
pose?" she questioned. with assumed
carelessness
"Yes"-over his shoulder-''the eight
cen rear cars. I'm messenger 28 Ben
has the forward twenty cars. switch
off at Memphis for Jefferson City and
Ben goes on to Columbus"
AS he hurried away Delia's face
cleared. She had learned all she want
ed to know. Placing her hands upon
the floor of the car she gave light
spring and was within, sliding the door
quickly behind her. A few moments
later her own bell rang, and then the
car began to move forward.
She had never been on q train be-
fore, never been out of New Orleans.
but her father had been a messenger,
and Ben had many times told her the
details of his trip. She must manipulate
the ventilators of her twenty cars 80
as to have the heat just right to bring
the bananas to prime. marketable con-
ditiOn when she reached her destina-
ton. A few degrees too much either
way might mean the loss of a good
many thousand dollars to the company.
1t was hard trip. for the outside
thermometer rose from 81 degrees to
20 degrees III six hours. and the next
morning was back again to 81 degrees
and falling. 1t meant constant shift
ing of the ventilators with an impoS
sibility of keeping the car thermomt.
ters from ductuating uneasily. Zero
weather would have been Infinitely
prefe"ahie for then the ventilator0
could have remained closed and thu
fruit would generate enough heat Of
its own. That night and the next day
Della did not trust herself to sit down
once for fear she might get drowsy
and momentarily relax Der vigilance
Too much depended upon obtaining the
best results just now.
She was careful to keep herself out
Of sight. and this she was able to do
the more readily on account OF the
fruit train making few stops. At Men,
phis the rear section was switched of