The Washington times., 1905-05-07
TIE RED ROSE
THE RAIL N THE '8O's
BY n.B.DE COURCY

better go to HalIam Hospital. This the
boys decidedsto do. A transfer was soon
made and at p. m. after good bath
and unlimited arnica the tired pair were
asleep IN the railroad ward OF the hos
pital at Hallam- john awoke refresh
ed. 1t was after midnight. It seemed hs
would never want to sleep again. S<e
walked Howe and they being the only
occupants of the ward, decided to dress
and sit up until breakfast. The door into
tns hall was open. Looking out they
sa.4 a faint shaded light illun1tr ating
the center OF a long dark hall
A nurse sat quietly undisturbed by
the pain waves swaying IN pitifui
eadences through the dimly seen doors.
Suddenly there was the sharp whir of
telephone; marking her place she lays
aside her book and crossing the room
she holds a brief conversation. With
the last .'Yes doctor" she hangs up the
receiver.
The pressure of button and In few
minutes a hastily dressed young man
appears, sIippered feet shambIing uneer-
tainly as he drowsily wres.Ies with his
coat
What is it now nurse? ?"
.tOhl another of those Northern cases
-an engineer on the fast mail; from
what DR.. Blake says, he is pretty well
done up
With muttered Damn slaughter pen
Of road. I don't see how they find
fools enough to man it, he follows the
girl into the operating room. The great
eoroual OF fncandeseents above the grim
table are glowing SIS though IN fierce
delight. the myriad rays dancing with
deviIish mirth over the flashing cruel
edges. remorseless set OF pineer jaws.
as If III anticipated reveI.
The sound of heavy footballs, then
enter four men. their faces set in awe
some sympathy-bearing stfetcheT.
Behind them the Indifferent face Of the
company doctor.
Easy boys, set him down here.
easy, easy Poor fossil. his cheap
sympathy and mock assumption is
wasted here. the poor broken body is
in the care of his comrades. Every
moan or pitiful grasp Of straying hands
falls upon hearts whose depths are be-
yend his comprehension. TeRderly tho
cot is placed upon the floor, the nurse
takes her place beside the doctor. the
house surgeon lifts the Blanket. the lit
tie group OF railroad men fall back. A
great blue denined form, the face cut,
gasled and blood covered, the thick
hair full Of mud and einders aad ever
the hands wander over The broad breast.
The doctor watches the gasping swollen
lips, thon STOPPING runs quick deft IN
gers over breast and sides, arises saying.
mo use. he is crushed internally . The
nurse hides yawn behind her hand, the
caIlow youth in slippers wonders, How
long the case will last
Who is he?'' asks the doctor.
..one of our best men, answers one
OF the group. ''Oid Terry Riley. he
has pulled fast mail for years-5ide
wiped a cut of runaway cars in the
lower yard. Is he all in?'
Yes" answered the doctor.
L tell you, boys. I've fired my last
trip for old Ed 1t was the injured man
who spoke The doctor looked at him
in surprise, the boys" drew invoiun-
| tariiy back-it seemed like speech from
the dead The tortured lips moved
| braveIy. doggedly on. Something like
youthful ring came into the. broken
voice Z hate TO buck on the CID man
| but he is getting my Tide, his bar stays
wherever it strikes, up hill or over the
| level it's all the same TO him and the
| in ntector-wen. it stays on away from
stations and all. until the water runs
1
| to let the fire go out to save her blowing
I'D. Dry valves all the time and the
band playing Home, Sweet Home
| He is back to his firing days, rauF-
| INJURED one of the group,
/ The others nodded understandinsly
| Some injury to the great nerve CEN
ters." remarked the doctor TO his saIel-
| Ites.
| sYes, he may keep US up here aH
bc,,r. there is no calculating on the
| wonderful vitality of these fellows. they
are all picked men physically
| yes. Annie" resumed the plodding
voice its our home. not what you
| were used to but all our own and paid
| for not what Frank could have given
| x-ou but I'll try TO make 1t up to-the
| case Is like this. Mr. Maley, the boys.
myself included, absolutely refuse to
| clean brass bugs and hot cab work any
| longer. How any company can ask men
| to crawl up on top of hot boiler IN
| close round house on a hot summer day
to polish two or three hours is more
| than / can UNDERSTANDINGS 1 know
| what it means to buck up against You
people but I'm willing 10 lose thrsS
years firing if it comes to a showdown
| fer the benefit of the boys-Weli. John.
1
| lot TO a fellow on his first trip to have
an old fireman with him. I'll take her
up Banks and Aliens and let YOU play
| gle eye; keep your eye on your main
| min. it's old Bits pet and If we burn
| it up, I'll stand to block the extra list
See if you can see anything OF them
back there, we are five minutes late now
say vounGster, what do Y ~ mean COM
ing out in the street q day like this
with a pair OF shoes like that. En-!
that's the why is 1t, q very good why.
too. come in here with me before /
give you good licking-Say. mister.
ft this mite out with pair of shoes and
dry stockings, take IT out OF this ana
give her the change-No, my friend, you
| are off your base" the listeners noticed
an ominous metallic ring in the voice
I've been playing section OF the Wheei
all night. one chip on all except the q
add that FIVE straight. it is my money
and I've got to have it-what's three 30
| one with you kind of cattle, why son, /
could take three more such thin~iegged
hapana-necked dudes like you fellows