The Opelousas courier., 1905-10-28

John it was who unceremoniously
pumped down upon his lap and af-
~fectionately embraced him.
ooh, Johnnie, don't!' pleaded Louise,
lorrifed at the audacity.
"Never mind; let him stay" spoke
the superintendent, bravely.
Johnnie stayed, to be Joined within a
tious.
Said the grinning brakeman. WHO
long ago had recognized the official,
but had pretended ignorance, 20 the
conductor, who also was III tie secret,
Look at the old man will you. Reg
ular happy family, isn't he! Some
body ought to take a photograph OF
him."
Could the superintendent many
friends and associates, business and
social, have seen him thus engaged
when the train pulled into Chicago
they would have gazed agape, thunder
struck, nearly incredulous. And the
sight of this same superintendent con-
veyiIs those children into the statirl
would have clapped the climax!
You're to stay here, remember, I'M
til five O'clock" he instructed, when
Louise and her youngsters and bag
and all had been safely ensconced up
OF a seat in the waiting-room. One
Of the men iii red caps will tell ynn
when your train is ready-and I'll sec
to it that they take You to Fargo
do you own all the Railroads.&c.
asked Hilda. admiringly.
mot quite, Hilda," he replied.
"Goodbye"
On his way to the door he beck
oned to a station attendant. George"
lie directed, you see those children
over there-four and a baby. Look
after them, will you. please? They're
friends of ~mine-going to Fargo, and
I'll depend on you to put them aboard
the five O'Clock l.. & D., And, George
handing him a dollar ''you might get
some sandwiches and oranges and
other truck. They've lost their money.
Children always want to eat, l be-
lieve."
Yes, sir; I'll look after them, Mr..
Kilroy, sure asserted the man.
With this the sup -%rintendent hur-
| ried to the curb, sprang into a cab,
and was Whirled off to his office.
All the day the atmosphere through
| out his suite had been depressing, for
it was suspected that he was return
ing in a temper which meant a gener-
al AMI brusque upheaval. No clerk,
however humble, but feared that the
first victim of d~ispleasure might be
himself. The superintendent heels
striking sharply along the floor of the
| corridor were heard in the QUITE" office,
| and by that subtle species of wireless
teIegraphy termed intuition the
word was passed from desk. 1.-THE old
man is coming!
He opened the door-and he was
| whistling! Actually whistling! AS he
strobe through his OWL private apart
ment he whistled on! The clerks
glanced at n another in relieved sur
| prise. A smile showed here and there,
and it seemed as if the sun were shin
ing again. Hardly had Mr.. Kilroy en-
tered his sanctum ere he rang his bell
imperatively.
"Send in Johnson" he ordered.
Johnson. not entirely devoid of fore
boding, obeyed the summons.
ST want you to make out an appli-
c%ation-ir the usual way-to the L. 4
d. for transportation to Fargorcharge
to my account-for Louise Swanson
and family, S-w-a-n-s-s-o-n-got it?
All right. Go owe with it yourself
and wait for the pass, and take it
| down to the station and give it to Miss
Swanson. She's in the ladies' wait
ing-room with three children and a
baby. She's to go out on the five
o'clock. A girl of fifteen, three other
children and a baby-you can't help
find them. The chances are you'll
hear the baby before you reach the
station"
The bewildered clerk had
enough left to smile at the conclud-
ing sarcasm of his superior.
Eyes, sir; I'll go at once, sir" he
a
"And-here, Johnson you might
give the young lady this. Tell her it's
for the baby"
I'll hope you had a pleasant trip,
Mr.. Kilroy," he hazarded, boldly, as
c test to know the worst-if there was
a worst. Perhaps the superintendent
urbanity vas only surface deep.
"Oh-quite pleasant; in fact, unusual
ly pleasant, thank you," averred the
| superintendent ullconcernedly. Things
are in good shape. Now don't fail to
get the transportation to the station.
Go right away"
As the clerk made his exit. with
him through the open door drifted the
| welcome sound of Superintendent Kill
roy's whistle-cheery, satisfied and
reassuring.-Woman's Home Compan-
ion.
Publicity as q Panaceas
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