The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-26
CHAPTER I.
An Order From the General Manager

An Order From the General Manager
1t lacked three minutes of the seized
Gle time for No. 4, the Chicago. FL
Paso and Guayfnas Kansas City Filler,
to pull out of the union station in Chi
cago.
The division superintendent stood on
the station platform at the end of the
train. with his open watch in his hand.
He was evidently annoyed. He turn
ed to the train conductor, who stood be-
side him, and said sharply:
whats the matter with that switch
crew? II my car is not here pretty
soon. it's going to delay No. 4. and the
old man will be sore again.
II heard the dispatcher say that 300
had left the yard, and would be here
on time" replied the conductor. Here
she comes now"
A switch engine backed down The
track, and gently bumfed ear 300 into
the end of the dining car. a switchman
coupled the air hose, and ran back to
disconnect the engine.
The superintendent closed his watch
with snap, and was good humored
once more. The conductor raised his
hand to give the high sign TO the en-
gineer The car porters picked up their
steps, and No. 4, the pride of the c.. Ell
p and c., moved slowly out OF the sta
ton.
The superintendent had just swung
himself aboard his car when a. young
man came running down the platform
with valise and an umbrella in his
hand he managed to reach the step
of the superintendent car before his
breath gave out entirely.
A friendly hand reached out, took his
yalise. and helped him aboard.
inf
dent. You almost missed Us. Going
up the road?''
.eWhy, hello, Horne. gasped Sanford.
..By Jove, it was q pretty close shaVei
Just my luck 10 catch you. Yes, they've
given me two weeks off. I'm out to
spend them with the folks in Kansas
City. and don't want to lose any time
Haven't seen my mother for a year.
and / want to enjoy every minute Of
my holiday
Good exclaimed Horne heartily.
..Come into the car. I'm going to Kan
sas City myself. I've plenty of room
for you, and lots of welcome. Wen do
a little railroad chin chin this evening. "
"An right" said Sanford. that beats
riding in a sleeping car. / want to have
a talk with you, anyhow everything
all right along your stretch2
YES. we're doing some pretty good
raiIroa1ing on the division now, and
when we get the road into FL Paso. We'll
make those other roads look like mule
lines
The train was now out of the station
and running slowly through the yard,
accompanied by the monotonous clang-
ing of the engine bell.
II ran past miles of freight cars bear
ing the initials OF every railroad on
the continent; across mean streets,
where tired men and women stood wait
ing for the passing of the glistening.
beautiful cars of dark maroon and sill
Yer, with their shining plate glass win
dows.
It was a superb train, composed en-
tIrely of sleeping, combination, and
mail cars, to which had been added,
Ike a snapper, the dingy, much-used
old 800, the private car of Superintendent
Jack Horne, which had been the general
managers private car when the road
had its beginning
Superintendent Horne and Sanford sat
In their wicker arInchairs before the
big. square observation windows in tht
end of the car, watching the track sir
away into the backgrounds railroad
mans trick.
The train passed from the city to tht
past ornate little suburban stations il
a whirl OF dust, and with shrieking
whistle.
isn't she q hummer" asked Horne
THE best that ever ran on two rails,
replied Sanford admiring1y. Il hope tC
ride on her when she pulls into e
Paso.''
Here. too" Horne said. land it isn't
a long time off, either. It's the OLD
mans dream IL he isn't a railroad
man, I never saw one. He picked this
road up when 1t was two red streaks
ending in an Iowa corn field, and he
has made it the best an engine ever
ran over. He's the stuff. How is he
gruff as usual?"
pretty gruff sometimes. He worries
when the f1ier and the scooter don'1
make time to the fraction Of a second
He wants every one along the line tc
get into the habit of setting their
watches by those trains"
We'll, he'll get what he wants, or II
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