The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1906-04-13

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hadn't been railroading
d month, and / was up with my con-
ductor on the carpet. sweating from
sheer grogg.ness and excitement. The
lob of front end brakeman ON a noun
tain division is no great stake for
man ordinarily, but it was one for me
Just then. We knew when we went
into the superintendent office that
somebody was to get fired. The only
question was, Who, the train crew or
the operator? Our engine crew were
sut Of it. 1t was UP to the conductor
and to me. Had the operator displayed
red signals? The conductor said no;
I said no. The operator said yes, but
he lied. We couldn't prove 1T. We
could only put our word against his,
and. what made it the worse for me,
my conductor was something of liar
himself .
stood beading in cold sweat, for
/ could see with half an eye 1t
was going against us. The superin-
tendent, an up and up railroad man
every inch and all business, but sus-
picious. was leaning the operators way
the strongest kind.
There wasn't another soul in the lit
tie room as the three Of US stood BE-
fore the superintendent desk except
passenger conductor. who sat behind
me with his feet on the window ledge,
looking out into the yard.
'Morrison's record in this Office is
Clean" the superintendent was saying
of the operator. who was doing us
smooth as smokeless powder. HE has
never to my knowledge lied in an in
vestigation; but. Allbers." continued
the superintendent speaking bluntly to
my conductor, you've never told a
straight story about that Rat River
switch matter yet. This man is
new man." he added. throwing a
hard look at me- Ordinarily I'd be in
clined to take the word Of two men
against one, but / don't know one at
nil and the other has done me once. I
can't see anything for it but to take
Morrisons word and let you fellows
both out. There wasn't any wreck. but
that's not your fault, not for min
ate"
''Mr Rocksby," protested, speaking
up to the division boss in clean funk
the prospect of losing my job that
way, through lying operator, took the
heart clean out of me-'9you don't know
me, it Is true, but / pledge you my
word of honor
whats your word of honor?' asked
fha S1lrorintpp6pnt rs7tfi11r mo lilo
Ratchet. 81 don't know any more about
your word Of honor than | do about
you. Allbers, take your man and get
your time
A wave of helpless rage swept over
me. The only thing could think Of
was strangling the lying operator In
the hall. Then somebody spoke.
''Show your papers. you fool"
1t came calm as sunshine and cold as
Northwestern from the passenger con-
ductor behind me. from Dave Hawk,
and 1t pulled me into line like bugle
call. l felt my English all back at
once. Everybody heard him and looked
my way. Again it was up to me. This
time | was ready for the superintend-
ent. or. for that matter, for the bloom
ing Mountain division. / had forgot
all about my papers till Dave Hawk
spoke. put my hand, shaking. into
my inside vest pocket for piece of
oilskfn-it was all / had left. I was
a good way from my base that year. |
laid the oilskin on the superintendent
table. unfolded it jealousy and took out
medal and letter. that in spite of
the carefullest wrapping was creased
and sweated. But the letter was from
my captain and the bit of bronze was
the cross. Rocksby picked up the let
ter and read it.
''Have you been in the British
army?" he asked CURLY.
Eyes, SIR
He scowled minute over Picton's
scrawl, laid 1t down and gratified his
curiosity by picking up the medal. He
studied the face Of the token, looked
curiously at the dingy red ribbon.
twirled it and saw the words ON the
reverse. "For valor," and looked again
at me-
''Where'd you get this?' he asked,
indicating the Victoria.
''In the Sudan, sir"
Dave Hawk kept right on looking out
the window. Neither my conductor
nor the operator seemed to know just
what the row was. Nobody spoke.
what you doing here?" Rocksby
went on.
81 came out to learn the cattle bust
ness" His brows went ND easy-like
They cleaned me out" Brows drop.
ped gentle-like. Then | went bad
with mountain fever" and he looked
decent at me.
You say you, had your head out
the cupola and saw the white slgnai?"
be asked, sort of puzzled.
II saw the white signal Rocksby
looked at the operator Morrison.
Wen adjourn this thing" said he