Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-05

al 40 AAA d 60 AANAA- NAuMAN
Atz2S&xS I'm It's presence bafled.
The source OF its llu-
minaton is believed TO Zoe understood.
say believed. because in day when
yesterdays beliefs are tomorrow's de-
lusions l commit myself personally TO
no theory. Whether it is thing living
or dead. whether malign - mackerel
or potent in its influence on imperfect
y understood atmospheric phenomena.
1 do not know. 1 doubt whether any
body knows. except maybe Monsoon
himself. I know ouly that on the West
End Monso0n's headlight from every
point Of view stands high and that on
one occas on 10 stood between Abe Mon
soon ana frightful catastrophe.
There have been OF late studied ef-
forts TO Introduce electric headlights
on the Mountain division But there
are grizzlcd men in the cab who look
with distrust-silcnt 10 is true. vet dis
trust-on the claims put forth for
them. While MouSoon's headlight does
Its worl-as &c has done even long be
fore Monsoon followed 60 10 the West
End and viii DO long after he leaves
the West End-why, they say. and rea-
sonably enough. take ON new and Cie-
Orctic1l substitutes
While the discussion decpens and
even RACES in the Wickiup. Monsoon
himself is silent Brave men are mod
est men. Among ourselves we don't
use adjectves Where Monsoon IS
known 10 is not necessary TO put any
thing ahead of Dis name. except maybe
once month 0n the payroll. when tie
crosScycd accountant adds A. or Abe
or Abraham. Just as DO happens TO be
hXcd for time. MouSoou'S name in f.
self stands for % great deal When his
brother engineers men who have
grown seamy ami wcathcrbeatcn I'm
the service put up their voices for
Mousoon's headlight. or when laxative
Etorokeepcrs. who scrtilolv fumn az
headquarters experiments iu order 20
court the favor OF the high speak for
electricity. Abe Monsoon himself IS ST
lent His light is there. let them take
IL or leave &c, as they VIII n the SUI
periutcudent OF motive power should
attempt 20 throw o. olt FOR the new
tangled arrangement Monsoon would
doubtless feel that 10 was not the first
time Omaha had gone wrong. and. FOR
that matter. neither he nor anybody
else had assurance IL would be the last.
However
The story opens on Bob Duty. Bob
right from the start was what ! call a
good locker. and. being the oldest boy.
he had more OF the swing anyway.
When Martin came along bis mother
hadn't got over thinking about Bob
Doubtless She thought. too. Of Martin.
but he was kind OF ovcrshadowed. Bob
began 10y clerkng I'M the postonice and
delivering mail Co oll the pretty girls
His sympathy Tor the girls was SO
great that after awhile he began pass
ing out letters 90 them whether they
were addressed 90 the girls or 90 some
body else. This gradually weakened his
influence with the government
Martin began work in the telegraph
Office He really learned the whole thing
right there at the Bend under Callahan
Began carrying Western Unions stuck
at his waist under a heavy leather belt
He wore iu those days. when he had
real responsibility. a formidable brown
soft hat that appeared bent on swal-
lowing bis ears. 10 was about the time
he was rising trousers and eleven. No
body but S.nkcrs ever beat Martin Duff
~ delivering messages. and nobody. bar
e-BuNhead. McTerza. ANYBODY
ever beat him eating pie. II was by
eating pie that he was able TO wear the
belt SO long. and You may take that
either way. But ! speak gladly OF the
pie, because in the usual course OF
events there isn't much pie in a dis
patcher's life There is. by very large
odds, more anxiety than pie. ana in
troduce the pie not 20 give weight TO
the incidents that follow. but rather to
tighten them. though as Duffy has more
recently admitted this was not always
the effect Of the pie itself
! do not believe that Martin Durv
ever had an enemy A right tight little
chap be was. with always a good word.
even under NO end Of pressure on the
single track There's many strug-
Cling trainmau that will look quick and
grateful when any fellow far or near
speaks a word about Martin Duffy.
Fast he climbed His head never swell
ed. His hats rested. even after be got a
KEY. same as the original one. right
on the wings OF his ears But his heart
grew right along after his head stopped
and that's where he laid over some 9TH
er railroad men ] could mention II
had TO, which / don't-not here.
About the tine it looked as IL Mar
tin would make "A 80 OF il on the road
the postoiiice inspectors were thinking
Bob would make a go OF II over the
road. But be was such a Kid Of a Eel
low that the postmaster convinced the
detectives BOb's way OF doing things
was simple foolishness. which il prob
ably was. and they merely swore him
out OF the service.
II was then that Martin reached ont
a hand 10 his elder brother. There
were really Just the two brothers. and
back OF them-as there is somewhere
back OF every railroad mana mother.
No father-EOt generally: just a moth
er. A quiet, somber little woman in