Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-04-21


Such were the moments when Bull
head sat in the lunch room, unnoticed.
somewhat back where the dies were
bad aud helped himself almlessly 20 the
sizzling maple strip. Nellie rustling
back and forth for Engineer Mullen,
who ran ia for a quick cup and consult
ed. after each swallow. a dazzling open
faced gold watch thin as a double eagle.
for Bat at twenty-one was pulling tue
fast trains and carried the best And
with Bullhead feeding on flannel cakes
and despair and Nellie Cassidy looking
quite her smartest, Mullen would drink
his coffee In an impassive rush. never
even glancing Bullhead's way-abso-
lutely ignoring Bullhead What was
he but a nightman. anyway Then
Mullen would take as much as a min
ute Of his running time 20 walk for
wand 20 the engine with Miss Cassidy
and stand In the lee OF the drivers chat
ting with her. while Bulmead went com
pletely frantic.
IL was being ignored in that way. aft
er her smiles had once been his, that
crushed the night operator IL filed
his head with schemes for obtaining
recognition at ell hazards. he began
by quarreling violently with Nellie. and
things were coming TO a serious pass
around the depot when the KlOndike
business struck the Mountain division
II came with a rush, and when they
began running through freight extras
by way OF the Goose River short line.
day and night. the Junction station
caught the thick OF II. II was some
thing new altogether Tor the short line
rails and the short line operators, and
Bullhead's night trick. with nothing 20
do but poke the fire and pop at coyotes.
became straightway a busy and I'm
pOrtant post.
On certain night windier than all
the November nights that had gone be-
fore. the night operator sat alone IN the
Office facing q resolve Goose River
had become intolerable. Medicine Bend
was not 10 be thought OF. for BulIhead
now had a suspicion. due to Callahan.
that he was n good deal Of a chump,
and he wanted TO get away from the
ridicule that had always and every
where made life q burden. There ap-
peared 20 Bullhead nothing for Il but
the Klondike On the table before the
moody operator lay his letter OF resig-
nation. addressed ln due form 20 ]. S.
Bucks. superintendent. Near Il. under
the lamp. lay a well thumbed copy OF
the book OF rules. open at the chapter
on designations with subheads on
Resign. who should.
Resign. how 20.
Resign. when 10. (See also Time)
The fact was Ii had at last painfully
forced itself ON Bullhead that be was
not fitted FOR the railroad business. Pat
Francis had unfeellngly told him so:
Callahan had told him so; Neighbor had
told him so. Bucks had told him So on
that point the leading West End nu-
thoritics We're agreed. Yet IN spite OF
these dlscoura gements be had persisted
and at last made a show. Who was 81
now that had shaken his stubborn con
victionf Bunhead hardly dared con
Tess.
While he reread his formal letter and
compared on spelling with his pocket
Webster. train whlstlcd Bullhend
looked at the clock; l1:40 D. m. IL was
the local freight. go. coming IN from
the west. working back 20 Medicine
From the east 80. / had not arrived.
She was six hours late. and Bullhead
looked out at his light for he had or
ders for the freight II was not often
that such "a thing happened. because
No. ! rarely went Of schedule badly
enough 10 throw her into his turn. He
had his orders copied and .. KID and
waited only 20 deliver them.
IL was feJrfully windy. The 260
engine. pulling 80 that night. wheezed
in the gale like a man with the apo
plexy. she had new fireman on. who
was burning the life out OF her. and
as she pulled painfully down on the
scrap rails OF the first siding and took
the y her overloaded safety gasped VIC
lently.
When the conductor OF the No 81
train opened the station door the wind
followed him ike a catamOunt The
stove pulled open with a down draft
and shot the room full OF singing
smoke. The lamp blaze few up the
chimney left the nightman
and the conductor In darkness. The
trainman with a swear showed 10 the
door. and Bullhead. the patient, turn
ed over his letter Of resignation quick
In the dark. felt for a match and re
lighted his lamp. Swearing again al
Bullhead. the freight conductor swag
gered over 20 his table, felt In all the
operators pockets FOR cigar. tumbled
all the papers around and once more
on general principles swore.
Bullhead took things accomplishing
ly. but he watched close and was de
termined 70 fight II the brute discover
ed his letter OF resignation When the
tralnman could think OF no further in
dignities he took his orders. TO meet
No. at Sackley. the second station
east OF Goose River. After he had sign
ed Bullhead asked him about the depot
fire at Bear Dance that had been go
ing over the wires for two hours. re
minded him OF the slow order for the
No 8 culvert and as the rude visitor