Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-03

tnat BUCKS, VINO never ala rnings Dy
halves, had given little Martin Duffy
with the order that made him chief.
It lay at Giddings' fingers, and the
minute hand wiped from the enameled
dial Z o'clock fifty-fve, fifty-six, seven,
elght-nine. Young Giddings turned to
his order book and inspected his en-
tries like methodical bookkeeper, and
Martin Duffy's chronometer chimed the
fourth quarter, 8 o'clock. One entry he
had still to make. Book In hand, he
called Rat River.
Get third eighty's signature to Or
der 70 and hurry them out" he tapped
impatiently ut Bob Duffy.
There was wait. Giddings lighted
his pipe the way Callahan always light
ed his pipe-putting out his lips to
catch all the perfume and blowing the
first cloud away wearily, as Callahan
always did wearily. Then he twirled
the match meditatively and listened
and got suddenly this from Bob Duffy,
at Rat River:
II forgot Order TO-" came Bob Duffy's
message. 81 let third eighty 30 with
out it. They left here at 7:5O-ffty
something, Giddings never heard fifty
what. The match went into the ink,
the pipe into the water pail, and Gid
dings, before Bob Duffy finished, like
drowning man, was calling Echo
with the life and death, the - call.
Hold Special 32G" he cried over the
wire the instant ElchO replied.
But Elcho, steadily, answered this:
Observation-Disclosures"
Giddings, with both hands on the ia
BILE, raised up like drunken man. The
West End was against it. Third eighty
in the open and going against the DE
Molay -Four. Bucks. Callahan, wife
everybody-and Rock Point Il blind sid
ing that no word from anybody on
earth could reach ahead Of third eighty.
Giddings sprung to the open window
and shouted to anybody and everybody
to call Martin Duffy. But Martin DUFF
fy spoke behind him.
"What do you wantY he asked. 1t
came terribly quick on Giddings az be
turned.
"What's the matter" exclaimed Mar
tin, looking into the boys face. Speak,
can't you? What's the matter, Gid
dings?"
Bob forgot Order 70 and let third
eighty go without it-and Special 32d
is out of Elcho," choked Giddings.
"WhatT
Bob at-Rat River-gave third eighty
q clearance without the Order 10"
Martin Duffy sprang straight up In
the air. Once he shut his lifted hands
once he looked at Giddlngs, staggering
again through the frightful news, then
he dropped into the chair, looked wild
| " around. seized his key like hunted
man, stared at his train sheet, grabbed
| the order book and listened to Giddings
cutting off one hope after another 0l
stopping Special 328. His fingers sci
mechanically, and he made the Kat XIV
er call: but Rat River was silent. WITH
Barnes Tracy tiptOeing in behind on the
instinct of trouble and young Giddings
! shaking like leaf, the chief called
Rat River. Then he called Elcho. asked
for Special 1876, and Elcho again repeat
ed steadily:
Observation-Disclosures
79-at-7:55 p. m"
Martin Duffy bent before the mes
sage; young Giddings. who had beer
whispering to Tracy, dropped on
stool and covered his face.
Don't cry. Giddings." 1t was Duff'
who spoke, dry and parched his voice
It's nothing yOu-cOuld help" HI
looked around and saw Tracy ut hi
elbow. Barnes" he said, but he triet
twice before his voice would carry
"Barnes-they will meet In the CHINA
mon cut. Giddings told you? Bof
forgot-forgot my order. Run. Cid
dings, for Benedict Morgan and Dou
i Dle0uy anu SdTIidEt-vuiSh'
Giddings ran, the Rat River call echo
ing again down the hall behind him
Rat River was closest to Rock Point
would get the first news OF the wreck
and Martin Duffy was calling hi
tecreant brother at the River, but TN
River was silent.
Doubleday and the company sur
geon, DR.. Carhart, rushed into the room
almost together Then came with
storm the wrecking boss, Benedict Nor
gan. It was only an evil hour tina
brought Benedict Morgan into the dis
patcher's office. STOPPED and silent
Martin Duffy. holding the chair, wa
calling Rat River. Carhart watched
him Just moment. then he took Barne
Tracy aside and whispered, and. goinl
back. bent over Duffy. The chief pull
ed himself up.
"Let Tracy take the key repeate'
the doctor. "Get away from the table
a minute, Martin. 1t may not be al
bad rs you think"
Duffy, looking into the surgeons
face. nut his hand on his arm. 1T!
the De Molay train. the Special 326
with Bucks car. double headed. Oh
my God. l can't stop them. Doctor
they will meet"
Carhart unfastened the fingers on hi
arm. "Come away q minute. lie
Tracy have the key" he urged. "A
head ender, eh ?" croaked Benedict Nor
gan from the counter, and with
frightful oath. "a head ender"
"Shut up. you brute" Kissed Car
hart. Dufry's hands were creepini
queerly up the sides of his head.
"Sure," growled Benedict Morgan
loweringly, "sure. Shut up. OF course
Shut up"
Carhart was a quick man. He start
ed for the wrecker, but Duffy, spring
Ing, stopped him. "For Gods sake
keep cool. everybody he exclaimed
piteously. There was no one else t
talk, to give the orders. Bucks ant
Callahan both on the special, mayb'
past order giving now. Only Martii
Duffy to take the double load and tn
double shame. He stared, dazed agaiI
into the faces around as he held to tn
fiery surgeon. Morgan" he adde'
steadily, looking ut the surly wrecker
get up your crew, quick. Doubleday
make up all the coaches In the yar'
for an ambulance train. Get ever,
doctor in town to go with you. Tracy
clear the liner
The master mechanic and Benedic