Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-12


ES2WNNE dead easy for me.
E&8H@G When this happened I
hadn't been railroading
a month. and was up with my con
ductor on the carpet sweating from
sheer grogginess and excitement. The
Job Of front end brakeman on noun
tain division is no great stake for a
man ordinarily. but it was one for me
Just then. We knew when we went
into the superintendent office that
somebody was Co get fred. The only
question was. who. the train crew or
the operators Our engine crew were
out Of IT, Ii was up TO the conductor
and 10 me. Had the operator displayed
red signals2 The conductor said no;
I said 40. The operator said YES, but
he lied. We couldn't prove IT, We
could only put our word against his,
and. what made it the worse for me.
my conductor was something Of a liar
himself
stood beading in q cold sweat. for
I could see with half an eve Il
was going against us. The superiu-
tendeut. au up ana mp railroad man
every inch and an 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
a 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 90 my knowledge lied en- an in
vestIeauou. but. Albcrs." continued
the superintendent speaking bluntly 90
my conductor. you've never told a
straight story about that Rat River
switch matter yet. This man is
n new man." ne added. throwing a
hard look at me. Ordinarily To be In
clined To- take the word OF two mon
against one but I don't know one at
all and the other has done me once
can't see anything for So but TO take
MorriSon's word and let you fellows
both out There wasn't any wreck. but
that's not your fault. not for a min
ute"
"Mr. Rocksby." 7 protested speaking
mp 10 the division boss i'm a clean funk
the prospect Of losing my job that
way. through lying operator took the
heart clean out OF me-''you don't know
me. il is true. but ] pledge you my
word OF honor
What's your word OF honorF" asked
the superintendent. cutting me like
Ratchet. 81 don't know any more about
your word OF honor than ] do about
you. Allbers. take your man and get
your fine"
A wave or helpless rage swept over
me. The only thing 7 could think OF
was strangng the lying operator in
the han. Then somebody spoke
'Show your papers. YOU fool"
II came calm as sunshine and cold as
Northwestern from the passenger con.
ductor behind me, from Dave Hawk.
and 10 pulled me into line like bugle
call. l felt my English all back at
once Everybody heard bin and looked
my way. Again 10 was up 70 me This
time ] was ready for the superintend
ent, or, FOR that matter. for the bloom
Ing Mountain division. ] had forgot
I'll about my papers tu Dave Hawk
l.'tN tt'f MANU- 0AItNlatAl a-. AlltW
my inside vest pocket for a piece OF
oilskin-it was AN I had left. ] was
a good way from my base that year
laid the 0ilSkn OH the superintendent
table unfoldcd 30 jealously and took ont
a medal and a ..c.'.t-r. tlot in spite Of
The carefuliest wrapping was creased
and swcated But tic letter was from
my captain aud 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"
lie scowled minute over Pict0n's
scrawl, laid 10 down and gratihed his
curiosity 10y picking up the medal lie
studied the face Of the token. looked
curiously at the dingy red ribbon.
twirled it and saw the words on the
reverse, "Fo- Nalor," and looked again
at me
''Where'd you get thisG" BE asked
indicating the Victoria
''In the Sudan. sir"
Dave Hawk kept right on looking out
the window Neither my conductor
nor the operator seemed 10 know Just
what the row was. Nobody spoke
What you doing hereI" Rocksby
went On.
81 came out TO learn the cattle bust
ness" His brows went up easy-like
''They cleaned me out" BrOws drop
ped gentle-like. Then ] went bad
with nountain fever" and he looked
decent at me.
''You say you had your head out
the cupola and saw the white signal?"
he asked, sort OF puzzled.
81 saw the white sig al" Rocksby
looked at the operator Morrison.
wen adjourn this thing" said be
at last, It'll look into il a little fur
Their. For the present 90 back to your
runs"
We never heard any more Of IL
Allbers got out quick I waited 10 pick
up my stuff and turned to thank Dave