Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-03
Il It It Il Il t III + + + + + s,

roading when he rode the goat with
them, but now mostly, like him, big
fellows. Half dozen old salts had
been pounding ahead at him all day
over the wire. They were to join him
and Mr.. and Mrs. Callahan for supper
in the private car, and the yellow cider
lay on the thin shaved ice and the
mountain grouse curled on the grill
Irons when De Alolay Four, Pittsburg,
pulled into Medicine Bend.
We lead seen good many swell
trains that day. the swellest that ever
pounded our flshplates, Pullmans solid,
and the finest kind Of people. Boston,
Washington, New York, Philadelphia
sent some pretty gorgeous trains. But
with at least half the town on the
platform, when De Molay -Four rolled
in it took their breath so they couldn't
yell till the Sir knights began pouring
from the vestibules and gave Medicine
Bend their own lOrdly cheer.
Bucks old gang spied him. Modestly
back under the portico he stood, near
the ticket window, and they broke
through ut him selid. They pulled him
and hauled him and mauled him and
passed him from hand to hand. They
stood him ON his head and OH his hands
and OH his feet again, and told him OF
something they wanted and wanted
right of.
Bucks looked the least bit uncertain
as he considered the opening request.
1t wasn't much in some ways, what
they asked; in other ways 1t was u good
deal. He laughed and bantered and
joked them as long as they would stand
it. Then he called up to Martin Duffy,
who was leaning out the dispatchers'
window, "We'll see how he talks"
laughed Bucks in his great big way.
"But, boys. it's up to the chief. I'm
not in it on the orders, you know. Mar
tin" he called as Duffy bent his head,
"they want fifteen minutes here to
stretch their legs. Say they've been
roasted in the alkali all day. Can you
do anything for the boys"
The boys! Big fellows in fezes, Shrin-
er style, and slim fellows in duck, sail
or style, and bowlegged fellows IN
cheviOt, any old style. Chaps In white
flannel and chaps in gray and chaps In
blue. Turkish whiskers and Key West
cigars and crusaders tOgs-and, be-
tween them, Bucks, his head most OF
the time in chancery.
You know about what 1t meant and
about how 1t went; how 1t had to 60.
What could Martin say to the man who
had made him all he was and who
stood. now boy again, among the boys
of his boyhood and asked for fifteen
minutes, Il quarter Of al hour, for De
Molay Four? 1t threw the little chief
completely off his schedules; just ff-
teen minutes was more than enough to
do that. All the work was done, the
anxiety nearly past Martin had risen
to rest his humping head. But fifteen
minutes; once in a lifetime-Bucks ask
ing it.
Duffy turned to big Jack Moore
standing ut his side ready to pull DE
Molay over the pass, and spoke him
low. Jack nodded; everything Went
with Jack, even the turntables that
stuck with other engineers. Martin IN
his shirt sleeves leaned out the win
dow and, looking down OH the turbaned
and turbulent mob, spoke so Bucks
could hear.
"What is it," demanded the most
puissant commander Of De Molay ex-
citedly. What does he say, BucksT
What says the slave" grOwled q
second formidable crusader. "Out with
it!
"All we want Is fifteen minutes.
"You wouldn't turn us down on ff-
teen minutes this fur from an oasis,
would you, Bucks?" protested glass
eyed Shriner.
Bucks looked around royalty. Eff
teen minutes!" he drawled. What's
quarter of an hour in lifetime, Jack
man, OH the last oasis? Take OF your
clothes, you fellows. and take haif ah
hour. Now will you be gOOdT
De Molay put up Templar yell.
They always get the good things Of life,
those Pittsburg men; things other fel-
lows couldn't begin to get. They pass
ed the word through the sleepers, and
| the women began pouring from the ves'
tibules. In two quick minutes out
came the Duquesne band in red POM
pons, duck trousers and military jack
cts. white corded with black. The
crowd broke, the band marched down
the platform and, striking up the
"Washington Post" opened ranks on
the grass plot above the Wickiup to re-
ceive the De Molay guard. One hun
dred knights Templars in fatigue de-
bouched into a bit Of park and in the
purple of the sunset gave command
cry drill to the honor Of Bucks-Bucks
and the West End.
1t was Sunday night and still as Au.
gust could make it. The battalion, mov'
| ing silent and mobile as streamer over
the grass, Indrcueu, ucpioseu ono AS'e
ed. They broke, to the clear cut mu'
sic. into crosses and squares and cres'
cents and stars until small boys went
cross eyed, and wheeling ut last on the
line they saluted Bucks, himself past
grand commander, and the railroad men
yelled.
| Meantime the general managers pri'
| vate car had been pasted on the tail
end Of De Molay Four, and a pushei
| edglng up stuck its nose into the real
yestibule. On the head end Jack Moore
and Oyster were backing down on the
olive green string with the two smooth
est moguls on the division. Bucks and
Neighbor had held back everything
good all day for De Molay Four down
to engines and runners and conductor.
Pat Francis carried the punch, and the
little chief sat again In the dispatch
ei's chair for De MOlay Four.
And while the lovely women strolled
III the cool Of the evening and the odor
of mountain sweetness and the guard
AVNN nh -