West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-07-19

E@S NEVER found IL very
NkAE III hnrd To cet into trouble
bXS n AS far bHck as I can re
tNS.ssA-,U~9 member that has como
feI@W.Af,s dead easy for me.
kS<9Vcszsp when this happened
hadH't been r0llroadmg
mouth. aIN was ny with my con-
ductor on the carpet sweating from
er grogginess and excitement The
xlsof front end brakeman on n noun
n division is no great stake for a
niAil ordinarily. but Il was ono for me
Just then. We knew when we went
into the superintendent office that
some body was TO get fired. Tie only
question was, who. the train crew or
I. gle operator? Our engine crew were
Stsn1 of IT, II was UP to the conductor
elnd to me. Had the operator displayed
red signals7 Tho conductor said no;
| said no. The operator said yes, but
he lied. We couldn't prove T. We
could only put our word against his,
and. what made IL the worse for me.
my conductor was something OF liar
himself.
| stood beading IN n cold sweat. for
could see with half nm eve II
was going against us Tho superin.
tcndent. an up and up railroad man
every Inch and ali business. but sus-
picious, was leaning the operators way
the strongest kind
There wasn't another soul In the 1T
tie room az the three o. ug stood be
fore the superintendeut's desk except
n passenger conductor, who sat behind
ne with his feet on the window ledge.
looking out into the yard
'MorIisOns record IN this Office Is
clean" the superintendent was saying
OF the operator who was doing u8
smooth as smokcleas powder He has
never TO my knowledge l!cl I'm an in-
vcstigation; hut. Allber b" continued
the superintendent speaking bluntly 90
my conductor you've never told
straight story about thar nat River
switch matter yet This man is
new man. he added throwing
hard look at me Ordinarily ia be In
clined to take the word Of two men
against one but don't know one at
all ana the other has done me once.
can't see anything for IL hut TO take
Morrlson'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. RocIIsby," protested, speaking
up to the division boss IN a clean funk
the prospect OF losing my Job that
way, through 4 lying operator. took the
heart clean out OF mc-'you don't know
me. it is true but ] pledge you my
word Of honor
whats your word Of honorT" asked
the superintendent cutting me like Il
hatchct. 81 don't know any more about
your word OF honor than ! do about
you. Ailbers, take your man and get
your time"
A wave OF helpless rage swept over
me. The only thing ! could think OF
was strangling the lying operator in
the hall. Then somebody spoke.
SHOW your papers, you fool"
II came calm as sunshine aud cold as
northwoster from the passenger con
ductor behind me. from Dave Hawk,
and II pulled me into line like a bugle
call. felt my English all back at
once. Everybody heard him and looked
my way. Again 1t was up to me This
time / was ready for the superintend-
ent. or. FOR that matter. for the bloom
ing Mountain division. had forgot
all about my papers till Dave Hawk
spoke. put my hand, shaking. into
my inside vest pocket for piece OF
oilskln-it was all had left / was
n good way from my base that year.
laid the oilskln on the superintendent
table. unfolded " jealousIy and took ont
Il medal md a letter. that I'm spite OF
the carcfullest wrapping was creased
my captain and the bit Of bronze was
the cross. Rocksby picked up the let.
ter and read Il.
'IIave you been IN the British
arInyr lac asked curtly.
Yes. sir"
lie scOwicl a minute over PlctOn's
scrawl. la.I it down and gratihed his
curiosity by picking up the medal lie
studied the face OF the token. looked
curiously at the dingy red ribbon,
twir!ed it and saw the words on the
reverse. "For Valor," and looked again
at me
''where'd you get this2" he asked.
indicating the Victoria.
in the Sudan, SIR"
Dave Hawk kept right on looking out
the window. Neither my conductor
Lnr -u&opeIat5r seemed 90 know Just
what thc row was Nobody spoke
What you doing here" Hocksby
vent on
90 came out to learn thc cattle bust
he7s' Ills brovs went %, easy Ike
"They cleaned ne oui r3v5 drop.
ret goutlelike "Then went bad
wiia mountain fetcr" an1 to looked
tsccrt OF me-
lyon sny you had youf hard out
the cgpoia and saw thc white signoil'
Sc asked, sort of puzzled
Il s1v The white signal" Rocksby
lo2kcd ai ting operator Morrison
'Wrll adjourn this thing" said he
o.. last, 't.ll ! look into II q little fur.
tier For The present go back 20 youf
rurs"
We mover heard any more or Il
Al!L-r got out quick I waited to pick
a FRIGHTENED HORSE