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

conductors. thinking there was
chance believing that at last If they
did their work right they would get
their share of the promotions. began TO
carry their lanterns as IL they had
more important business than holding
up stray fares.
Meantime Dave hung to his run
Somehow the old run had grown a part
OF him. and he couldn't give Il up.
When he told Bucks at the end Of the
week that he would like another week
TO make his decision the superintend-
ent waved IL TO him Everybody began
TO make great things Of Dave. Some Of
the boys called him trainmaster and
told him to drop bis punch and give
Tommie n show.
He didn't take the humOr the way
one would expect. Always silent. he
grew more than that-somber and de-
jected. We never saw a smile on bis
face Dave is off" muttered Henry
Cavanaugh. his old baggageman. 81
don't understand IT. He's off You
ought 20 talk 20 him. Tommie You're
the only man on the division can do it."
was ordered west that night to
bring military special from Washa-
kie. rode up on Dawes train. The
hind Los Angeles sleeper was loaded
light. and when Dave had worked the
train and walked into the stateroom
20 sort his collections followed him.
We sat half an hour alone and undis-
turbed. but he wouldn't talk. 1t was
heavy train and the wind was high.
We made Rat River after midnight.
and I was still sitting alone IN the
open stateroom when / saw Dawes
green light coming down the darkened
aisle. He walked in. put his lamp on
the floor. sat down and threw his feet
on the cushions.
"HOwS Tommie tonightT" he asked.
leaning back as IL DE hadn't seen me
before. in his old teasing way. He
played light heart sometimes. but il
was no more than played; that was
easy seeing
"How's DaveF" He turned. pulled
the window shade and looked out.
There was moon. and the night was
bright only windy.
What are YOU going to do with
Bucks DaveT'
do you want my punch. TommieT'
You know better than that. don't
youT'
81 guess So"
You're blue tonight What's the mat
terf' TIE shifted and It wasn't Ike
him 20 shift
'I'm going To quit the West End"
quit What DO YOU meant You're
not going 20 throw over this tralnmas-
Ter oderf"
I'm going 90 quit. what's the user"
he went on slowly "IIow can take
charge % conductors. talk 20 conduct
ors2 How can discharge conductor
for stealing when he knows I'm a thief
myselff They know &C. Bucks knows
u There's no place among men for
thief"
Dave. you take 10 too bard Every.
thing ran wide open here You're the
best railroad man on this division: ev.
erybody. old and new. admits that"
Il ought 90 Doe a railroad man held
down division on the Panhandle when
] was thirty years old"
Were YOU railroad superintendent
at thirtyf"
i was a trainmaster 0ttwcnty-seven. /
I'm forty now. and q thief. The
ff".-AttAH AaNA AANNNf'a llt - utAue NLn
man she ran away with Is dead: my
baby is dead, long ago" He was look.
ing out as he spoke on the flying desert.
ashen ia the moonlight. In the car the
passengers were hard asleep. and we
heard only the slew OF the stralninc
hanges and the mudled beat OF the
heavy truck under Us
There's no law on earth that will
keep man from leaving the track
once In awhile" 7 argued: there's
none 10 keep him from Fighting his
trucks when the chance IS offered n
say mans bound 10 do Il. II Won
won't do IL here, choose your place
and III go with YOU This is a big
country, Dave. Hang IT, I'll 90 any /
where. You are my partner. aren't
your
He bent TO pick up his lantern. Tom
nile, you're a great boy"
well l mean it." He looked at his
watch. ! pulled mine. 1t was 4,
o'clock.
Better go TO sleep, Tommie" look
ed up into his face as he rose. He
looked for an instant steadily into
smiled, pulling down his visor. and
turning he walked slowly forward.
threw myself ON the couch and drew
my cap over my eyes. The first thing
felt was a hand on my shoulder
Then l realized had been asleep and
that the train was standing still. A
man was bending over me, lantern in
hand. IL was the porter
What's wrongf" | exclaimed.
There's trouble up ahead, Mr.
Burnes," he exclaimed huskily. /
| sprang 10 my feet. Have you got
your pistol?" he suffered.
| Somebody came running down the
| aisle, and the porter lodged ike a hare
behind me. 1t was the hind end brake
man, but he was SO scared he could
not speak. / hurried forward.
Through the head Los Angeles sleep
er, the San Francisco cars and the
4 Portland ! ran without meeting a liv-