Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-06-06
SY0RY OF YHE BISHOPS RING.
BY GEORGE BARTON.

mans pirIoDt' admirably, II would TAX,
tiinr, and while il Vas u progress the
train would be stratning inward to IS
destination. so he determined to control
his temper and 70 meet provocation with
strategy. He stood san. and. looking At
his terrpter. said win assumed calr.psss
~ beg pardon. ! presume that were
both in the wrong. But III thank YOU to
let me pass"
The ringing of the hcll in the station
grew continuous, tie scrocch of a whistle
rent the air. and the numbering sound of
a moving train could be distinctly hcard.
The man noticed THIS. too. for instead Of
replying to Barnes. he smiled grizzly and
stopped aside.
The chief inspector rushed ua stairs.
CLANCY WAS waiting there. ignorant Of the
oaus4' OF the dcias. They reached III" on
trance of the train shed just in time TO
have the gate slammed shut in their faces.
ifaincs fumed with rag" and mortiici-
ion~so much SO that he corld scarcely
artcu'ate. Finally he found his voice.
II must get that train" he spiutterod.
sorry said the gatekceDer. coldly:
but the TRAINS gone
~ must catch it, criol Barnes. ITS
not ont of the she'd yet. Open the gate"
While he was talking he opened his coat
and displayed his customs badge. The
gatcInan recognized it and threw open
N''' Npth. ini4 I'S idil up
along the platform Ike a mailman AS
he started the last car of the train left
the shed and the Limited was out in the
broad sunlight. BY the time the chief
reached the middle of the platform the
train was aiding ont of sight. The fugi-
ti"c stood on the rear platform of the OBJ
scrvation car. and waved his handkerchief
tauntingly at the man he had so clevcrly
outw tied. Barnes angr.ly made his way
10 the waiting room, and poking his head
in the window of the bureau of iuforma-
ton. asked:
When does the next train leave for
Troy?'
I'm two hours"
The Information man might as we'll have
thrown d bucket of water in the face OF
his uuestioncr. Two hours, There would
be no hope of overtaking the other train.
Inc thief would go free. lie could tele-
graph the authorities at Troy to arrest
the fellow and hold him until he arrived.
To do that he would have to lodge a spe-
cllc charge against him. Would the bish-
op support him after he made the charge?
Was the evidence he had sufficient to cs-
tablish II case? While his mind was torn
by these troublesome questions he spied a
syn reading Station masters office. sec
ond hoor.' 1t was an inspiration. He
bent his footsteps in the direction suggest
ed by the placard. a notice on the door
'ilotlilillS strangers tHtlI there was no adj
mittance except to employees was calmly
~disregardcd by the impulsivc inspector.
"A little bald headed man seated at a
Hat top desk IN the center of the room.
proved to be the autocrat of the office.
lie looked up coldly as Barnes BUSTED into
the room. and CURLY inquired what he
wanted. The customs inspector disclosed
his identity. exhibited his credentials and
briefly explained his plight. Instantly the
ltIliuGt or the E.lSv 1iftlc man al mood
ne Wa extremely polite and showed a dis
position to oblise the chief. But after go
ing over the situation carefully he could
not ma any means of doing so. He prom
'sed, however. to consult some of the high
or officials of the company and to com
miin'cate with Barnes in ten minutes. The
chicf left. but returned within the time
DESIGNATED.
"Howdy"" the little man said.
ihen he continued his work of giving
o:ocis 10 two or three persons at a time.
l7oticiug that Barnes and Clancy were
standing. he sa.d-it might have been an
invitation or q command, or both:
"Stt down"
&c dld not look to see whether they
oaeyed or not. but kept on with his work.
lie ricicd up the receiver of Il telephone.
Is that you, MIac?"
ine response apparently was in the af-
firraative.
MIC. ccntlluet the station master.
i've got Il telegram saying that we have
4 bad washout this side Cf Albany. It's
not an ordinary affair. but "A pretty seri-
GUS BIT of business. The division suporin-
tendcit there s already organizing a gang
or iahorcrs and they Will be on the ground
very soon. But he says you must hurry
down and take charge of them; says he
hasn't sot a man about the shop who can
boss the job like you. It's not a matter of
choice. yOll'Np sip.p1y cot IN ore RAJ o,r
things in shape in q hurry. Be at the sta
ton in fifteen minutes. All right. Good
by"
Barnes and Clancy looked at each other.
lnvoluntar.ly their hands came together
and shut IN a clasp of gratitude. They
did not speak. 1t would be folly to disturb
or needlessly rctard this miracle maker
of a station master. That individual never
looked at them. He seemed unconscious of
their presence. He gave hurried orders to
several men who had entered the room and
were standing. caps in hand. before his
desk. They disposed of. he picked up the
receiver of another phone.
Hello. Is that the round house? Are
you carrying out the order l gave YOU a
Ettle while ago? Yes. l want the engine
on track II. Certainly, give us No. 6. 1
want something that can make time. Place
Gillicuddy on the box. That's the idea eX-
actly. l want a man who knows how to
put on steam. Give him a good fireman.
Yes. there will be only one car. It's a
combination baggage and smoker. Its on
the track now waiting to be hitched up to
your engine. Have 1t there IN fifteen min
utes sure. If you manager 1t in ten min
ntes 1t will mark you as Il man worthy of
promotion some day. That's all. Good
by"
Again Barnes and Clancy looked at each
other-this time with wonder and admira-
f{An The Inn IN ri sra IL .
unconscious of the pantom;me. He did not
feel that he was doing anything worthy of
special notice or praise. 1t was simply
an incident in a busy days work. They