The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1907-04-19

she nodded dzziy on her seat bracing herself aga
verse-lever.
Meanwhile, in the general superintendent private
extreme of the train, party of still sat up
their Havanas and slipping .heir wine One member Of ~
tenden-the president Of the Mississippi Valley Onal
Western Railway. He large man, with luxuriaHt
white hair and though his face benevolent even
every line OF betrayed the inhexible will which had lift
owner from the roof of freight to the presidential CHI
great road.
Mr. Howard the general superintendent, was ~regalpe
party with Of his experience in securing subs
engineer at Valley Junction For afterward dvrge
suppressed though the startling feature OF his story
ly the of the engine he had secured But he
pensated his hearers for this omission with most draniat
Of the herosn of the sick man. whom he unbushingy
resented having risen from his bed aid taken charge q
engine.
Mr. Stamford the distinguished guest listened quietly
served, smiling; and when Howard protested, WIKI
his eye that there no other way the president adde's
had been my road, should have held the train all
rather than drag sick man from his bed.
I'VE all know how many trains held all night on
road Stamford answered Howard laughing. do you
to remember the story of an ambitious young engineer
picked himself out of wreck with broken and stE
into engine, and pulled his train through to the Il
the rum" he asked significantly.
Il young then and working for glory and superin
ent ordered to do it. or should probably have refa
added Stamford goodnauredly He added soberly Ihes
gneers heroic set and Charlie sometimes think we
always do them justice.
IN do this one justice" answered Howard, warmly.
The party dropped off to bed one by The general
ntendent himself finally rose and looked at his watch
turned and made his forward his careless Expression
way TO one Of concern His mind was evidently on the
engine Possibly he had recurring doubts Of her SKI
courage perhaps the fact that he had daughters Of BIZ
gave his thought much anything else,
cars ahead he met the conductor who also seemed ifcN
GUS and they talked together for moments The trR
the time swapping around the choppy curves N the All
Hills like the flash Of whip and the two men had dfG
keeping their feet
Past but not too fast Dackns9 observed the superine
half inqurngly
What call high safety" answered the conductor
"But fearful in the cab, eh?
Al IN sir reio
Howard started back toward the private about the tne
train truck Beechtree Hill He paused IN vesibulc ope
the door, and laid his practced to the din outside he
gently closed the door, if to slam mght break the spell
compacenty smiled When the train reached the level of
down TO smooth straghtaway motion-that annun#
Of high speed the superintendent rubbed his palms together
much like man shaking hands with himself Whea he got
to his car he found Mr. Stamford still up. smoking and
back in the luxurious with halfclosed eyes Stanc
toned Howard to sit down beside him, and laid his h2
iarly the latter's knee
"Confound YOU Charlie, you've got that sick eng
heart, with your nhammatory descriptions Tor w
ablv drew largely your imagination. have bee
thinking about him. Confess, now, that you exaggd
little"
The superintendent chuckled like man who knoS
two If he only chose TO tell well did in one RI
another fell short" He paused for effect and le
exultingly: Stamford I've got the best railroad
the papers that has been brought out IN years, and
several thousand dollars worth Of free advertising
name isn't c. W. Howard. The best Of Is, mss
truth
Lets have it, said Stanford smiling
well between you and me, that man Fox q was
aurincly as Stamford turned sharply. and gave him Al
"Fox did you say7' asked Stamford What's his ilrsM
q d Mt know He's tall, smooth faced man with
and eyes. Rather Misunderstanding Wnat 90 you kh
him? He's comparatively new man win "
The old mans fingers rembed slightly he hicksd tbs IN
from his cigar 9" don't know that know HIM ~ ansN
in 4 constrained IF he's the man have ~ mind rs
right. Go on
Ever run on your road inquired Howard deliberately
"Yes yes But that has nothing to do with IT. returned
ford with strange impatience 20 on. s.
0wel continued the superintendent, with mildly eue0
Glance A. his companion "he altogether too sick ~ pn'
plug it that his wife has been ~ the napl' q t
with him and knows road and engine we'll as m uos
RI come to the pointand this my story which ddn \
the bows for the sake Of their nerves he added with spa
esthe Overland at this moment is in the hands Of gii
-Foxs wife,
Il seemed long time before either spoke agan How
stared IN blank amazemen the palid face OF the presid
unable understand the old ralroaders aga.0n aa
might lose her head Then Stamford took the others hand
held in an iron grip
Charlie it's my little baby girl r be said huskily It
Iowars was familiar with the story Of the eopeneit 81 Sx
fors dauoher with one Of the M " and w engineers
the situation flashed him in an instant AFTER mone
during which, he afterward ne % ~
yersng story--hc said enthusiastically shes nef0t'
Stanford and worthy Of her fatherT
During the perou descent Of Four Ms Aree Us PRIV
Stanford cung heplessy Howards hands win tne 1s
;np down his checks When the bottom was AZ last feaeH
d M danger was overhe danger At the fron-e preside
d lie handkerchief and wiped the great drops o. sweat W
~; hroy THE eengneer knew the agony through. Nss+'s
child had passed
The operator at Valley Junction had Dashed the news az
~ e and when the Overland steamed Up 70 ne Union dep
\ .o7 twenty seconds ahead Of ting, curious
Enthusiastic tbrong Of layover passengers and railroad q
pressed around engine When Sylvia appeared Y ins sp
her glorious suksed hair glistenng With melted sn
9 her pae face sreaed with SCOT the generous crowd b
into wells 81 applause The husky old veteran runner who
= e the pir place stepped forward by Write Of his oic
4 we've and lifted Sylvia down For moment she reeed ra
from aut,ess partly from the sickness caused BY the pf
e h iocon,otye Then she saw pushing uneeremonloa
Enough the krong the general superintendent andshe sta
and locked again--her father
When President Stamford struggling 70 control ls emofi
casped his daughter e his bosom her oyesraned nerves