The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-11-11

"Wishes to see-Mr. B.
neutrality-suspicious."
AS often as the boy went in with the
slip of paper he came back with the
answer, "The general manager is too
busy to see you"
In time the employees learned to
look not at the clock for the hour Of
| 10, but to the gate that swung in the
low fence. When he had come and
gone thirty-seven times, leaving thirty
soven neatly filled requests behind
him, the manager instructed the boy.
"Mr. A." said the boy and closed the
door of the private office, leaving the
two men alone. The general manager
was embarrassed. Instead of long
haired, hollow eyed crank, with soiled
linen covering his conceived chest, his
caller was we'll dressed, intelligent
looking gentleman.
"Delighted, delighted, Mr.. b." said
the stranger, advancing with out
stretched hand. $50 good of you to see
me! Yes, did call the other-yes, yes.
know how busy you areI Just 80,
just so! Ah-hw
Tho men shook hands hurriedly, ey-
lug OhCu OlleI plSClbeiS 40 u phh Va
prizehghters enter the ring.
The manager noticed for the first
time peculiar look in the mans eyes.
"Sit down." said the stranger, and the
railway man sank back into his swing
ing chair. ~ shan't take much of your
time-this time" said the visitor, hook
ing ono leg over the corner of the table
and sagging into comfortable pose.
The manager felt fdgety under the
strangers soul searching eyes.
i've got good thing" said the
man, keeping his eyes upon the mana
| gers conscience.
II was afraid of that" said the man
ager half playfully, but the man did
not smile,
"You have some heavy grades on
your line"
| "Yes," assented the manager.
"You have doubtless observed that 1t
is almost invariably upon mountain
that the nlr plays out. Just when they
are needed most is when the brakes
refuse to work. You know that, don't
your
"Yes."
"Well, I've spent sleepless nights
working out system that will always
work and save millions Of money now
lost In wrecked rolling stock and thou
sands Of useful lives"
"What is your scheme7 My time is
limited"
First of all, you shall build for me
n mammoth windmill on the banks Of
the Missouri. The ceaseless winds that
| oor1o oryIpo, ocroou Colorado md Kan.
sas will push the paddles In the big
wheel, which, revolving, will drive a
great pump that will force air through
n small pipe to be laid along the line
under tho ties. Beneath each water
tank upon the mountain side we shall
build an air tank, 80 that while the
fireman takes water the brakeman can
take air, filling the air drum with good
valley air, and then there Will be no
trouble. 1t Is because the mountain air
Is too light to hold that the trains get
away on the hills. knowing this, the
blood of innocent men, women and
children will be upon your head IL you
fail to protect the lives OF your pa
irons"
an see you again about this" said
the manager, putting on his Int and
leading tho way out through a private
door. All tho way out the man KEEP.
close to tho manager. The elevator
dropped them to tho ground floor. The
manager called cab. LAS tho door
closed the man reached through the
open window into the carriage, press
cd the managers hand and said Sig
nificantly, looking deep into the rail-
road mans soul, "You won't lose mol"
The inventor continued to call upon
the manager, every day Mt first, then
twice week and later only three or
four times n month.
One evening the general manager sat
In box ut the theatcr. Between acts
n gentleman who sat almost directly
behind the railroad man left the box
for a moment. Presently the general
manager became aware that his friend
had resumed his seat and, with his
gaze still on the audience, remarked:
1T lose half the pleasure of the play
because of an innate dread of fire. l
wish somebody would invent some
thing that would put out fire without
drowning people"
az can do It," said tho man at the
managers elbow.'
"How2"
Glow do you put out Gambler :
"Well, l would blow 1t out"
Exactly. First would lay sys-
tenn Of air pipes under the building"
The manager felt n chill creeping
slowly over him. Somewhere he had
heard that voice before. He began
slowly to turn his head, but his neigh
Dor put hand upon his shoulder and
babe him listen. "You tremble when
your own life is in danger" said the
man, "but you do not tremble for the
hundreds OF lives that are constantly
endangered by your carelessness, mar
rowness and stinginess. On yonder
mountain side tonight people play at
tho open door of death as''-
"AhemW said the managers friend,
returning to the box. The wind crank,
seeing that he held the gentieman's
Out Of His Reach.
"At last!" cxulted the ex-bicyelist
-.