Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-07

wait till I get II straight. Mr..
Bucks Is here--I came in with him in
his car. He has news Of Whispering
Smith. One OF our freight traffic men
In The Puget sound country, who has
been in hospital in Victoria. learned
by the morest accident that Gordon
Smith was lying in the same hospital
with typhoid fever"
Marion rose swiftly. Then the
tiino has come thank God, when can
do something for him; and am going
to him tonight"
"Fine!" cried McCloud $50 am !.
and that Is why I'm late"
Then I am going, too" exclaimed
Dicksio. solemnly.
do you mean IT," asked her hus'
band. Shall we let her, Marion? Mr.,
Bucks says am TO take his car and
take Barnhardt, and keep the cer
there till can bring Gordon back. Mr..
Bucks and his secretary will ride to-
night as far rs Bear Dance with us.
and In the morning they join Mr.,
Glover there" McCloud looked at his
watch. 'If you are both going. can
you be ready by u o'clock for the
China MALI"
1--WE can be ready in an hour" de-
clared Dicksie throwing her arm half
around Marion's neck. cant we.
Marion?"
81 can DC ready In 30 minutes"
Then. by heaven" McCloud
studied his watch.
What Is It, George"
I'VE won't wait 70 the midnight
train. We will take an engine, run
| special to Green River overhaul the
Coast Limited, and save a whole day"
| George, pack your suit-case-quick,
dear; and you, too, Marion; suit-cases
are all we can take" cried Dicksie,
pushing her husband toward the bed
room. 'Ill telephone Rooney Lee fo'
an engine myself right away. Dear
me. It Is kind OF nice, TO be able to
order up train when you went one
in hurry. Isn't it, Marion? Perhaps
I shall como to like 1t II they ever
make George 4 vice president."
In half an hour they had Joined
Bucks in his car, and Bill Danci.s
was piling the baggage into the yes.
thule. Bucks was sitting down to cof-
fee. Chairs had been provided at the
table, and after the greetings. Bucks,
seating Marion Sinclair at his right
and Barnhardt and McCloud at his
left, asked Dcksie to sit opposite and
pour the coffee. You are railroad
mans wife now and you must learn to
assume responsibility"
McCloud looked apprehensive. ~
AM afraid she will be assuming the
whole division II you encourage her
too much. Mr.. Bucks"
Marrying = railroad man." contin-
ued Bucks. pursuing his own thought
"is as bad as marrying into the army:
II you havo your husband half the
time you are lucky. Then, too, In the
railroad business your husband may
have to be set back when the trafflo
falls of. It's q little light at this mo-
ment, too. How should you take It II
we had to put him on freight train
for a while. Mrs. McCloud?"
"Oh, Mr.. Bucks"
"Or suppose he should be- promoted
and should Rave to 60 10 headquarters
some OF us are getting old, you
know"
Really" Dicksie looked more de-
mure as she filed the presidents cup,
really. l often say to Mr.. McCloud
that cannot believe Mr.. Bucks is
president of this great road. He al
ways looks to me to bc the youngest
man on the whole executive stan. Two
Jumps Of SUGAR, Mr.. Bucks?"
The bachelor president rolled his
eyes as he reached for his cup. Thank
you, Mrs. McCloud. Only one after
that" He looked toward Marion. All
can say is that if Mrs. McCloud' 5
husband had married her two years
earlier he might have been general
manager by this time. Nothing could
hold man back even n man Of his
modesty, whose wife can say as nice
things as that BY the way. Mrs. Sin
clair, does this man keep you supplied
with transportation? ,"
"Oh, have my annual, Mr. Bucks"
Marion opened her bag TO find 1t.
Bucks held out his hand. Let me
see 1t a moment" He adjusted his
eyeglasses, looked az the pass, and
called for pen; Bucks had never lost
his gracious way Of doing very little
things. He laid the card on the table
and wrote across the back OF II over
his name; Good or all passenger
trains" When ne handed the card
back to Marion he turned to Dicksie.
Il understand you are laying out two
or three towns on the ranch, Mrs. Nc
Cloud?"
Two or three! Oh, no. only one as
yet. Mr.. Bucks! They are laying out, oh.
such pretty town! Cousin Lance Is
experimenting tho street work-and
wnom co you think am going to
name 1t after? You. l think Bucks
makes a dandy name for town. don't
you' And l am goins to have one
town named Dunning; there will be
two stations on the ranch. you know
and | think. really, there ought 10 be
three"
AS many as that"
II don't believe you can operate a
line that long, Mr.. Bucks with stations
IA miles apart" Bucks opened his
eyes In benevolent surprise. Dicksie
unabnshed. kept right on. We'll. dc
you know how traf1c is increasing
over there, with the trains running
only two months now WIN the set