The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-12-23


side-and It doesn't look that way:
we Just passed the up switch"
A whistle OF the engine notified the
crew that they were approaching the
station. The train began 10 respond
TO the steambrakea Briggs wheeled
truck nearer the sliding door.
Il often wondered" he said, why
they single-tracked the road from
Rawlings TO Milsford. Guess the con.
struction gang must have struck az
Rawlings and arbitrated at Milsford."
Pokes turned toward the forward
door, through which the great gilt
numbers OF the tender rocked TO and
fro between fieeting gusts OF steam,
seemingly suspended In the darkness.
Briggs. standing beneath the saffron
glare OF the overhead light. neglected
his work for the moment, to watch the
youngster as he passed out 10 the
snow.flled platform.
Before the train had stopped Pokes
was running rapidly toward the tele-
graph office.
Garvin. alighting from the train,
caught a glimpse Of him and cursed
quietly.
A solitary passenger left the train,
climbed into a waiting sleigh. and
jingled OF into the white night
Briggs dumped a trunk out upon a
truck and mentioned the weather to
the trucliman.
And the night relapsed into sleep,
disturbed only by the labored breath.
ing Of the iron monster ahead.
Garvin glanced at his watch by the
light OF the moon and looked slowly
up and down the long line of Pull
mans. Then he looked thoughtfully
doyn at his watch again. The track
was his own all the way to Gainsboro.
a full 20-mile run. There was nothing
to prevent him moving out Of Rawlings
two minutes ahead OF schedule-and
losing that Internal kid for one night
at least. It would be a good lesson to
him to have to sleep on a hard bench
for the night; 1t might teach him bet
ter things than jumping on and on
moving trains. He swung his lantern
to signal the brakeman ahead, who,
half startled by the unexpected move,
almost forgot his own lantern in his
haste to reach the whistle-cord.
Meanwhile Pokes had approached
the little grated window in Rawlings
station. It took him a half-minute to
get the operators attention, for night
business was rare at Pawlings.
Finally Hoagson looked up. Hello,
Pokes!" was his greeting.
ANY telegram for me?"
Now, who the"
There isn't? Well, please wire this
money, $40, to Mrs. McDermot, Sa-
maritan hospital, Cleveland. And |
low much is it?" There was some
hing incisively businesslike about the |
and Hoagson twisted him
'elf out of his lazy attitude, arose
rom his chair. and came to the win
low.
BY now the assistant operator had |
Wheeled the trunk Of the solitary pas
enger into an adjoining room and
lad caught a glimpse Of the boy out
ide the grated window.
Hello, Pokes!" was his jovial greet
ng. Got any chocolates left?"
Come on, please hurry" Pokes in
listed. Il amt got any time to lose.
his is very important"
A telegraph-sounder began to click
apidly.
Awful sorry, Pokes," Hoagson
rawled as he thrust the two five-dol-
lr bills under the grating, "but there
mt a message for you and We"
"P.L! P.L! P.L! ,Salem's calling
ou, Hoagie!" the assistant broke in.
Hoagson continued his drawl-"And
MS isn't a money-offce. You can
end that from Gainsboro, think.
ry it," And he turned to his tele-
raph key.
The assistant shouted across the
pom, Hurry up, kid! There goes
Inc without you. Run like hell!"
Pokes quickly gathered up his
oney and shot glance at the station
ock. Il thought So" he said, as he
IN toward the door. See that! Two
inutes ahead. Dye see it?" and he
as gone.
The men at the station watched him,
until they saw him swing
ION the rear platform of the last car,
dead coach the train usually carried
Gainsboro.
The platform was covered with
eet-crusted snow. The car had
obably been the first of an east ,
und train that had fought through :
e blizzard Of the day before. !
He tried the door, hoping against
pc that some one had forgotten to ;
ek 1t, but 1t was either locked or :
ven tight. He sat down in the snow :
on the upper step, put his feet :
ross, and Sraced himself against the :
r. The whole world seemed to be :
ing wrong with him lately, and he :
ought it wouldn't matter very much q
him to have to ride 20 miles, thinly
I'd, If 1t weren't for the chance Of
tching cold and being laid off on the :
TX list-just when his mother need :
him most.
He watched the Rawlings station
ninish behind him. The progress
s slow, the tracks treacherous, the =
in heavy, and the grade steep. The =
st mile consumed fully five min =
IS.
Suddenly as the train slowed more
cidedly, a tiny red light, emerged o
m the distance II nniuht hnun hnnr | v