The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-07-07


gan. Here he began to make use OF his
college education. In some manner known
only to himself he employed his calculus in
selling coupon tickets, geometry In boosting
the weights on salt, hides and butter, and
Latin in talking to the gnineas on.the dou-
ble-tracking work. Old George Amhorn,
while oiing around one day, was heard
grumbling 20 himself about the sad estate
to which railroading had fallen, with es-
pecal mention Of that young pup down al
Winchester. Next thing he continued.
they'll be requirin' MAS for wipers.
PhD.'s to fire engines, and the whole
damned alphabet before man can run
one" II developed afterward that Jimmie
had sprung French adjective on George.
But the boy, who was now quite an
operator, could not content himself with
way-stations. Barely two years in the
business, he already had his heart set Oh
despatcher's chair at Damascus Junction
From time to time he made known his am
bitions, but Bancroft only said wait awhile
or recommended Mrs. Winthrow's Soothing
Syrup. Finally, however, the day came
when Jimmie received summons to come I'D
to headquarters, and leaving relief agent
IN charge, he went ~
SO you're the youugster that wants T.,
be Dispatcher" was the chiefs greeting
when the operator was seated at the corner
Of his desk. s~ss~
b Yes, sir, !" said Jimmie.
"M-hmmm and for three solid
minutes Bancroft gazed at the aspirant's
brilliant tie and said nothing, while Jimmie
twisted uncomfortably and grew red, AIT
length he went on in the slow, soft voice that
held all the biting sarcasm Of which the
dried-up little chief was capable want
to be dispatcher, chr Ever hear Of the
human element'?"
Jimmie had not.
We'll, that's what the newspapers will
call you when you 20 wrong some night and
send train to the scrap-heap and its crew
or passengers to the cemetery You prob
ably don't know that folks haunt you after
you've killed them But they do
And you rise up in your bed shrieking from
the dream where you've seen all over again
the two trains hit and heard the crash, the
roar of the steam and the screams You
see them crawling out Of the wreckage and
the cold white faces Of the dead in the moon
light.
You don't remember Terrell; he was be-
fore your day Good man once, but his
nerves S gone now and he sees things Gave
lap order along about daylight one morn
ing In Gods mercy they saw each other
on the straight track in time, but Terrell
isn't dispatcher any more Works way
wire for the Western Union at sixty
month. Then there was Bill Anglin
Bills grave is the third from the gate on the
right as you 60 IN up there on the hill. He
used to be dispatcher here. Shot him
self out under the coal chutes one Christmas
Eve night after he found he I'd miscalculated
They do that sometimes, you know; not
often, but the price is so high when they do,
AT best it's their peace Of mind; at worst
their lives or their reason
Still want to be Dispatcher"
And Jimmie, all unshaken, declared that
he did.
CAL right, my boy" replied the chief.
" I've been watching you pretty closely and
] reckon there's good stuff in you. ANY
how, well see You can begin copying
here tomorrow night and it won't be long
before you Il have chance at train-sheet
There's bunch Of promotions ahead that's
going to make some vacancies around
here"
Thus came Jimmie Vandiver. A. b.,
Freshwater University, 'oS. to the dingy old
headquarters building at Damascus juno
ton where he was weighed in the balance
and found not wanting in a way that still
orms the theme Tor the stove committee
It the roundhouse when college men are In
inyuisc under discussion.
Never since he led the roofing on the
oothall field had Jimmie worked as he did ,
low night after night in his new place
Always the saunders clicked and sputtered ,
nd, unless be was busy copying orders on 1
he train wire. one Office was no sooner l
bsough sending TO him than another {
issan Rtf5re long the third trick dcs- /
catcher was leaving him at the sheet in the {
zee h,sirs Of the morning while he stole {
downstairs for hot coffee with his lunch. =
,nd atsuch tiiises J,sifnie stfps-e <cun zpears 3
onchalant while ffeelins vast elation E
lnCe be sent an. order that w4stortect III an y
& detsiis andN begah 10 tSe5s sure 81 4
is ability 10 handle the division when the
promotions should finally be "a
ulleiined Gore they did, a; last. and q
oanson. frs, trick dispatcher. went TO
Inch River az chief. Niisnn. second trick. al
ot a mseh-desired berth IN the passenger 81.
apartment. and linlrrie found himself E,
,ird trick dispatcher en- the South Ind. q,
orkihg IRON ridright 70 eight N "a
After an hour 10 which Ell had gone reli n
. hi. ilt nieat d. had rsieri al'.flii
.nhden,s % an oid liner ihg tssiie 81.