The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-10-06

During the next month that cab ride
was repeated three or four times on
n excuse and another, but the en-
gineer grinned and said nothing. What
might be called a c~landestine cofre-
spondence followed. Perhaps there
were clandestine meetings in the park
when Dave had his days of. The very
fact that an employee Of o railroa1
dares to fall in love with the daughter
Of the general manager is n clandes.
tine net.
The general manager had not yet
hunted up the son Of his old friend.
being busy about those new cars and
having to smooth down the backs Of
several directors who believed that the
road was going into bankruptcy, when
the motive power department promot-
ed the fireman to be engineer and gave
him a local of more Importance.
1t can't be said that Dave and Nettfe
we're waiting for this thing to happen
that something else might be brought
about, but they were not long in TAX
ing advantage Of 1T. The silly young
couple planned an elopement.
1t was given away by Miss Nettfe's
maid, and the general manager laid
his little plans accordingly. The girl
and her maid were allowed to depart
for Royalston in the cab Of Dawes en-
CINE, and at the first stop the G. n.
left the passenger car in which he had
been ensconced and appeared in the
cab.
The way the maid shrieked out, add
ed to the way the daughter turned pale
ard the engineer turned red, was SUI
icient evidence of guilt. The G. NJ.
meant to be an avengfng father. He
meant to compel his daughter to faint
away with remorse and the engineer
to drop on his knees and beg pardon
for living until he could reach the next
station and get of his engine. In fact.
the G. NJ. had a gun with him, and
there is v any telling what a man
who doesn't know the nluzzle of a re-
volver from the butt may do when he
gets to playing heroics.
young LADY, he had begun in his
sternest tones when Dave interrupted
to take all the blame. While he was
taking it he gave his name and spoke
Of his father.
"Then-then you are David HolmesT"
asked the G. N. as he put up his gun.
II can identify myself satisfactorily.
sir"
"Then why haven't you done so long
ago."
II wanted to succeed by my own ef-
forts, and I think I have done faiRy
WELL"
yes. 1 think you have" said the
official as he looked at his daughter
with a grim smile on his face.
"Father, Dave has invented a new
firebox for engines, and it's bound to
be q great success" said Nettie. with
an appealing look.
"And is this clipping in an engine
cab one of his inventions az well?"
"And, papa, dear, he has invented 4
new kind Of %frog-one you can't get
your foot fast in and be run down.
and he's got a jack by which one man
can lift five tons, and you don't know
how much coal and oil and labor he's
going to saw He's one Of the bright
est and smartest and dearest
"That will do for just now" inter
rupted the father as he laid q hand on
her arm. young man. do you think
you could ind my house IL you tried
very hard?
II do. SIR" replied Dave.
''Then 1 will get OF at the next sta
ton with the girls and be looking for
you tomorrow evening. I believe yoa
have the evening OF. I want to talk
with you about these new freboxes.
frogs, jacks and ~elopements."
Dave found the house without going
far astray, and there was a converse
ton. The waybills Of the G. and 8.
road don't show whether the couple
had to wait three months or SIX. but
they referred to David Holmes a year
later as q division superintendent, ana
he did not stop there. When the may-
rage took place the fathers face wore
ia smile as he kissed the bride. but tho
bride pouted and said:
"Now, papa, how mean Of you to
spoil our romance and make rs gee
married in this stupid and old fashion
ed way"