The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-16

sat in the rear car. and he had demand
ed record run down to the next d.
vision. Once past the tanGle OF tracks,
there was a clear road and good
roadbed all the way to TuwOra. Thorn
son usually took out the east and west
flyer. He WAS new engineer on the
road and he wanted to show the "Old
Man" what he could do.
Back in his private car, Newman
was going through the package OF
mail handed him as he had stepped
aboard. II seemed to Newman that
since his secretary had quit. the mail
had been twice all heavy as formerly.
| For perhaps half an hour he worked |
over the mail, then he threw 1t down
on the table in disgust, and went out
on the rear platform to smoke cigar
in the crisp winter sunshine. AS he
stepped through the door. dark bum
die huddled beside the steps caught
his eye and he scowled
He stopped to grasp the mans col.
lar. but before he could do so the
man had sprung up and was facing
him detiantly
"Yes, I'm stealing a ride" he adj
mitted before Newman had spoken.
Like you, am going over the road
without a ticket. You can't blame
the train hands They were careful
enough, but when they were clear OF
the yards they had to stay up front
or pass through your car, and | knew
that they wouldn't do that, so | hoped
ON board because want to get away
from here"
Come inside" ordered Newman
gruffly as he saw that the mans thin
coat and threadbare trousers offered
little protection from the nipping air.
He was rather amused at the idea OF
a tramp stealing a ride on his own
car
The stranger followed without the
least embarrassment and accepted
with easy courtesy the stiff drink that
Newman prescribed as an antidote
! for the cold.
If can wash my hands some
where" the tramp suggested when
the warmth had penetrated his half.
frozen body, "l'll work my passage.
used to be a pretty good hand at the
typewriter in the old days. If you
have any routine stuff that an out
slider can see, I'll clear that away for
you. know how 1t is when the mall
gets piling up"
He moved toward the closed type
writer desk in a corner Of the salon
and raised the cover He nodded as
I he saw the machine was In good con
} dition. and then followed the porter
\ to the wash room whence he emerged
with clean hands and face and we'll
: brushed hair. Newman stared at the
} transformation.
/ I'm not tramp" was the easy ex
PLANTATION. Il am merely out of jol
4 and without reference to get an
other berth. was unwise in falling
4 in love with my boss daughter. !
, was a small town, and he could keel
, me from getting another place there
SO had to leave
. AS he spoke he moved toward TIL
. machine again and took up one of thu
letters in the basket His finger
fairly flew over the keys ant
presently he passed sheet owe
TO Newman. 1t was terse ant
comprehensive, and Newman nodded
The president reached for the Oaske
and removed few OF the more impOl
tant letters, then indicated the rest.
do those" he ordered, "and yo
will be able to make New York In
day coach instead OF box car"
The letters were out Of the way an
signed before the train whstled 10
Tuwora, and Newman turned to hi
self-appointed helper.
want to go on from the divisio
point or stay on and be my secrt
tary?" he asked.
I'll stay" was the quiet response
1.-The girl lives in Harmon. and that
only 60 miles from your Headquarters
I'll marry her yet"
That's the way to talk" cried New
man. IF you want girl, fight unit
you get her. You might answer thes
other letters"
He indicated the more importan
ones he had withheld until he ha
studied his man. and while the la
ter's nimble fingers resumed thel
work, he smoked and reflected. Her
was a man who would not give u
and yet he himself had lost heart
his own love affair. He wanted Alicl
Leighton for his wife, and he ha
been frightened of by the rivalry
younger men, though he was littl
II past forty.
= What Is your name?" he d.
manded.
Paul Sidney" was the quiet r.
Spouse. Il have been working ft
Seth Slater In Harmon"
Newman drew some bills from 81
pocketbook.
There Is a half hour stop here" b
said. 1T Ia division point and ther
are some tangles I must straighte
- cY,, ,,pxou.p opd GOT a auff thu