Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-05-09
NO.. 8.

q oolo uloIduCc anu odlu.
'The train has stopped, my dear.
Somebody rang the bell"
II guess somebody did," Marjorie
answered, with proud toss of the
head. where's the conductor"
He's looking for the fellow that
pulled the rope"
You go tell him to back up-and
slowly, too"
mo, thank you!" said Mallory. He
was brave young man, but he was
not boarding the conductors OF STOP
ped expresses. Already the conduc-
tors voice was heard in the smoking
room, where he appeared with the
rush and roar of a Bashan bull
Well" he beloved, (which one OF
you guys pulled that rope?"
1T was nobody here, sir" DR.. Tenn
pie meekly explained. The conductor
transfiXed him with a baleful glare:
81 wouldn't believe gambler ON oath.
| bet you did it."
Il assure you, sir" Wedgewood in.
terposed, "he didn't touch it. l was
heah."
The conductor waved him aside and
charged into the observation room,
followed by all the passengers in an
aWe-struck rabble Here, too, the
conductor thundered: who pulled
that rope? Speak up somebody"
Mallory was about to sacrifice him
self to save Marjorie, but she met the
conductors black rage with the with
ering contempt Of young queen: Il
pulled the old rope. Whom did you
suppose?'
The conductor almost dropped with
apopleXy at finding himself with no.
body to vent his immense rage on,
but this pink and white slip. "You!"
he gulped, well, what in Say, in
the name of-why, don't you know it's
penitentiary offense to stop train
this way?'
Marjorie tossed her head little
higher, grew little calmer: What
do | care? l want you to back up"
The conductor was reduced to a
wet rag, feeble echo: Back up
the train up?'
Yes, back the train up Marjorie
answered, resolutely, land go slowly
till tell you to stop
The conductor stared at her mo.
ment, then whirled on Mallory: Say.
what in helPs the matter with your
wife?"
Mallory was saved from the prob
lem of answering by Marjorie's abrupt
change from young Tsarina rebuk-
ing a serf, to terrified mother. She
flung out imploring palms and with
gush of tears pleaded Wont you
please back up? My darling child fell
off the train"
The conductors rage fell away in
an instant Your child fell off the
train" he gasped. Good Lord! How
old was he?"
With one hand he was cropping for
the hell cord to give the signal, with
the other he opened the door to look
back along the track.
'He was two years DID," Marjorie
sobbed.
'Oh, that's too bad!" the conductor
groaned. what did he look like?"
HE had a pink ribbon round his
neck"
"A pink ribbon--oh, the poor little
fellow! the poor little fellow!"
And a long curly tail"
The conductor swung round with q
yell: "a curly tail!-your son?'
MY dog!" Marjorie roared back at
him.
The conductors voice cracked
weakly as he shrieked: Your dog!
You stopped this train for fool dog?"
He wasn't fool dog" Marjorie
retorted, facing him down, "he knows
more than you do"
The conductor threw up his hands:
well, don't you women beat" He
studied Marjorie as II she were some
curious freak of nature. Suddenly an
idea struck into his daze: Say, what
kind of a dog was it?-a measly little
cheese-hound
"He was noble, beautiful soul
with wonderful eyes and adorable
ears"
The conductor was growing weak
er and weaker: well, don't worry. l
got him. He's in the baggage car"
Marjorie stared at him unbelieving-
ly. The news seemed too gloriously
beautiful to be true. He isn't dead
Snoozeums Is not dead!" she cried,
"he lives! He lives You have saved
him." And once more she flung her
self upon the conductor. He tried to
bat her off like a gnat, and Mallory
came to his rescue by dragging her
away and showing her into chair.
But she saw only the noble conductor:
"Oh, you dear, good, kind angel. Get
him at once"
"He stays In the baggage car" the
conductor answered, firmly and as he
supposed, finally.
but Snoozleums doesn't like bag
gage cars" Marjorie smiled. HE
won't ride in one."
He'll ride In this one or I'll wiring
his neck"
you tiend in human fiesh!" Mar
jorie shrank away from him in hor-
ror, and he found courage to seize
the bell rope and yank it viciousIy
with a sardonic: please, may l start
this train?"
The whistle footed family. The bell
began to hammer, the train to creak
and writhe and click. The conductor
pulled his cap down hard and start
ed forward. Marjorie seized his
sleeve: "Oh, l implore you, don't con-
sign that poor sweet child to the hor.
rid baggage car. If you have human
heart in your breast, hear my pray.
er."