The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-28
Advice
En- Route

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the Special" picked its way through
the yard. while the engineers hand
grasped the throttle nervOusly. The
president Of the road, Philip Newman.
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 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
..uoard. 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 it 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 bun.
die huddled beside the steps caught
his eye and he scowled.
He stopped 10 grasp the mans col
lar, but before he could do so the
man had sprung up and was facing
him defiantly.
eyes, I'm stealing a ride" he ad.
mitted before Newman had spoken.
Like you, l am going over the road
without a ticket You cant blame
the train hands. They were careful
enough, but when they We're 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
grufy 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, I'll work my passage. |
used to be 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. I know how 1t is when the mali
gets piling up"
He moved toward the closed type
writer desk in corner Of the salon
and raised the cover. lie nodded as
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 well.
brushed hair. Newman stared at the
transformation.
"l'm not tramp" was the easy ex.
PLANTATION. 81 am merely out of Job
and without a reference to get an.
other berth. was unwise in falling
in love with my boss daughter. 1t
was a small town. and he could keep
me from getting another place there,
so had TO leave"
AS he spoke ne moved toward the
machine again ard took up one Of the
letters in the basket. His fingers
fairly flew over the keys and
presently he passed sheet over
to Newman. Il was terse and
comprehensive, and Newman nodded
The president reached for the basket
and removed a few of the more impor
tant letters. then indicated the rest.
do those" he ordered, "and you
will be able to make New York in
day coach instead of a box car
The letters were out Of the way ant
signed before the train whistled fol
Tuwora, and Newman turned to hi.
self-appointed helper.
Want to go on from the division
point or stay on and be my secre
tary?" he asked.
"rll stay" was the quiet response
The girl lives in Harmon, and that!
only 60 miles from your headquarters
Ill marry her yet"
That's the way to talk" cried New
man. III you want girl. fight unit
J 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 thei
work, he smoked and reflected. Her
was q man who would not give u
and yet he himself had lost heart 4
his own love affair. He wanted Alici
Leighton for his wife. and he ha
been frightened on by the rivalry G
younger men, though he was litu
past forty.
What is your name?" he d,
manded.
n Paul Sidney" was the quiet r,
Spouse. Il have been working IL
y Seth Slater In Harmon"
Newman drew some bills from hi
|