Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-04-25

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 a record run down to the next d.
vision. Once past the tangle of tracks.
! there was a clear road and a good
! roadbed all the way to Tuwora. Thorn
! son usually took out the east and west
! flyer. He was a 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. 1t seemed to Newman that
! since his secretary had quit, the mail
had been twice ah 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 a cigar
in the crisp winter sunshine. AS he
stepped through the door, a 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 deiantly.
Eyes, I'm stealing a ride" he ad,
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
gruf11y 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
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 l 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. know how it is when the mail
gets piling up"
He moved toward the closed type.
writer desk in corner of the salon
and raised the cover He nodded as
he saw the machine was in good con-
dition, and then followed the porter
to the wash room whence he emerged
brushed hair Newman stared at the
transformation.
I'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. II
was a small town, and he could keep
me from getting another place there
so | had to leave"
AS he spoke he moved toward the
machine again and took up one of the
letters in the basket. His fingers
fairly flew over the keys and
presently he passed a sheet over
to Newman. 1t was terse and
comprehensive, and Newman nodded
The president reached for the basket
and removed 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 a
day coach instead of a box car"
The letters were out of the way and
signed before the train whistled for
Tuwora, and Newman turned to his
self-appointed helper.
Want to go on from the division
point or stay on and be my secre-
tary?" he asked
''Tll stay" was the quiet response.
"The girl lives in Harmon, and that's
only 60 miles from your headquarters.
I'll marry her yet
1nat the way 10 talk, cried New
man. IF you want girl, fight until
you get her. You might answer these
other letters"
He indicated the more important
ones he had withheld until he had
studied his man, and while the lat
ter's nimble fingers resumed their
work, he smoked and reflected. Here
was a man who would not give up
and yet he himself had lost heart in
his own love affair. He wanted Alicia
Leighton for his wife, and he had
been frightened off by the rivalry OF
younger men, though he was little
past forty.
What Is your manner" he de-
manded.
Paul Sidney" was the quiet re-
spouse. Il have been working for
Seth Slater in Harmon"
Newman drew some bills from his
pocketbook
There Is half hour stop here" he
said. 1T is division point and there
are some tangles l must straighten
out. Slip uptown and get a suit that
will make you presentable. No, it
isn't an advance on salary" he added,
as Paul made a memoranda of the
sum. That is payment for advice"
and as the surprised stenographer