The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-02-29


r he succeeded his old instructor, Dan Rea-
gan. Here he began to make Use of his
college education. In some manner known
only TO himself he employed his calculus in
selling coupon tickets, geometry in boosting
the weights on salt, hides and butter, and
Latin IN talking to the guineas on the dou-
ble-tracking work. Old George Amhorn.
while oiing around one day, was heard
grumbling to himself about the sad estate
to which railrosding had fallen, with es-
pecla mention OF that young pup down at
Winchester. Next thing he continued,
they'll be requirin MAS for wpers,
Ph,D.'S to tire engines, and the whole
damned alphabet before man can run
one. 1t developed alterward that Jimmie
had sprung a French adjective on George
But the boy, who was now quite an
operator, could not content himself with
way-stations. Barely two wears in the
business. he already had his heart set on a
despatchers chair at Damascus Jurction.
From time to time ne made known his am
bitons, but Bancroft only said wait awhile,
or recommended Mrs. Winthrow's Soothing
Syrup Finally, however, the day came
when Jimmie received summons to come up
to headquarters, and leaving q relief agent
in charge, he went
so you're the youngster that wants to
be desoatcher2' was the chiefs greeting
when the operator was seated at the corner
OF his desk.
eyes, sir, said Jimmie.
M-hmmm-' and for three solid
minutes Bancroft gazcd at the aspirant's
brilliant tie and said nothing, while Jimmie
twisted uncodiortaoly and grew red At
length he vent or in the slow, soft voice that
held all the biting sarcasm of which the
dried-up little chief wsS capable. "Want
to be dispatcher, eh? Ever hear Of the
human clement"
Jimmie had rot
Well, that's what the newspapers will
call yoa when you 20 wrong some night and
send train to the scra ,,-heap ard it, crew
or passengers II the Cemetery. Yop orob-
ably don't know that folks haunt YOU after
you've killed them. but they do
And you rise up in your bed shrieklng from
the dream where you've seen al owe, again
the two trains hit ard ncard IT, crash, the ,
roar Of the steam, and tF~ screans. You
see them crawling cut of tbs v.ect4ge aad
the cold white laces OF the dead in the moon
light
You don tremembei Terrell; he was be-
fore your day. Good man once but his .
nerves gone now and he sees things Gave {
a lap order along about daylight one morn
ing In Gods mercy they saw each other ,
on the straight track u time, but Terrell !
Isn t dispatcher any more Works way !
wire for the Western Union at sixty a
month. Then there was Bill Anglin--
Bits grave Is the third from tie gate on the
right as you 20 in up there on the hill He /
used TO be a despatchcr here Shot him {
self out under the coal chutes one Christmas
Eve night after be found he d niscalcuated.
They dc that sometimes, YOU know: not a
often, bu' the price is 50 high when they do. c
Al best It's their peace Of mind; at worst J
heir lives or their reason.
Still want 10 be despatcber2" {
Aud Jimmie all unshaken. declared that 2
nc did. d
All right NY boy" replied the Chief. /
= I've been watching you pretty closely aud Il
reckon thecs good tut IN you. ANY O
low, well see. Noa ,an begin copying t,
lerc tomorrow night and il WON'T be long .
)efore you'll have chance itain-soeet O
here a bunch Of promotions abeaG hats t,
,oiog to make some yatan@ts arouru I
lerC +,
Thus came jimmie Napditcr. \. B. T
rcshwater University, 'o8 20 ne dingv old Al
building at Damascus inc- d
ion where he was weighed in the balance G.
nd found not wanting in way that still
oIns the thsmc for the stove committee P
4 the roaodhousc vhen college men are m "
nywisc nndsr discussion q,
Nc,er sinte he led ihe roofing on the
ooihai seid hsd Jimmie worked a. he did "
ow night s'ter night in his new place
'lwavs the -oinjers CLICKED and sputrered Y,
nd iues: he vas busy copying order. on n
he trAir wire. one Office VAS no scorer -
hfough sending % him than another ca
eean 2efors long the :hlrd trick des in
alche' 1ss esvine him At the sheet IN the n
ec 7oir> ni the morning T0ilc ne stole g.
onpSlirs ior hot cofee with hs iuren. ~
ud - 'uea 'meS Jimmie strove 20 eopear pa
oocha'aoi while le@1ns a vast elati5e eH
7.r a ,cnsaaorGer 1,ai VA, correct in ~ Y
: ,i'i,sls anG nc bsgsG to be rcrv sure nJ -.
.hil'' 10 ban,l4 nediri>ioe eh,, ne ,,.I
'rg-aelaycd pra,rotiurS ,lopd ANAL he r.,
ille!Ined Come hey DID. a. last. aud crr
1anson. irs, tics dispatcher. went to
l'pch tjser as chief Nins0u. second trick. an
i nuen-de,ired berth in the passenger sol
aaart reai and Jimmie found himself oil
IiFd tr'-' 'espatcher on the South End. ON
orkiis rom midnight to eight 5, M. for
sitsr IN hour in which all had 9one well s..
rs '-st n.e. t he had gained almost the va
-i'fence n - ood-timei The traffic wss