The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-31

tors voice was heard IN the smoking
room. where he appeared with the
rush and roar OF a Bashan bull.
"Weil," he beloved, which one OF
you guys pulled that roper
1T was nobody here. sir" DR.. Tenn
pie meekly explained. The conductor
transfixed him with a balefui glare:
Il wouldn't believe gambler on oath.
l bet you did It,"
Il assure you. SIR" wedgewood in
terposed. The didn't touch it / 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 Numbered: who pulled
that rope? Speak up somebody" 4
Mallory was about to sacrifice him
self to save Marjorie/ but she met the
conductors black rage with the with
ering contempt OF a young queen: 4
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 i'm Say. In
the name of-why, don't you know IL g
penitentiary ofrense to stop train
this way?"
Marjorie tossed her head little
higher, grew little calmer: What
do care? want you to back VI"
The conductor was reduced to .
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 hell's they matter with your
wife?'
Mallory was saved from the prob
lem of answering by Marjorie's abrupt
change from young Tsarina rebuk-
ing serf, to terrified mother. She
flung out imploring palms and with o
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 OF the
train!" he gasped. Good Lord! How
old was he?"
With one hand he was cropping for
the bell 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 nke?"
He had pink ribbon round his
neck"
"A pink ribbon-oh the poor little
fellow! the poor little feIlow!"
And long curly tall"
The conductor swung round with q
yell: "A curly tail!-your SOM"
MY dog!" Marjorie roared back ar
him.
The conductors voice cracked
weakly as he shrieked: Your dog!
You stopped this train for fool dogy
He wasn't a 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 If she were some
curious freak OF nature. Suddenly an
idea struck into his daze: Say. what
kind OF dog was tia measly little
cheese-hound?
He was noble. beautiful soul
with wonderful eyes and adorable
ears"
The conductor was growing weak
err and weaker: well, don't worry. !
got him. He's in the baggage car"
Marjorie stared at him unbeltevtns.
ly. The news seemed too gloriously
beautiful to be true. He isn't dead
Snoozleums 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"
Hell ride in this one or FIJI wiring
his neck
You fiend in human fiesn!" Mar
jorie shrank away from him in hor-
ror, and he found courage to seize
the bell rope and yank It viciously
with sardonic: Please. may start
this Strain?"
The whistle footed family. The ben
began to hammer, the train to creaH
and writhe and click. The conductor
pulled his cap down hard and start
ed forward. Marjorie seized nis
sleeve: "Oh. implore you. don't con-
sign that poor sweet child to the hor-
rid baggage car. II you have human
heart In your breast. hear my pray
err"
The conductor surrendered uncon-
ditionaily: "Oh, Lord, all right. all
right. I'll lose my job. but II youth
keep quiet, I'll bring him to you-r And
he skunk out meekly, followed by the
passengers. who were shaking their
heads In wonderment at this most
a..