The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-20


ing from sheer grogginess and excite
rnent. The Job OF front-end brakeman
on a mountain division is no great
stake for a man ordinarily, but 1t was
one for ne just then. We knew when We
went into the superintendent ofiice
that somebody was TO get fred; the only
question was who-the train crew or
tho operatorf Our engine crew were
out of il; it was up to the conductor
and me. Had the operator displayed
red Ignsls7 The conductor said mo-;
said no; the operator said yes; but
he lied We couldn't prove it; we
could only pat our word against his;
and, what made il worse for me, my
conductor was something OF liar him
self
stood beading in cold sweat, for
could see with half an eye it was 60
ing against us. The superintendent, an
up-and-up railroad man every inch, and
all business. but suspicious, was lean
ing the operator s way the strongest
kind.
There WASH Z another soul in the lit
tie room rs the three of us stood be-
fore tho superintendent s desk, except
a passenger conductor. who sat behind
me, with his feet on the window ledge.
looking into the yard.
"Morrison record in this office is
clean the superintendent was saying
of the operator, who was doing us
smooth as smokeless powder; ''he has
never, to my knowledge, lied in an in
vestigation. But, Allbcrs,' continued
the superintendent. speaking bluntly TO
my conductor, "you We never told
straight story about that Rat River
switch matter yet. This man is a new
man. he added. throwing a hard look
at me. "Ordinarily I'd be inclined TO
take the word Of two men against one,
but ! don't know one At all, and the
other has done me once. ] can't see
anything for IL but 10 take Morrison 8
word. and let you fellows both out.
There WASH Z any wreck, but that's not
Your fault. not for a minute -
"Mr Rocksby,'' I protested, speak
ing up to the division boss in clean
funs-the prospect of losing my job
that way. through a lying operator,
took the heart clean out Of me-''you
don Z know me, IL is true, but ]
pledge you nv word Of honor"
whats your word of honori'
asked the superintendent, cutting into
me like hatchet. 81 don't know any
more about your word Of honor than I
do about you.'
What could ] say7 There were men
who did know me, but they were far
cry from the Rocky mountains and the
headquarters OF the mountain division.
I glanced about me from his face,
gray as alkali, to Allbcrs. shuffling on
the carpet, and to Morrison, as steady
as a successful liar. taking my JOB and
my reputation at one swallow, and TO
the passenger conductor with the glossy
black whiskers, but ne was looking out
the window.
''What do I know about your word
of honor?' repeated Rocksby sharply.
'Allbers, take your man and get your
time
4 wave OF helpless rage swept over
me. Tho only thing / could think OF
was TO strangle the lying operator IN
the hall. Then somebody spoke.
'fShow your papers, you fool.
II came as calm as sunshine and cold
as a northwester from the passenger
conductor behind me, from Dave Hawk.
and il pulled me into limo like bugle
call. I felt my English all back at
once. Everybody heard him, and looked
my way; again IL was up 10 me. This
time I was ready for the superintend-
ent, or, for that matter, for the bloom
ing mountain division | had forgot
ten all about my papers till Dave
Hawk spoke ] put my hand, shaking,
into my inside vest pocket for a piece
Of oilskin-it was al ] had left: I
was good way from my base that
year. ! laid the oilskin on the superin
tendeut's s table, unfolded II iealously,
and took out a medal and n letter that,
in spite Of the carefulIest wrapping,
mas badly creased and sweated But
the letter was from my captain. and
ths. bit of bronze was the Cross.
Rocksby picked up the letter and read
"Have you been in the British
armyl' be asked curtly.
Eyes, sir. -
Ho seowled a minute over Pieton S
scTawl. laid IL down, and gratifed his
curiosity by picking up the medal He
studied the face OF the token. looked
curiously AZ the dingy red ribbon.
twirled IL and saw the words on the
reverse. ''For Honor and looked
again at me.
Where 4 sou get thislr he asked,
indicating the Victoria.
In the Soudan, sir -
Dave Hawk kept night on looking
out the window. Neither nv conductor
nor the operator seemed 20 know lust
what the row was. Nobody spoke.
what YOU doing here'' Rocksbv
went on.
] came out 20 learn the cattle bust.
ness. His brows went up easv.hkc.
They cleaned me OUT Brows
dropped gentle-like. "Then I wen, bal
with mountain fever He looked De.
cent az me.
"fou said YOU bad vour head OUT
the eupola aud saw the white sienal7p
he asked. sort OF puzzled
saw the white signal RocLsbv
looked a, the operator Morrison.
wen adjourn this thing aid no
At last, "till ! look into II Gt.le
further. For the present 90 back 20
your runs