The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-04-21
JERRY'S EMERGENCY
BY MARTIN eARlsALoI

the early days OF the Clhclhha'i oou
ern Jerry was unmistakably new. Inc
manner in which he counted over the
carbon sheets in his train-order paas
to be sure that he had sunicleh'
supply Of three, five and seven Guy,
pads on hand to meet the demands o'
a sudden call from the dispatcher, 'e
whom the word "fix" was an abomlna
t,on and the nicely with which ne ad
iusted his relays from time TO time
indicated his newness plainly. II tnere
had been any doubt about 1t, his puz
zled expression as he scanned 'ns
switchboard. his surreptitious trials OF
the ground-plug in each strip to ascei
tain which side was north and wnicn
south, and his frequent trips 10 Tue
station platform to inspect MS tra'n
order signal, would have proclaimed II
Jerry was new clear down 10 nls
shoes. which squeaked suggestively a.
he moved about the Office attending te
his duties.
He had recently been promoted te
the position Of ticket seller and nigh'
operator at this old blue grass town
from sadieville, the water tank station
IL miles north, where his duties had
: .,aan confined to the routine OF report
tng passing trains, an occasional tram
order. and sweeping out the office IN
the morning
Jerry was on the rise. He felt X
and thirsted for greater things. HIS
,, chief ambition was to rise In the serv'
ice. How to obtain the coveted ad'
vancement had become All all-absoro'
ing question with him. and the subject
OF his nightly meditations.
Once, when Jerry had reverted to
the matter in conversation with Con,
the roadmaster, the latter said: There
are different ways of getting promoted,
Just the same as there are different
ways Of skinning a cat. Probably the
quickest way is to keep your wits
about you, and when an emergency
comes along grab hold OF 1t and handle
It,"
Jerry eagerly drank in these words
of wisdom as they fell from the lips Of
the road master. This was new
phase OF the question that had never
presented itself to him before. He
pondered long and deeply over it. Yes
this was undoubtedly the solution,
the secret OF success, the key to pro-
motion, the re thing needful to bring
him favorable official recognition.
With the enthusiasm OF youth, he
resolved that if ever an emergency
came his way, he would be right there
to meet it. As a natural sequence, as
a means to an end, Jerry began to long
for the emergency. The longing In
tensitied itself until the very inner
most recesses of Jerry's soul cried out
for an emergency.
1t was on the night Of the memor.
able Charleston earthquake. No. IS,
north-bound freight, had pulled noisily
down the long siding. and settled for
drowsy wait for No. 5, south-bound
passenger, with the engine standing
Just opposite the telegraph office win
dow. The silence was broken only by
the occasional chug-chug of the air
pump.
Jerry was beguiIing the time by
alternately practising the letter P on
a closed key and listening to passing
messages going over the through wire.
He had just succeeded In rounding
out a P to his entire satisfaction,
when he was startled by hearing Meri-
dian, Miss, break in on the through
wire with, Earthquake here" signing
his office call. A moment later another
office, north Of Meridian, broke in with
the same information. Then another
and another, still nearer, signing their
calls in turn.
Great Scott!" exclaimed Jerry.
AN earthquakes coming this way.
and they are spreading the alarm"
AS he sat tense and alert in his
chair. waiting for and yet dreading
further confirmation Of his fears, a low
sound struck his ear. The
window panes began to vibrate and
the sashes to rattle.
Jerry sprang to his feet with
blanched face and shaking limbs sick.
enlng fear gripping at his heart. There
flashed across his excited brain a
vision of toppling buildings, and his
hrst impulse was to fly to the open
air.
But with that flash there came an.
other mental picture of swayine
bridges, falling trestles, upheayed
track and twisted steel.
He must stick to his post and givo
the alarm. For moment. a feeling
Oh elation, almost JOY. struggled with
his fear, as he realized that at last an
emergency had come.
lie grasped the key with trembling
hngers, called up division headouar.
ters, clicked off the fateful words
Earthquake here" signing his Office
call' and then, wild terror grasping
him again and winging his feet he fed
panicstricken from the room.
AS he emerged from the depot build.
Ing he electrified the engine crew bv