The Tupelo journal., 1914-09-04

1hC llNhSI WilIAQM+ N~-ylN AAxsrarU
But Scovers was A# III
only an aban- S# R8SNHMS ESWaa
doned box car and
a board" And to add to the KIDS
chagrin, he was only the night man.
That he was to take the night mans
place he knew when he accepted the
position, but ambition to plunge into
the whirling world of the railroad had
been irresistibly urgent, and he ac-
cepted.
The Kid was without companions
during the dull, dreary hours of the
Right-hours to which the mourning
wailing Of the coyotes lent no cheer.
Watson came on at 6 and left at the
same hour in the evening. Occasion
ally he would pause to exchange a
few commonplace with the Kid-usu-
ally, he hurried TO the camp where he
lived. The nights were long and lone
some; part of the day was spent in
repose.
He became wearied of the monotony
after a few weeks and began to spend
a few hours of the daylight in hunting
the rabbits which abounded In the sur
rounding country. II was his only d.
version, and it gradually grew upon
him until he was filling the days with
it and losing the sleep which was
absolutely indispensable if he was to
remain v~igilantly on guard during his
shift.
The Kid sat looking out of the win
dow in the side of the box car and
wondered how much longer he could
endure the oppressive humdrum.
No. 68 went by at midnight carrying
a green. He reported her passage and
turned to his reading. The long mel
ancholy blast of the whistle echoed in
his ears long after the train had
flashed by with it's golden squares OF
light. 1t diverted him from his book
for a moment, but his eyes slowly re-
turned to the page, and he read on.
Suddenly he was gripped by the
dread that something unusual had oc-
CURED. 1t seemed to him that he had
been doing. He started as second sc
roared by.
It'll wait and then put her down."
he muttered drowsily.
Again he was overwhelmed by q
subtle consciousness that all was not
as it should be.
He listened as the sounder abruptly
broke out In a harsh staccato.
"V-V-V-S-V-V-V-S-31," licked the in
strument.
He stirred.
Where have you benin the
hay?" came the query. "OS."
He hastily "OS'd" second 6S and
closed the key.
Third 6s by yet?" the seunder
asked.
The Kid opened his key.
mot yet" he replied.
COX, put her in the siding for sec
ond r."
Loaded with fast freight, second 70
was waiting at Hawk, about twenty
five miles east of Scovers, for the right
OF way. The Kid clicked the order to
Hawk, and shortly afterward the wire
told him that second 70 had started.
Again the fear of error and disaster
assailed the Kid. He could not resist
it. He picked up the train-sheet and
scrutinized it. He rose unsteady to
his feet, horror graved in every line Of
his pale, drawn face.
Third 68 went by and l didn't put
her down." he gasped.
It meant wreck, death, and disgrace.
He had slept, he knew 1t now, and the
truth of it was scared into his mind.
The trains would collide about ten
miles west of Hawk. No stations in
tervened-it could not possibly be
averted. In a ~neglectful moment the
tide of circumstances had swept aside
the placid current OF his life and
turned II into a dizzying turmoil.
Should he report her? For a mo-
ment he vacillated. They would know
why II had happened. He need not
admit the horrible truth now.
Third IS YETI" the key broke in ter
rifyingly.
With the vacillation had come weak
ness.
mot yet" the Kid answered.
He sank into his chair and buried
his face In his hands. Often, before
he became a t~elegrapher, he had won
dered how feels the man who makes
the fatal blunder and hurls a train
load of passengers into the infinite.
It had seemed to him that it must be
crushing, interchangeable end of all
peace. Now he knew how really dire
II was.
He reached for the key. He would
do what small human thing he could
confess.
Suddenly there was q roaring In his
ears. His form Strengthened in the
chair and his head went back as he
gazed with staring, unbelieving eyes
as third So rumbled by with q CLEAN Of
light.
N aE, -