The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-30

NC uedTu tue haynOr call.
He answered. Then he fell back
with a sort of whooping, laughing sigh
OF relief. The local was stalled away
down at Belfield and would wait for
the express to pass there.
So, 1t was all right Nobody risked
being killed. after all And as sudden.
ly as the tension had been put on
MIN, Just as suddenly 1t snapped and
Belcher began chuckling and rubbing
his head.
But-just what the deuce had he for.
gotten just in the last few minutes?
Oh, yes! He'd nailed down the presi.
dent of the road to one of his own sid
lngs. That was it. Well, he'd 60 out
and have a chat with him, and scare
him just for fun.
Quite happily. therefore, Belcher
tripped through the awful heat to
where the bulky man lay PROSTATE, ex.
hausted after a fruitless struggle with
his bond. Belcher squatted cheerfully
beside him. remarking:
We'll. old President Bullion, how's
thrings coming?"
"Lemme up" came hoarsely from
the captive.
"Aw. wait WHILE" said Belcher,
pleasantly. THE train isn't due for
two or three minutes"
THE WHAT"
The train that's going to come into
this siding full speed and make you
into sausage meat" the station man
explained cheerily.
A shrek rose from the red, drip
ping man.
Great Scott" he screamed. I'm
not Bullion, if you mean the president
of this road I'm the secretary of
caske. company that"
You'll get one cheap, them" Belcher
commented.
lis thinking of building near here.
l just drove over from Raynor to look
at your freight platform and meet
some of your business men"
So you're not Bullton!" gasped Bel
cher, with what seemed to him excel
lently quick and reasonable thought
Well, then, if you're not Bullton"-he
reached for the sledge-"the best thing
| can do is to wipe you right out
now"
A hoarse yell for help died away.
Because. If you're not" explained
the station man, you'll go to work
and tell Bullion about this. and I'll
lose my job
We'll, l am Bullton!" choked the
PROSTATE figure. I'm Bullion, and"
Yes, thought you was Bullion"
said Belcher dryly. as he sat down
again. We'll, I'm Belcher. Remem.
Der Belcher?'
"Oh, yes!"
Then why didn't you answer one O.
those four letters-hey? Didn't l ask
you politely to give me transfer to
some live station, or give me a good
raise If I had to stay here?"
''Why-they-they must have been
overlooked, l think" suffered the
other. T-meant to give them atten-
ton. of course. but"
But It wasn't worth while, Ell? L
was all right to leave me down here,
without even a human being to look at,
from early morning till late at night
Oh, 1t was all right! But it's got you
tied down good and tight now, and
by ginger, the express is ooming!"
Whatever your name Is, let me up.
I'll give YOU raise. I'll give you a
raise, to commence the day you took
the job. swear l Will! III"
"Oh. no. said Mr.. Belcher, who was
enjoying things with sweetly clear
conscience as he observed anew the
locked switches. you think it over in
the next world. See If flowers for the
Twin aren't better than flowers for
people you've killed of, and still made
'em keep on living"
Then, oddly, brakes began to scream
and hiss, and big train loomed up
from the west, slowed down and came
to stop.
Passengers were looking out of the
windows. They began pouring out
Right in front was Cousin Tom, who
drew a fat salary in the claims depart
ment. He gripped Belcher by the
shoulder and dragged him aside after
one look at the captive.
"Did-you-do-that? Cousin Tom
demanded in one word.
Certainly" said Belcher, calmly.
That's Bullion. He wouldn't give me
a raise. was playing a joke on him.
l."
"Shut up" Kissed the claims man.
That's no more Bullion that you are.
although he looks a little like him.
Buttons right over there in his pri-
vate car, reading paper Go crazy"
HUH" said Belcher.
"Wiggle, Wiggle, you IDIOT Throw
your arms about in the air Wiggle! !
say, wiggle."
Belcher wiggled. Indeed, he found 1t
amazingly easy to wiggle just then.
Cousin Tom was waving back the
people. He took a terrible, compelling
grip on Belcher
ITS all right. gentlemen. If one of
you'll please give me hand getting
him to the baggage car? It's all right,
sir, thank you He's Just gone tenn