The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-15
JERRY'S EMERGENCY
BY r GARIBAtpI.

BY MARTIN GARI6AtpI. .
Jerry was the new night operator at
Jamestown, back in old Kentucky, In
the early days Of the Cincinnati South
err. Jerry was Enthusiastically new. The
manner In which he counted over the
carbon sheets in his train-order pads.
to be sure that be had a sufficient
supply Of three Eve and seven copy
pads on hand to aeeef the demands OF
q sudden call from the dispatcher, to
whom the word "hx" was an abomina-
ton, and the nicely with which he ad-
justed his relays from time to time,
indicated his newness plainly: II there
had been any doubt about 1t. his puz-
zled expression as he scanned the
switchboard, his surreptitious trials OF
the ground-plug IN each strip to ascer-
tain which side was north and which
south. and his frequent trips to the
station platform to inspect his train
order signal. would have proclaimed It.
Jerry wal new clear down to his
shoes, which squeaked suggestively as
he moved about tho once attending to
his duties.
He had recently been promoted to
the position Of ticket seller and night
operator at this old blue grass town.
from S~adieville, the water tank station
n miles north, where hfs duties had
been conined to the routine OF report
ing passing trains, an occasional train
order, and sweeping out the office IN
the morning.
Jerry was on the rise. He felt It,
and thirsted for greater things. His
chief ambition was to rise in the serv-
Ice. How to obtain the coveted ad-
vancement had become an all-absorb-
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 q cat. Probably the
quickest way Is to keep your wits
about you, and when an emergency
comes along grab hold of It and handle
It"
Jerry eagerly drank in these words
Of wisdom as they fell from the lips OF
the road master. This was a new
phase Of tho 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 one thing needful to bring
him favorable official recognition. f.,
With the enthusiasm of youth, he
resolved that II ever an emergency
came his way. he would be right there
to meet It. As a natural sequence, as
q means to an end. Jerry began to long
for the emergency. The longing in
tensifed itself until the very inner
most recesses of Jerry's soul cried out
for an emergency.
It was on the night Of the memor.
able Charleston earthquake. No. 10.
north-bound freight, had pulled noisily
down the long siding. and settled for q
drowsy wait for No. S, south.bound
passenger, with the engine standing
Just opposite the telegraph Office win
dow. The silence was broken only by
the occasional chugchug OF the air
pump
Jerry was beguiling the time by
alternately practising the letter P on
q closed key and listening to passing
messages going ver the through wire.
He had just succeeded in rounding
out q P to his entire satisfaction,
when he was startled by hearing Mert-
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, q low
Yumbling sound struck his ear. The
window panes began to vibrate and
the ssshes to rattle.
Jerry sprang to his feet with
blanohed face and shaking limbs. sick
ening fear gripping at his heart There
flashed acr6ss his excited brain a
vision Of toppling buildings. and HIS
first impulse vaa to fly to Che open
air.
But with that Hash there anne an
other mental picture Of swaying
bridges, falling trestles. upheaved
track and twisted steel.
He must stick to his post and give
the alarm For q moment, q feeling
Of citation, almost Joy. struggled with
his fear. as he realized that at last an
emergency had come.
He grasped the key with trembling
fingers, called up division headquar.
terra clicked of the fateful wo: 1s.
Earthquake here" signing his OF q
call. and then, wild terror %grasping
him again and winging his feet, he fed
panicstricken from the room.
AS he emerged from tho depot build
ing he electrified the engine crew by
screaming at the tob Of his voice:
"EarthQuakel Earthquakes coming!"