Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-03-12

the window to see the switch-lights
of the Centerpoint-yard twinkling in
the darkness.
Here's where l get off" ne said.
Il suppose Burton was a guest of
the state for a term" pursued the ex-
railroad man, also rising.
No, he wasn't" denied the super
intendent, putting on his overcoat.
The old mar and Tom fixed it up be-
tween them to keep the matter quiet
and give Burton another chance.
He wrote to a friend of his some
where u West that he wanted Ed
placed, and in a weex or so Ed packed
up his wife and baby and followed
the letter. never heard of him aft
er that Well, good-by; I'm glad to
have met you"
Same to you. Guess I'll go to bed"
returned the ex-railroad man, follow
ing him out into the passage.
The superintendent descended to
the platform and walked toward the
tall frame building that housed the
division headquarters. At the foot
of h long stair he halted a moment
and looked at the big mogul that was
standing on a siding attached to a
long train of all sorts and conditions
that made up No. 85, then turned and
climbed to the Office on the second
floor.
N IS going to get out on timer"
ne asked of the night dispatcher, who
was bending over the train sheet at
the long instrument table.
She's following No. 3 out on time,
but | don't know how long she'll stay
that way. with a green fireman trying
to feed that ten-wheeler. Kelly says
Gordon's kicking like a bay steer at
the M. M. for turning his engine into
a family kindergarten. and don't
blame him much, for John Sharkey
was a good man and had been with
Gordon going on three years.
Kelly says it's open gossip at the
roundhouse that the old man let
Sharky out just to make a place for
his brother"
L can't say as to that" Officials
can be supremely noncommittal at
times. Better give IS a slow-up or
der past Camden; there's two cars of
dynamite on the siding there" he con-
cluded as he passed into his office.
No. 8 stopped at Camden long
enough to permit the portly gentleman
to alight from the rear Pullman, and
then her red taillights were blinking
away like two baleful eyes in the dis.
lance. The portly gentleman looked
up at the darkened station, down the
siding at the dim outlines of two box
cars, then scanned with a quick turn
of his head the few scattered houses
that had managed to get close enough
together on the hill behind the sta
ton to call themselves a town.
He picked up his grip and started
toward them, when he noticed a darl
form skulking in the shadow of the
building.
Hastily c%rouching at the end of the
high platform, he saw a man stea
down to the track, cast a furtivt
glance about him, and then move eau
tiously to the switch-stand, where ht
deliberately smashed the lock with {
co~upling-pin-
He had thrown the switch and was
turning the light SO that a white
CLEAN fickered to the rails, when the
portly gentleman leaped upon hin
and pinioned his arms in a powerful
grasp.
The portly gentleman pushed hin
backward to the edge of the platform
where he lay moaning. He sat VI
presently and looked at his captor.
4 must have been mad to think o
such a thing" he said brokenly, witt
a helpless wave of his hand towart
the hill. I've been shaving for hv,
long years to make good to that Lit
tie woman up there who believed il
me, and then to get showed out tt
make room for the old mans rela
tions-I-it-Oh, you can't under
stand! And now-now, l suppose II
have to go over the road for it"
The strong arm that held him II
it's viselike grip now stole gentl.
across his SuOulu6TS, anu Iu0 VOlC
that spoke was unsteady with emo
: ton.
"Oh, yes, | do, my boy. / know al
J about it, and l guess the only roa'
, you'll go over will be the Transconti
| mental, when you go back West witt
me. have some mines out there, an
a few miles of railroad that are al
my own. guess we can find 3 plac
j for you where o can make good, al
right. I'm visiting some friends her
| for a few days, and we car get te
gether and talk it over"
! The long. wailing shrek of a loco
motive was heard far down the track
and the trembling CLEAN of a head
t light transformed the rails into gil.
. tening ribbons of steel.
Get down there quick and fix tina
: switch, and then we'll go and find tn
little woman"
My names John Sharkey," said tn
man. as they moved slowly toward tn
hill. May l ask yours?"
e Burton" said the other shortly.