Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-26
FASHIONABLE FANCIES FOR THE WOMAN
The Daily StorH
A Mile a Minute

There was not better railroad tele-
graph operator on the line Of the w. and
w. road than Tim Mulligan, but for all
that he was out OF a Job half the time.
Tim had begun his career in Chicago as a
messenger boy and had worked up from
one place to another until he reached the
top, but there had been many intervals.
The trouble with him was that he was
no hero worshiper He refused to believe
that master mechanics, superintendent.
general managers and railroad presidents
were better than other men, and the en-
ploye who holds to that belief cannot
hold his Job at the same time.
In the course OF 10 years Tim was dis
charged seven times and seven times
he was taken back after he had loafed
around for couple of months. The
term for 1t In railroad parlanCe is sus-
pension without pay. In no instance
vas there cause enough to warrant put
ting his name on the blacklist. and Tim
had an affection for the w and w. road
and did not look for a position on any
other The seventh time he was taken
back he was sent down the line to a
wretched little station on half salary. He
had to be freight and passenger agent
and telegraph operator at the same time
He had been holding the position al
most two months when a crisis happened
There was an accident four miles UP the
road from his station, and an employe
was sent back to do tolegraphlng. He
found the office closed The hour for
closing was . o'clock, and It was now
midnight. Perhaps this part of 1t would
have been excused, but that night Tim
happened to be off to a dance with
crowd of young people.
Two days later the superintendent
arrived on a special train He was
showing a committee of the Legislature
over the road. on the same train was
a telegraph operator who had come down
to take Tins place. T,.e special had 20
minutes to wait that the run east might
he clear and the superintendent PER-
sonally saw to the transfer of the station.
Then he told Tim that he should never
click an instrument on that line again
As It happened. Tim had received his
nay the day before and was free to 60
where he would What he did was to
cross the tracks and take n seat on pile
of tics and wonder whether he should
turn navy or farmer The superintend-
ents train was to make a run OF 10 miles,
sdetrack for seven or eight minutes, and
then have clear run of 60 miles. Tim
could hear the new man clicking away
after the train had pulled out, and he
heard the word come back that 1t had
reached R and taken the sldetrack.
Three minutes later he was on his feet
and all attention
"Out of this. you spapeen." shouted
Tim as the frenzicd operator at Collins
Kent calling. "Out of iNiS az" '"i me
see what's the matter on the rails!'
Thirty seconds later he knew. II was
a wild locomotive which had passed him
one of the fastest engines on the road and
in charge of a crazy engineer.
wild locomotive; keep Supes train on
switch" were the words sent along to
them electricity won the race.
The Grafton operator had only a min
ute to prepare, but that minute was
enough. He halted the switchman just
as he was ABOUT to open the main line
and 10 seconds later the runaway came
along 1t was going a mile a minute and
better. The great engine rocked like ship
In a seawav. She seemed to gather her
self and take mighty leaps. 1t was like
a blazing meteor flying along the rails
and men were pale for half an hour after
she had disappeared Had she struck
tho special train of three cars she would
have powed her way through to the
tender.
.'Vild enEine-throw her off," was tele-
graphcd down to Stanton, and at stan
ton the flyer left the main track and went
blowing along and burst her boiler with
a sound that was heard for miles around.
Back al Collins, while she was standing
on the track ready to be coupled to
coming express train, her engineer had
got off a sick bed and taken possession.
He had made a run of 30 miles, but it
was his last ride. They found scraps OF
the engine, but not even scraps of the
man. The day after the accident Tim
was summoned to headquarters.
Mr. Mulligan," said the superintendent,
"I believe you were the agent down at
Davisburg?"
up to yesterday-yes, was the reply
"And then YOU lost your place for not
attending to business"
For not being at the station at mid
night when I was not supposed to DE
there, sir"
"Um! I believe we had few words
when the transfer was made yesterday"
We may have spoken about the
weather." smiled Tim
"Uml Well, let the weather alone after
this, Mr.. MullEan. It's a bad habit to
discuss the weather with your superiors.
I don't think the young man 1 took down
will do for the place"
Am / TO so back, sir?"
mo. They want you in Chicago, I he
leve, at your old salary. and I'll send
some one down to Davisburg who knows
a telegraph key from a crowbar That's
all, Mr.. Mullgan-good morning"
Copyright. 1879
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