Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-06-22

the eight-hOur controversy in the fas-
cination of his work, that we have a
clear block between the next two sta
tions." Soon we were upon the green
light, and as we Numbered by the lit
tie station 1 could see the dispatcher,
at work over his keys, look out
through the window at us.
HE is telling the next station that
Number Eleven has just passed." said
Demmer.
in these men along the way, then,
we trusted. If one of them forgot TO
tell the next that we had passed, a
shambling string of freight cars might
be let into the block from the other
end. There were thousand 'ifs''
which might mean death for US, but
Demmer trusted the silent, isolated men
at the keys. And back In the coaches,
men and women were slumbering in
warmth and safety through the same
trust. In the city, the chief dispatcher
was watching our flight, mile by mile.
flash from him and we could be
stopped almost anywhere along the
Remember that cyclone we had last
summer that caught one of our trains?"
Demmer asked. / nodded, and he said:
well, she struck the train-Number
Five, | think it was-just down the
line way. I'll show you the place in
a minute
Just then we rOared across long
trestle over deep, marshy ravine.
This trestle was picked up by that
storm" Demmer said, land set down
there in the lake a hundred yards from
here, just after the train had crossed.
And here's where the train was when
the storm struck. Every window in
the cars was broken the engineer and
the fireman had to lie fiat on the bot
tom of their cab, while the wind took
the windows clear out. I'm glad we
don't have many cyclones on the road.
1.-THE officials are very careful about
that" Demmer added, with chuckle.
SIN a storm, or when the snow piles
up ahead of you and you've got to get
through it and make your schedule is
when we catch it. Or when it is pour
ing rain and we can't see two feet
ahead into the mist, we can't tell when
d freight train or stalled passenger
train may appear ahead-and we have
to know just where to pick out the
sidings, too"
The miles poured by us. An occa-
sional farmhouse doomed up along the
way, and slipped silently into oblivion
again as we leaped along.
Freight cars, and even strings of
passenger cars stood by the main line
again, all dark and empty. Green, red
and white lights began to appear In
confusion, and we slowed down little
by little. 1t was the end of the run.
Demmer became absorbed in his brakes
and levers, and l crossed over to the
fireman's side again.
He sat there. calm and controlled
bringing the train into the last mile.
Dockery opened the doors again and
the yellow white light of the fire threw
Demmer into relief against the cab
window. looked back at the trailing
train, the lights of the window max
ing pale shadows along the tracks.
Dockery went to a cabinet in the door
of the tender and took out big jug of
water to drink He with his water,
and Demmer with his pipe-a very hui
man picture. l thought, and what a
charge they had.
We parted, / to be taken by the
train, which we met there. back to the
city-to be one of the passengers in
the soft-cushioned, easy-riding cars,
trusted in the green star and the watch
ers in the cab.-J. III. Kinsella, in st.
Louis Globe-Democrat.