The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-12-22
DELAY On TRAIL
BY q RI BAILEY.


standing on the little platform at
Hoopeston, waiting to take No. back
to his headquarters, was plainly an
noyed.
Superintendent Wheeler was not a
quick tempered man, but as he walked
up and down the Hoopeston platform
CHANGING at his watch from time to
time, anyone with half an eye could
have seen that he was not in an angelic
frame of mind. Inside the Office the
telegraph was ticking merri1y with
more railroad business and at length
Superintendent Wheeler thrust his
head In the door for the tenth time and
asked:
Anything new from No. 6Y'
"She's thirty-five minutes late at Al
bion, sir" replied Operator Ryan brisk
ly. They've made up eight minutes
time, SIR"
"Have you yet heard what's the mat
terT asked the division superintend-
ent brusquely.
"Don't know for sure, sir, but I guess
it's hot box" said Ryan, and the su-
perintendent continued his nervous
walk up and down the platform.
Twenty-three miles away No. 8 was
whooping over the shining rails like
vestibule limited. although It was only
a combination freight" lately invest
ed with the dignity Of badly frayed
passenger coach tagging on behind the
heavy box cars for the few passengers,
who desired the accommodation of
sway" train. But tonight No. 6 was
running on freight schedule. She was
more than 40 minutes late and as Joe
Kelly looked from his porch beside the
tever and saw his companion shoveling
coal into the capacious nav of the
engine, he encouraged him to redou-
bled efforts.
"That's the stuff, Jack" he said,
"toss her in and wen make up bunch
Of 1t anyhow"
He got thus far IN his chat and Jack
was grunting assent from his dusty
place among the Jumps of coal when
the engineer surrenly stood upright
and leaned halfway out of the cab
window Then with convulsive
movement he threw the lever clear
over and shut off the steam. An In
slant later the sharp bark Of the whis-'
tie calling for brakes" awoke the
echoes.
whats the matter" demanded the
fireman, springing up to his side of the
cab, half ready to jump.
ST don't know" said Kelly, peering
into the half gloom ahead of the train,
''but If someone isn't swinging red
light across the track down there, I'm
a goat"
Fright you are" said the fireman,
"that's a red one all right. VIII we
make it?"
"Oh, yes; Wen stop before we get
there said Kelly, confidently. "Won-
der what 1T is, rail broken or hold
up?" The conductor, who had been
alarmed by the whistle for brakes and
the grinding of the iron shoes against
the wheels, came running over the tops
of the freight cars and clambered over
into the cab.
"What is it," he demanded.
s'Don't know" said Kelly, "take
peek yourself. Red light ahead
The train had begun to slacken speed
by that time and was fast approaching
the slowly swinging lantern. At last
1t Numbered to a stop and stood pant
ing while the conductor sprang off and
ran ahead. There stood youth not
more than twenty-years old, doggedly
swinging lantern while frightened
girl of seventeen chung to his arm and
looked with wide eyes on everything.
whats the matter here?" demand
ed the conductor. 'What are you flag
ging this train fort"
"We want to get aboard" said the
young man stoutly.
".What?' shrieked the conductor" do
you mean to say you've stopped way
freight that's forty minutes late just
because you can't wait for the passen-
ger that comes through at ten o'clock?"
'"That's just it, sir" said the young
man with much dignity, 1--WE can't wait
for the passenger. We want to go on
this train. You see, the fact u.s. he
went on growing confidential and TAX
ing a tighter hold on the little arm
hanging in his, we're going to town to
get married"
"Oh, ho,' interrupted the conductor.
IAN elopement, Ell? Well, I'm darned
If I don't like your nerve. Come on,
get aboard then. Don't delay US any
more than you have"
Five minutes later No. 6 was tearing
ever the rails toward Hoopeston with
a pair of turtle doves nesting in a
double seat in the passenger coach.
Superintendent Wheeler had his speech
all ready when the train slowed up at
Hoopeston The conductor swung off
and touched his hat.
Hot box at Penway Junction, sir, !"
he explained. We've made up four
teen minutes"
'sWhat was that other stop for, re-
ported by the operator at High Ridge"
demanded the superintendent. Weren't
you late enough without stopping for
passengers?"
"Elopement. sir" explained the con-