Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-10-25
DELAY ON TRAIL
BY 8. n. BAILEY.

road and the division superintendent,
standing on the little platform at
Hoopeston, waiting to take No, 6 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
gancng ut 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 merrily with
more railroad business" and OF length
Superintendent Wheeler thrust his
head in the door for the tenth time and
asked:
Anything new from No. 81"
"Shes thirty-five minutes late at Al
bon, sir" replied Operator Ryan brisk
ly. They've made up eight minutes
time. sir"
"IIave you yet heard what's the mat
teri" asked the division superintend-
ent brusQuely.
Don't know for sure, sir, but guess
it's hot box" said Ryan, and the SUI
perintendent continued his nervous
walk up and down the platform.
Twenty-three miles away No. 6 was
whooping over the shining rails like a
vestibule limited although it was only
a combination freight" lately invest
ed with the dignity Of a badly frayed
passenger coach tagging on behind the
heavy box cars for the few passengers,
who desired the accommodation of a
way" 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
lever and saw his companion shoveling
coal into the capaeious 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 it anyhow"
He got thus far in his chat and Jack
was grunting assent from his dusty
place among the humps 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.
81 don't know" said Kelly, peerlng
into the half gloom ahead of the train,
'but if someone isn't swinging red
light across the track down there, I'm
goat
Fright you are" said the fireman,
that's a red one all right. WIN we
make itT
"Oh, yes; Wen stop before we get
there said Kelly, confidently. "Won-
der what it is, rail broken or a 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 ever the tops
of the freight cars and clambered over
into the cab.
''What is it?' he demanded.
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
it Numbered to a stop and stood pant
ing while the conductor sprang off and
ran ahead. There stood a youth not
more than twenty-years old, doggedly
swinging a lantern while q frightened
girl of seventeen chung to his arm and
looked with wide eyes on everything,
whats the matter hereY demand
ed the conductor. "What are you flag
ging this train for?"
ave want to get aboard" said the
young man stoutly.
"What?" shrieked the conductor" dc
you mean to say you've stopped a way
freight that's forty minutes late just
because you can't wait for the passen-
ger that comes through at ten o'clockT
''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 is" ne
went on growing confidential and TAX
ing a tighter hold on the little arm
hanging in his, we're going to town 10
get married"
"Oh no. interrupted the conductor,
IAN elopemeut. eh? Well, I'm darned
IL / 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
over the rails toward Hoopeston with
a pair Of turtle doves nesting in
double seat in the passenger coach.
superintendent Wheeler had his speech
all ready when the train slowed up at
Hoopeston. The conductor swung of
and touched his hat.
Hot box at Penway Junction, sir"
he explained. We've made up four
teen minutes"
What was that other stop for, re-
ported by the operator at High Ridgelr
demanded the superintendent. Weren't
you late enough without stopping for
paSsengersT