The Wahpeton times., 1917-12-27
DELAY on TRAIL
BY q. Il. BAILEY.

No. walls l0te. Ihat was an un.
usual happening on the d. & II. rail.
f0nd and the division superintendent
standing on the little platform at
Hoopeston, whiting to take No. 6 back
to his headquarters, was plainly an.
noyed.
Superintendent Wheeler was not q
quick tempered man, but as he walked
up and down the Hoopeston platform
glancing 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 merrily 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. 8?''
"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.
teri" asked the division superintend.
ent brusquely.
Don't know for sure, sir, but 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. 6 was
whooping over the shining rails like u
vestibule limited, although it was only
a "combinatlon 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 q
sway" train. But tonight No. + was
running on freight schedule. She was
more than 40 minutes late and MS Joe
Kelly looked from his porch beside the
lever and saw his companion shoveliny
coal into the capaciOus NAV Of tine
engine. he encouraged him to ret;ou-
bled efforts.
"That's the stuff. Jack" he said,
"toss her in and We'll make up IL bunch
Of it 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.
stant 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.
II don't know" said Kelly, peering
into the half gloom ahead of the train,
but II someone isn't swinging red
light across the track down there, I'm
q goat"
"Right you are" said the fireman,
"that's Il red one all right. Will we
make it?"
"Oh, yes; we'll stop before we get
there" said Kelly, confidently. "Won-
der what it is. rail broken or Il 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.
''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 thundered to 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 Il lantern while frightened
girl Of seventeen clung to his arm and
looked with wide eyes on everything.
"What's the matter here?" demand
ed the conductor. "What are you flag
ging this train fort"
1--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 ut ten O'clock?"
AuuI Jusl ~, Slt, StlN tAc SOuuS
man with much dignity, 1--WE can't wait
for the passenger. We want to 60 on
this train. You see, the fact u.s." he
went on growing confidential and TAX
ing tighter hold on the little arm
hanging in his, 'we're going to town to
get married"
"Oh, he," interrupted the conductor,
''an 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
over the rails toward Hoopeston with
q pair Of turtle doves nesting in
double seat In the passenger coach.
Superintendent Wheeler had his speech
all ready when the train slowed up ut
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 Ridge7"
demanded the superintendent. weren't
you late enough without stopping for
~ vassonperar