The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-01-11
BY 3. i. BAILEY.

No. @ was late. That was an UNI
usual happening ON the ID. & II. rail-
road and the division superintendent,
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 merrlly 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. 81"
shes thlrty-hve minutes late at AL
blon, 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 superlntend-
ent brusquely.
Don't know for sure, sir, but guess
| it's hot box" said Ryan, and the SUI
perlntendent continued his nervous
| walk up and down the platform.
Twenty-three miles away No. 9 was
whooping over the shining rails like
vestibule limited, although 1t was only
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
"way" train. But tonight No. Q 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 capacious NAV of the
/ engine. he. encouraged him to redo1S
bled efforts:
That's the stun. jack" he said,
.toss hef In and Wen make up q bunch
Of 1t anyhow"
| He got thus far In his chat and Jack
wds gFintIng 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 conyulsive
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 NATTER demanded the
einan. springing up to mis- side of the
cab, half ready to jump.
II don't know" said Kelly, peerfng
into the half gloom ahead of the train.
"but II someone isn't swinging red
light across the track down there, I'm
goat"
Fright you are" oaid the fireman,
"that's a red one all right. win we
make lit"
"Oh. yes; Wen stop before we get
there" said Kelly. confidently. "Won-
der what It is, rail broken or hold
upr' 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 itar 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
II Numbered to stop and stood pant
Ing while the conductor sprang of and
rnn ahead. There stood youth not
more than twenty-years old, doggedly
swinging a lantern while frightened
GIRL Of seventeen chung to his arm and
looked with wide eyes on everything.
whats the matter heref" demand
ed the conductor. aWhat are you flag
ging this train fort"
~we want to get aboard" said the
young man stoutiy.
aWhatq" shrieked the conductor" do
you mean to say you've stopped a way
freight that's forty minutes late Just
because you can't walt for the passen-
ger that comes through at ten o'clock2'
that's just 1t. sir" said the young
man with much dignity. I'VE can't wait
for the passenger. We want to 60 on
this train. You see. the fact Is" be
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."
ooh. no." interrupted the conductor,
IAN elopement, eh7 Well I'm darned
If don't like your nerve. Come on,
get aboard then. Don't delay us any
more than you have"
Five minutes later No. 9 was tearing
over the rails toward Hoopeston with
a pair of turtle doves Nesting In q
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.