The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-06-11

Of the monkeys danced a war-dance
on the window sill.
"It's fine wind-up," Hank esti-
mated, with a grin.
The girl was puzzled. "What do you
mean?"
"Pm quitting-that's all. 1 wrote the
bloomin' president of their road that
Pm through"
But why?" she had to know.
why? Because of you. We could
never live on the pay I'm getting in
this hole. It's you, Mollie, dear Oh,
stop that racket, you ring-tailed
balloons
But at that instant came another
sound. 1t was long-drawn shrek,
echOing about among the hills.
"Good Lord" Hank cried. "The G.
Heaven knows howv'
Only one thing remained, but he
was too late.
Even as he turned to dash upstairs
for his lantern third blast cut the
air, and he heard the barking roar of
the engine die away.
In its place was the grind Of the
brakes as their flanges bit the wheels.
He gazed, stupefied. Suddenly he
remembered those lever-throwing
apes.
| Saved" he burst out almost hys-
terically. They've set the signal at
danger!
| LNr.nVt ~ hvtn tlxy hnh tnd
cars knot of men jumped down and
ran swiftly across the tracks.
"What in the name of the Gadarene
swine" shouted the first on the plat
form, "dyOu mean by holding up my
special? Who gave you orders?'
Any awe Hank might have had for
the general manager was swept from
him.
Monkeys" he answered CURLY.
"Whatv The rest Of the official
statement was mercifully indistinct.
He turned now to the girl for the first
time.
rs the man crazy, or just plain
drunkT'
Neither" she retorted, land II you
knew what he'd gone through for your
| old railroad you wouldn't be insulting
him now!'
perhaps you would be kind enough
to explain this talk about monkeys
giving him his ORDERS" came the G.
Ms. whitening fire.
Hank took up the burden. "YOu can
see for yourself" said he, "if you
look at the tower"
They all looked.
The whole ships crew of simians,
attracted by the arrival Of the train,
had gathered in the windows, their
bodies silhouetted against the light
in the room.
snow" Hank went on, perhaps
you'll believe me. They came-three
of 'em-about an hour or so ago. ]
didn't pay much attention, because
I thought they'would get tired and run
away. So"
Hold on" broke in a gray-haired
man with hard eyes. Monkeys, young
man, don't grow in this part of the
world"
"Yes, they do" the operator patient
ly explained. There's farm about
three miles north of here, where they
keep all sorts of wild beasts. AS | was
saying l didn't mind the three until
they began running about the tower
and trying to throw the levers like
they'd seen me do. Then more Of 'em
dropped in. chased 'em. One put the
wires out Of business, and"
~ see," said the gray-haired man,
whose eyes were now twinkling bit
''they made monkey out Of you.
Well, gentlemen, we'd better drive out
the foe and get the railroad In opera
ton again. Here-all of you!-grab
sticks or anything that's handy and
mount to the siege. Come ont"
But at the tremendous racket Of the
attacking party as It climbed the
stairs, the garrison. with cries of ter
rOr, broke ranks. Head over heels they
piled out of windows and raced away,
medley Of waving tails and scamper-
ing feet.
MY word" sighed the president as
he sank into the only chair and held
his sides. 81 haven't had so much fun
since the cat came home! Halo!
What's this?"
In his hand was the operators let
ter, blotted by the tracks of monkeys
which had raced across the table.
Hank, trembling, and with Mollie's
hand in his own, nodded bravely as the
officials eyes bored into his.
Resign" snorted the great man.
His eyes, now suddenly softened, rest
ed for moment on the girl, who grew
scarlet. Hum Seems to me you need
a job now more than ever"
81 had another chance, sir. with a
firm in Kansas City," Hank began,
land the pay here is so small"
"Pay? Is that sl' the trouble? Here,
George" the official queried, "any-
thing against this mans record?"
".