Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-08-11
BY FREIGHT.
BY ALISON DRURY.

EiH BY ALISON DRURY. 5
COST 4
,geis pooooeeeoecceceeececeeSt
otcsa Upright. 1890. Western Newspaper Union.)
YOU Freight carried at passenger
n i'll Ped" was the advertised slogan Of
Dayton & Circle railroad. A single
SREN lex line traversing fifty miles once
RYA lay, Its one locomotive, two gondolas
ens7 three box cars swung around the
teeE circle taking in twelve small
J orr sns.
ghtI The D. 4 G. was private enter.
rot Use owned by wealthy business men,
functions simple, Its profits pre-,
htious. The train was manned BY
thesb engine crew only.
ap-h deck Pearce, an estimable young
that IN at Brompton, was In charge Of the
bes small freight house. He had
timed pc away on a vacation and visiting
venfht4n, Rodney Walton. had Temporal
nge5 Ftaken his place. The latter was a
Ang man of fortune and leisure and
Der enjoyed the novelty af real
Ek. He looked around from his
lk as footsteps echoed Then he
tled around. for a sweet-faced,
tht-eyed girl OF eighteen confronted
p with an eager, excited face.
PLEASE, wish to go to Fairville,'
spoke.
GB. Ton the Circle? Hardly" replied Rod
y, "you see, under our charter we
not allowed to take passengers.
Sere ia the Central"
onsI Yes, I know, but missed the ten
lul'sl 1ock train by three minutes and
q IRE isn't another until flve. And
arly }st be at Fairville by three, for !
to be bridesmaid to my dearest
End. Can't You take me- please?
stow me away In any odd corner
Rodney Walton shook his head in
nkeo kative.
sres tYou see, Miss, am only acting as
DusI substitute and have to obey orders.
aesssIbld on" added Rodney quickly, as
1870 applicant bordered tearfulness,
he took down book. mo pas
! Fingers. but--live stock. Let Us see.
here it Is, we take on''-pigs, he
Us going to say, but substituted
mbs, yes, little lambs"
Then why not II"
nan stBut they have to be Grated"
ID Then then crate me-" courageous
reans 6uggested Ada Morton. "Oh, must
ated be late at the wedding"
oney You would have to ride In q dusty,
/ lit fling freight car" Rodney advised
eour "And you would have to be
linb lgbed and tagged, just like piece
freight-impossible, young lady r
But Ada Morton was all the more
ermined. Rodney took cardboard
!!!!l;s I'M from pigeon hole. II would
ii 10 to write your name and destina-
I he declared, "and tie It to your
!. HI and schedule you as live stock at
i5 much pound"
:I But don't care, If you'll get me
II; ratyille and dear, waiting Elinor
MI yne!
he unique situation caused Rodney
bmile. He went into lumber room
i "a came dragging thence q light
III tmew0rk that had held piano lamp.
i carried this outside and thrust II
p the half loaded box car.
When, five minutes later, he helped
H Is Morton into the car, he had
R iced stool inside the upright crate.
E tied freight ticket to her arm
Hi loosely tackled thin piece a. hath
III across the frame.
M Not very luxurious" he commented.
III ron. It's just delightful" declared
IIR. .You dear, good mani And the
Afeity Of I'll"
! Afde left the car door partly opened,
3 bted himself on q box, small
tchel between his feet, and rather
Akgratulated himself for providing 30
feptably for the darling wishes Of
~ captivating young lady. who
bmed with grateful smiles.
The train did not halt until It had
kgreSsed over fifteen miles. 1t came
Han abrupt halt and Rodney went
he door and looked out
I4 Something out Of order with the en-
Ee," he explained. I'm go ahead
I'D find out what the trouble Is.
ase keep your eye on this, will
D7 and he moved the little satchel
IItr to Ada.
live minutes had elapsed, when Ada
). 1t forward, fixing her eyes upon two
lib emerging from some bushes. They
s=:yversed, exchanged revolvers and
i i!lill1 Of them ran to the car:
Hellow he calculated, staring won
2ngly, .who are your
I'm freight, please" announced Ada.
1t then the locomotive whlstled.
lney appeared.
Hands upr ordered the intruder.
y then, you produce the cash you
taking for the bank to Fairville"
Where is it," coolly submitted Rod
1.-THE Central does that by ex-
rs"
Well, we've got tip you're doing
Today. Satchel-twenty thousand
bars. Come, Product"
Search for yourself, II you're so
It's here" and In wonderment
)ney observed that the satchel had
appeared. The other ransacked
ing the boxes. Ada had arisen,
3hands clasped In real or assumed
br. The train started up. The baf-
road agent leaped outside mutter-
II fancy we got wrong steer"
Vas there twenty thousand dollars
he satchelT' asked Ada.
Yes, but where is it7'
Aintily Miss Morton drew aside