Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-07-01
BY FREIGHT.
b ALISON DRURY.

-'A- ~ e9hApsf y filoh'J
Freight carried at passenger
speed, was the advertised slogan Of
the Dayton & Circle railroad. A single
track line traversing fifty miles once
9 day. its one locomotive, two gondolas
and three box cars swung around the
belt circle taking in twelve small
towns.
The D. & Q. was private enter
prise owned by wealthy business men,
its functions simple, its profits pre-
tentious. The train was manned by
the engine crew only.
Aleck Pearce, an estimable young
man at Brompton, was In charge Of the
one small freight house. he had
gone away on vacation and visiting
cousin. Rodney Walton, had Temporal
rily taken his place. The latter was a
young man Of fortune and leisure and
rather enjoyed the novelty af real
work. He looked around from his
desk as footsteps echoed. Then he
turned around, for a sweet-faced,
bright-eyed girl Of eighteen confronted
him with an eager, excited face.
PLEASE. wish to go to Fairvflle,"
she spoke.
"On the Circle? Hardly" replied Rod
ney, ''you see, under our charter we
are not allowed to take passengers.
There is the Central"
"Yes, / know, but 1 missed the ten
o'clock train by three minutes and
there isn't another until fve. And /
must be at Fairville by three, for
am to be bridesmaid to my dearest
friend. Can't you take me, please?
And stow me away in any odd corner"
Rodney Walton shook his head in
negative.
you see, Miss, l am only acting as
a substitute and have to obey orders.
Hold on" added Rodney quickly, as
the applicant bordered tearfulness,
and he took down a book. "No pas
sengers, but-live stock. Let us see.
Ali here it is, we take on''-pigs, he
was going to say, but substituted
"lambs, yes, little lambs"
'"Then why not I?'
"But they have to be Grated"
"Then-then crate me-" courageous
~ suggested Ada Morton. "Oh, must
not be late at the wedding"
you would have to ride in a dusty,
rafting freight car" Rodney advised
her. "And you would have to be
weighed and tagged, just like a piece
Of freight-lmpossible, young lady!"
But Ada Morton was all the more
determined. Rodney took cardboard
form from pigeon hole. II would
have to write your name and destina-
tion," he declared, "and tie It to your
arm and schedule you as live stock at
so much a pound"
'But don't care, II you'll get me
to FairvilIe and dear, waiting Elinor
Waynel"
The unique situation caused Rodney
to smile. He went into a lumber room
and came dragging thence a light
framework that had held piano lamp.
He carried this outside and thrust II
into the half loaded box car.
When, five minutes later, he helped
Miss Morton into the car, he had
placed stool inside the upright crate,
had tied freight ticket to her arm
and loosely tackled a thin piece of lath-
ing across the frame.
mot very luxurious" he commented.
"Oh, it's just delightful" declared
Ada. ''You dear, good mani And the
novelty Of It'll"
He left the car door partly opened.
seated himself on a box, small
satchel between his feet, and rather
congratulated himself for providing so
acceptably for the darling wishes Of
this captivating young lady, who
beamed with grateful smiles.
The train did not halt until 1t had
progressed over fifteen miles. 1t came
to an abrupt halt and Rodney went
to the door and looked out.
Something out of order with the en-
gine," he explained. "I1l go ahead
and find out what the trouble is.
Please keep your eye on this. will
your" and he moved the little satchei
near to Ada.
Five minutes had elapsed, when Ada
bent forward, fixing her eyes upon two
men emerging from some bushes. They
conversed, exchanged revOlvers and
one Of them ran to the car:
Hello y he calculated, staring won
deringly. who are your
'I'm freight, please, announced Ada.
Just then the locomotive whistled.
Rodney appeared.
Hands upY ordered the intruder.
Now then. you produce the cash you
are taking for the bank to Fairvllle."
where Is it?" coolly submitted Rod
ney, "The Central does that by ex-
press"
well, we've got tip you're doing