Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-11-18
just in Time
By WALTER }. DELANEY
t0. 1899. western Newspaper Union.l


church guild and being acquainted
with Norma Ellis that Veita Linn Sc
cured her first position. Work and
earning had become a necessity with
Veita, for her father was past bust
ness activity and she and her younger
brother. Howard willingly stepped into
the breach. Miss Ellis was a daugh-
| ter Of the manager Of the railroad
yards at LuptOn. She had grown to
very much admire and esteem the
modest, helpful young girl, who did
her part In sewing. creche work and
visiting sick and poor, and Miss Ellis
looked interested and encouraging
when Veita spoke of looking for a
position.
''This is my brother, Howard, Miss
Linn" she said to Veita some days
later when they met a well appearing,
pleasant looking young man who ac-
knowledged the introduction ALMOST
cordially.
Norma has told me about your am
bition to do for yourself" he spoke,
land will be glad to assist you. We
have a place open in the switch yards
as timekeeper. The Office force is full
and that is all that offers just now"
II shall be glad Of any employment
to get started" said Veita.
A letter came to Veita next day from
the superintendent Of the yards asking
her to call at his Office He explained
to her the duties required of her,
which consisted in the occupancy Of
an Office in a low one-stOry building
almost in the very center Of the busy,
bustling yards. Here she was to be
from eight in the morning until four in
the afternoon, checking over the tick
cts given to the makeup and switch
ing force and keep a record of the
same and make regular weekly re-
| port. The work was not arduOus /;
| there was constant activity about her
and the pay was good. Within a week
Veita thoroughly understood the rOu-
tine, was pleasant with the grimed
workers who brought her their tickets
and the yard men made favOrite Of
her and welcomed her presence among
! them.
Howard Ellis passed her little box
of an office several times a day and
always halted for moment or two
to speak a friendly word. One day
at noon he found her outside strOlling
for exercise along some dead track
way and engaged her in general con-
versatlOn.
Were you ever in locomotive
cab, Miss Linn2" he asked 'No? Nat
uralIy not There is an idle engine on
the circle rail and the way clear for a
dash around the yards Come, am
going TO teach you how to operate
the clumsy old machine, just to show
you how simple it Isl
Veita passed a delightful half hour
in such pleasant company and she
was quite proud when, after Ellis had
instructed her as to handling the lever,
she was able to make quite a dash
on her own initiative. She was proud
of her newly acquired accomplishment
and It stood her in good stead later
and nightly affected her future.
1t was late afternoon one day a week
after that. There had been some. trou-
BILE among the workers and only half
work was being accomplished. Veita
had nothing to do until quitting time
and sat looking from the open office
window when she gave a great start
She had observed a car labeled "pOw.
der" standing since morning near the
end of short switch ending in a deer
dumping pit half filled with water
and had overheard a switchman re
mark that it was pretty dangerous
stuff to have among the great mass
Of freight on other tracks.
At little distance from it was q
small switch dummy, steam up, but
no one in charge for the time being
n Beyond It were half a hundred meI
busy among the regular lines of cars
Veita had noticed Ellis giving direc
tons among them.
In an instant, pale of face anC
quivering in every limb, Veita spranl
to her feet. She did not use the door
way but hurried out through the win
dow, for thepowder car was all on fir,
underneath. The result of a stray
spark of fire or the act Of some dis
gruntled workmen, at any momen
wide, fatal peril might overcome al
> If the explosive material stored In tn,
car was ignited
Veita raced for the little switch en-
CINE. She sprang into the cab, ran I
forward against the powder car, pu
on full steam and FIVE hundred fee
accomplished drove it toward the pi
and halted the engine not twenty fee
from the pit, over the edge of whicI
the powder car plunged. Then. daze,
breathless, she sat spelIhound. Their
was frightful defamation but harm
less to the precious lives about. TO
: the bottom of the pit alone had fel
the results of the explosion.
She must have tainted. for she wa
in the arms of Howard Ellis, being car
ried to the little office. when she agall
opened her eyes to meet his. And the
were fulI Of pYnressfon that fbrilloi