The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-02
The Daily Short Story

Ralpha was happy as a June day
The signals were magic things. the
green and red and white lights that
pricked the darkness, the round
fare of the engine like a great
sunburst out of nowhere, the taper
ing threads of track, the puffs of
smoke and steam with the sunlight
playing on them, the shrieks of the
whistle. the big healthy rumble
and roar, the hurrying folks, way-
ing their hands, maybe, from hun
dreds of passing windows. o, it
was great! 1t got into Ralpha's
blood, just the way it had been in
tended that it should.
And, at the very start, the man
appeared. He had brand new Of
fee in the city five miles from
Brenton, and home in the coun-
try, three miles north. He drove a
brave, trusty car that slid through
the snow like a friendly bob, anu
from the day Ralpha took up her
new work, he always waited at that
Brenton crossing in the morning
for the up accommodation to plod
by, and in the evening for the down
accommodation. Naturally, he talk
ed with Ralpha, while she held the
stop" sign, and afterwards. Grad
u2lly they made astonishing plans,
as had also been intended. The
mans name was Norton. He was
large, dark, rich, had fascinating
business connections, and was OBJ
viously interested in Ralpha Thorn
as. He brought her books to read.
Ralpha was thrilled; read them
from cover to cover. 1t wasn't all
she did. Among other things she
signed a contract. o, things were
happening, all right.
Good work" said the station
agent to Ralpha. after the first
month-not about Norton's plans,
but about the way Ralpha tended
the crossing. Fine you got per-
mission for this-other business,
tool"
"Sh'hi" warned Ralpha. Mum
It's awfulIy good of the railroad,
OF course, but think OF the boost
it'll be for Brenton. And I'm not
neglecting my crossing"
The test-day came. 1t was after
noon, one minute before schedule
time for the 5 L6 express. 1t al
ways passed the down accommoda-
ton at Brenton or between Bren-
ton and the first station down the
line. 1t would pass at Brenton to-
night. Ralpha was ready for it.
standing erect, alert, the black
Stop" held firmly in her hands, a
new Jingle in her fngertips.
Up to the street .chugged the
TRNH Cfw
that Norton was as usual on time
to wait for the down accommoda-
ton. Down the street, riding his
white horse came Henry Jones.
Ralpha stood straight and small, |
stop" held high above her head. |
The express shrieked at the first
curve. Jones horse reared, the
brakes on Norton's car evidently
refused to work. 1t was Just as if
all the peryerse fates on earth were
gathering right there around that
brave Stop" to see to it that Raj |
pha's wish came true, and some !
thing happened
Something did,
After it happened, presto, Squire |
Thomas himself descended on the
scene. From the corner grocery he J
had been watching daughter and !
Norton and the down accommoda- !
ton more closely than anybody |
knew. Now he was right on hand. !
kicking the pieces of Norton's car |
out OF the way, SO he could get to /
Ralpha. and snatching her out OF !
several mems arms with worthy |!
vim As a matter of fact, however, /
Ralpha didn't appear to be hurt, |
and she did appear mightily-sur- !
prised, to say the least. |
20, dad. whatever did you have
to turn up now for?" she groaned.
Its all Norton's fault" glover
ed father. meaning the accident.
"I jumped" said Norton, cheer
fully. Not scratch
Worse luck!" raved father.
That Jones chaps to blame, then.
e he'd stuck 70 his Job in the first