The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-29

R u W J
THE CONDUCTOR FOLLOWED
HIS GLANCE INTO THE CAR
nan exclaimed in honest horror.
"Sallie would have cut it off first, an
well ye know it,
81 know that" he assented wist
fully and picked up his hat from a
chair I've got to get on over to
Headquarters now. Ma and see the
Chief You'u try to get II little sleep
and take care Of yourself tomorrow
in case I don't run in?"
You've not got to get back on the
job again so soon? I thought the
Chief gave We a couple of days
more
1t isn't certain. Something came
up only tonight and may have to
go out Of town again 1 never can
tell how lOng these trips will take.
you know, and Of course I cant write
but III tell Jim Nolan to have his
mother come over every day and see
that you're not letting yourself break
down" He came over to her chair
and flung z boyishly affectlonate arm
about her shoulders. Ma, 1 wish
there was something I could say 70
you but-but I can't, only to beg you
to be fine and brave, and bear up as
well as Sallie herself would expect
Of you"
IN be all right, Michael. and it's
good Of You TO be botherin' about a
sad old woman like me- She reached
up and patted his cheek. You've your
work and your life before you, and
I've the fight with the railroad com
pany and the insurance people to take
up me mind so we'll just have 70 try
to 90 on III be missin' ye but wishin
We luck if We have to 60"
He kissed her and not trusting him
self to say any more. turned and
went out past the dark little parlor
to the front door. When he had
closed it behind him he went slowly
down the path to the gate and paused
there, leaning upon it and looking
up and down the struggling lane
At the right 1t terminated abrupt
~ at the railroad Bridge and only
ash-heaps and griny factories
doomed beyond, but tc the left after
reaching the end Of the row Of little
double horses it dwindled into a mere
path skirting vacant lots and boys 10
the suburban trolley line.
Mike thrust his hands in his peck
cts and with lowered head sauutered
slowly in that direction. A few
lamps still glimmered from the little
houses. bat the ones at the end Of The
row were deserted and falling into de
cay and the winding path lay in dense
darkness ahead
After a quarter Of a mile. however,
the rows Of lights marking the trolley
line came into view and as the hum
Of an approaching car reached his
ears Mike quickened his pace and
finally broke into a run. swinging
himself aboard the back platform just
in the nick Of time
Hello, George he exclaimed
triskly. You haven't got much of
a load going into town this trip
The lanky, rawboned conductor
followed his glance into the interior
Of the car. where only a few work
men returning from suburban 155s
slouched drowsily in the cross.seats
and responded grimly:
Its been busy enough these last
few days Sergeant. Folks from
miles around piled in to see the time
Ct handlin' the crowd. I tell you'll
Fercest thing ever hit Shaftstown.
/ Was you there?"
Not when it happened" Mike
! lighted a cigaret, but his hand
tremble6 and he forbore to look down
ward at the cleared tracks cleaning
below rs they rlttled onto the rail-
road bridge Were you on that
early shift Tuesday mcrninG?"
Just a-past here on the incoming
. trip Ike we are now, when the crash
/ Gomez There was a touch Of awe in
! the conductors tone. Pretty near
broke every winder in the car and
| then the explosion followed and be-
/ fore we got up to the town square
/ the glare back of US would've made
you think Roundhouse Lane and all
( the factories near was goin' UP In
smoke, tooi'
Ret you had a crowd when you
started back" Mike observed.
II Say ulu. his companion &C
/ quiesced with emphasis as they sped
on toward the lights of the town. Lot
II your boys from the station houses
and all the volunteer f1remen who
/ couldn't get to hang on to the engines
IL time. They all got off, though, at
the furthest end of the bridge and out
on the meadows beyond Roundhouse
Lane. Just where picked you UP to-
night got a fare of another sort;
first one off the wreck. I guess"
Injured?" Mike queried with as
sUmed carelessness.
We'll, she limped. and she was
! shakin so I could hardly help her
ABOARD and TO a seat. was scared
she'd topple over in a faint on my
hands but she didn't; Just sat there
coverin' her eyes az n to shut out
! the sight Of what she'd been through"
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