Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-12-07
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 7 1928
The Slim Princess
Wins
BY AID ScHUSTER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(Copyright.l

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(copyrightl
TED WILLIS leaned out Of the
- Slim Princess and waved hand
at Larry Williams, driver of the stage.
There was triumph In that salute and
farewell, too, for Jed believed, as did
all the countryside, that the day was
coming when the railroad would ear
ry the mail and take away the last
excuse for Larry and his mules
Pop Saxton has put In his bid
for the mall" Jed reasoned, and
whatever Saxton goes after he gets.
It's wonder to me some Of those
big lines don't go after him for su-
perintendent."
Pop SaXton, general manager Of the
Eureka and Palisades railroad Its
nine locomotives, and sixty miles of
rail, was not so certain. True, he
had his bid In, but the government
was saying the price was too high
"They want to cut 1t plumb In
twO," he unused. take all the profit
Don't they realize I'll get the stun de-
livered whole day ahead Of Lnrryf
Aren't they willing to pay for scrv-
icep He rubbed the dirt Off Of
small patch Of window pane that he
might look out, sure sign he was
troubled.
Larry continued to carry the mall
on the stage and Imposing govern
ment letters and documents cOntln
ued to arrive at the Office of Pop Sax.
ton.
they'll make me carry It, will
they? Gosh, I'm up against the
whole Post Office department and this
here railroad is the center OF most
important political controversy"
Pop spread out a newspaper be-
fore him and read with relish. "The
post master general is going to send
a special representative out here to
see that the mail Is given ride on
the Slim Princess. II has become
test case and everybody in the de-
partment and, you might say, the
whole railroad world, have their eyes
WI pui huliuW NntW
Again he gave himself to thought.
Let me know, will you" he said
to the hotel clerk that evening
whenever any stranger shows up
from Washington, d. c."
Sure, I'll bring him over and In.
trOduce you" ...
~ said let me know. Maybe
haven't any time to talk to strangers"
And Pop went his way.
In time the stranger arrived, sig
mailing his coming with orders to Lar
ry Williams to cease carrying the
mail. The stranger was brisk and
competent. Within an hour he knew
the lay Of the land and was prepar-
Ing his move in the game. Stacked
on an express wagon the sacks Of
mail were carried on trot to the
station that they might be piled into
the mail coach behind the trusty Slim
Princess. pride locomotive Of the
nine. There was the mail coach,
Open-doored and expectant but up In
front there was no engine. The
stranger waited. He looked up and
down the track and at his watch, then
grew reflective.
A hnlf hour later he visited the
round house and wondered at the alb.
sence OF life whereabouts. The doors
were closed and locked. SO was the
office OF Pop SaxtOn.
"What kind OF railroad Is thlsf
lie found at last sleepy ticket
agent. Here have the mail and
mn order that It be carried over the
line, and there Is no superintendent
and no engines. Isn't there anyone
to complain n the train doesn't leave
on schedule"
"Whatever we did" the agent IN.
swcred reslgnedly, they would com
plain. guess II will be no worse
than usual" And he started poking
at cObwebs on the ceiling with the
handle Of his broom
The stranger waited. He waited
two days. Then he sought Larry
Williams and hastened the belated
mail to Its destination. Wires passed
between him and Washington and
complaints came In. Wasn't there
promise Of railroNa mail delivery and
now wasn't the whole blame railroad
out OF business. Then somebody In
Washington, perhaps an amused post.
master general, signed an order and
brought relief to the stranger.
"Fly your signal or do whatever II
Is you are to DO he said to the
ticket agent. Anyway, let the su
perlntendent know the government
has come to his terms. We've got to
get that mail through"
Pop Saxton WIS back on the job
before the stranger left, and the lat
ter could not restrain his curiosity
"Oh! met" Pop looked his surprise
Mt the question. a went fishing Just
locked up the rolling stock and tool
little time off. The fish are biting
mighty good at this time OF the year