Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-02-03
YLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 3, 1928
The Conductor of
the Cannonball
tCopyrlght.l
By AID SCHUSTER

A III. Of Minden was astlr as 1t was
N every afternoon when the Cam
nonhal Express hesitated at the sta
ton long enough for Dolph Ackers,
conductor, to parade the platform,
hold mysterious converse with the
telegraph operator, and display what
was considered to be the finest uni
form on the line. Dolph was small
man made impressive by brlstling
white mustache and the startling ar
ray oi brass buttons which decorated
his blue suit. He was conductor or
the CunnOnball and the Cannonball
was the fastest train on the Weehawk
and Northern.
Leisurely Dolph walked the plat
form holding In his hands the orders
which must be showed under the win
dow to the telegrapher. The conduc-
tor smiled and waved In acknowledge
ment of Minden's homage. He glanced
ahead ut the cab and lost his easy air.
"Drat that durn englneerl He's
trying to hustle me again."
In fact the train had started. 1t
was crawling out Of Minden at a
snails pace. Dolph chucked his pa
pers under the window, grabbed the
new orders, and swung onto the train.
ceremony had been turned into pre-
cipltate scramble and all because Of
the engineer.
Hes Jealous, that's what" decided
Dolph. 'I'll teach him. Anybody ought
to know Pm getting too stout to be
running around after trains. Some
has figures for dignity and some for
speed. Mine Is the former"
The engineer persisted in worrying
the conductor. Dolph was sent lurch-
ing against seats when the train made
the curves and, to make It worse, with
each lurch would come derlsive toot
from In front.
plague take him, he's laughing at
me-" And indeed the whistling could
be interpreted as derision.
"Fll have you know I'm conductor
of this here train and you are not to
move without my ORDERS" Dolph, AT
the water tank, shouted his anger to
a grlnning young man in the cab.
"Are we full2" The engineer, ignor'
ing Dolph, addressed his fireman
"All right" And he pulled the lever
Once more the fat conductor scurried
as fast as his short legs would carry
him and once more he climbed aboard
spluttering man bereft Of his pre-
clOus dignity.
II was no ordinary anger Dolpf
Ackers took back with him to his sea
In the rear Of the day coach. The con
ductor was determined to have 1t out
to prove his supremacy on the line
The passengers may have noticed tina
his face was pink and his mustach,
twitched like the whiskers of rab
bit, but they could not know what I
was all about.
am get him when we get to tn,
end of the line I'll have 1t out.
Dolph repeated the words over ant
over and took comfort. He was tn,
boss and he knew It.
At the end OF the line the conductor
hurried home, removed his uniform o.
railroad authority, and became the
husband, father, head of the house
His chair was drawn up before the
fire. His pipe was placed on the
table and his slippers were ready. A
wondering wife noticed the absence
Of the usual smile.
"Where's Jlm2 Is he home yetT
"He's coming now, think"
''Send him in"
A huge young man numbered into
the room with the air Of schoOlbOy
caught playing truant. For moment
he grinned with an effort at good
humor. but his eye fell before the
gaze of the father.
Jaw, Dad, ! didn't mean anything,
Honest, was just trying to hustle
things up bit, for the good, for the
good Of the road"
Dolph Ackers, parent, was not
ready to forgive. Take off your coat
Now stand with your face to the
wall"
And the dignity and demeanor OF
the little man was such that Jim
Ackers, engineer no longer, but son
and small boy, obeyed. Mrs. Ackers
put her fingers to her ears as she
heard the blow.
"Oh, dear" she sighed, | wish Pa
wouldn't lick Jim any more. He's get.
ting TO be too big boy for that"
II Is worth ones time to 20 down
to the station In Mlnden when the
Cannonball pauses and see Dolph
Ackers, conductor, make a lelsureIy
most Of the occasion.