TIllO OMAHA BATLY IMS 13 r.STTTT1TAFEBRUARY ) IK , 18)7. { )
2
&
I The Mysterious Message.
.
ny CY WARMAN.
t ( Copyright , U07. liy Cy Warmr.n. )
Any one could eo by the air ot Indtistr ;
that pervaded Inn place that somcthlm
unusual wan RoltiR on , IJvcrybody was busy
lttl ! <
noisy
Three or four swltcb engines
tugs of the rail were pulling and snortlni
amid ( he aoa of cars that covered the frclgh
janls. Down at tlio roundhouse the da ;
foreman , In a newly \vashed stilt of over
clothes , hurried to and fro with crumplei
copies of telegrams from the trainmaster
The boss wiper , with his gang , was clearlni
the circle lu front ot the house of dirt ;
wnsto and lumps of coal. One of the mei
was sweeping the turntable with a nov
cnplno came by with i
brooln. Now a yard
iirghly painted mall car , and another fol
lowed It with a mlle or so of empties , re
mlndlns you of a little black ant at one cm
of n fish worm.
The superintendent had gone Into th <
dispatcher's ofnco to talk with the trainmaster
for No.
master about n meeting point
and the president's special. This was tbj
now president , who , with the chairman o
the board of directors , was making his firs
tour of Inspection.
Bvcry one must be busy without appear
Ing to try to be. The section bo s saw tha
each man was at hla shovel , and waved i
"slow" signal himself to show thn oinnlnl
that they had been doing something to tin
track. The roadmaster bad gnnn out tha
morning , orciipylng a camp stool on the rca
platform of No. 8.
All Ihcfc things combined to allow to tn
most capual observer that romeUilng was U )
In the face of every olllcer of thp road nt till
particular point there was a look ot anxletj
ac though he might bo repeating :
He'll cut mo oft or let mo slny ,
.Iimt as he hnpimns to feel toilny.
The division superintendent wlia had Jus
gone Into the dispatcher's ofllco was an ex
ceptlon to the rule that all subordinate oin
cl.ils are afraid of a new management. II
knew his liuslnpKS , and knew lie could g
with the rctlilng malinger to another loail
The train master was of a different casiC
He was as nervous as n maiden lady In he
Ill-si htocle suit. Having sent the "trick' '
man away , ho was handling the trains him
Kolf , to tnako euro that everything wn
0. K.'d.
"I sent a girl over hero yesterday a :
operator" ? ald the suppilntcmlcnt , afte
they .had fixed the meeting point , "and yoi
cent her away. I have Instructed her to cal
hero again thlH mornlim , nml I hop ? yo
will be gtod enough to pui her to work. He
father was the engineer who was killc
when the fast mall unnt In the ditch on th
cast end , and she Is the only support he
mother baa. "
The trainmaster mumbled something abou
the company running unnecessary risks fo
charity's sake , when the superintendent cu
him oft with the Information that there wane
no charity about It. It was just an act o
simple juttlce and decency , and bo hope' '
the trilnmufcter would not only give the gli
something to do , but that he would tak
especial care ot her and keep her out o
trouble. The man at the key said he voul
endeavor to find a iilnco for her , but h
positively refused to bo responsible for hei
"Then , sir , " said the ouparliitcndent , "
shall ccuse to be responsible for you , " am
there followed a sccno In the mldbt of whlcl
o Palo girl slipped Into the room and sanl
upon a seat outside the railing unobscrvei
by cither of the angry officials.
The superintendent , after pacing the roon
n time or two , paused at one of the window
overlooking the yards. Tha president's spe
cial had for the moment been forgotten b ;
the dispatcher , who now turned to the kc ;
to send tlie order for the meeting.
Still smarting from the effect of the til
with his chief , his mind was disturbed.
Thp olllce was now as still as death , sav
ior the clicking o'f the keys and the slov
measured ticking of the great clock abov
the dispatcher's desk the clock that markci
tlmo for all the clocks on the ontlio system
I'reeo.itly the dispatcher Jerked the key opsi
and began to call Westcreck , and when h
got them said :
"Train No. 8 , Conductor Smith , will tak' '
siding for special west engine 88 at Kast
creek. "
Now ho began calling the operator a
Lookout siding , and when lie answered thi
dispatcher shot him an order that almos
burned the wire.
"Special west , engine 88 , will meet trail
No. 8 at Westcreck. "
The palo girl sprang to her feet. Tin
dispatcher turned and saw her , and whet
ho realized that she must have overhenn
the quarrel between the superintendent am
himself his anger rose against the inno
cent young woman , and the other ofllclnl
seeing their embarrassment , quit the roon
by a sidedoor. .
"Mr. Goodlough , you've made a grea
mistake , " said the girl.
"Have I ? " shouted the trainmaster , "am
do jou expect a salary for correcting
mo ? "
"Look at jour sheet. You've "
"What ? " yelled the man. "Do you meat
to "
"l'"or heaven's sake , man , " pleaded tin
I ASSUIIRD HIM THBHE HAD 11EBN I
COLLISION ON TUB UOAU FOK OV1
A YEAII.
plrl , "sea whal you've done look nt t' '
clock there'll bo a collision In less th
ten minutes. You'll be a murderer If y
fall to save those trains. "
"Yoti'ro about as crazy as they gel
said dispatcher , nml really she look
llko a mad woman , with her big eyes bur
Ing In her pule face. Ot a sudden s
Uirncd , darted out of the oillcu and n
down the stairs na uu actress quits a bur
Ing hotel.
"She's a bird In n telegraph olllco , " mi
torcd the trainmaster going back to 1
dusk. "Ah , well ! I'm sorry for her n
glad olio's gone. I presume she's lost 1
mind grieving after her father ; but wli
could have put that fool notion In her hea
Can It be " and then he stopped she
staring at the train sheet In front of hi
and one would have thought to look at h
that his cyca had caught the wild light III
was In the eyes of his visitor , and that t
malady he' seemed to eeo In her mind h
been suddenly transmitted to Ills , Now
glanced quickly from the sheet to the clot
"Twenty-ievcn , " he said , and ho knew
heart that No. S was due at Westcrcck
twenty-right , and ho reached a trembll
hand for the key and began calling t
operator. Ten , twenty , thirty seconds we
by and no answer came. Forty , tlfty , flft
five seconds , and hi > fancied he could see t
operator standing out In front of the lltl
station with a pen behind his esr and li
' on his shirt sleeve. For another five EC
ouJs ha , called , and as the minute wast
It seemed to him that hU blood was bollli
and his brain on fire. Then ho thought
calling Eaetcreek to hold the apodal. T
operator , who happened to be at the k
About to report , anewercd Quickly , anil t !
dispatcher asked : "Where's the special ?
"Gone , " said the wire , and the tralnm
tcr pitched forward , fainting among the I
stands and Instruments.
The operator at Westcreck stood in fr
of the little station , smiling nt the ro
master on No. 8- , and the operator nt EC
creek sat looking through the window
the rear end of the president's private c
puckering up In the distance ; and the th
drivers , Ignorant of the awful mistake , w
now dashing nl the rntc of n mile n mini
Into the open door of death.
The superintendent , who had looked 1
the ghost-like fnco ot the girl as she pas :
him on the stnlr , thought ho read there
n wrong done nnd returned at once to
dispatcher's office , determined to have
matter out with his rebellious tralnmasl
Ho had entered the office unobserved by
operator nnd stood directly behind him t
heard him ask Enstcrcck where the spec
was nnd heard the answer , "gone. " Of the
ho made nothing , until the dispatcher Hit
out his arms and fell forward upon his dc
then the superintendent knew that BOI
thing had gene wrong. A glance nt the
cord ot the dispatcher's work showed
nil. It was 0:2D. : The great clock told h
that No. 8 had already passed Wcstcre
the special hud passed Eastcreek nnd n
there wns nothing to do but wait for i
collision , which , lu the narrow , creel
canyon , wns sure to come.
Tenderly ho lifted the limp dlspntc !
from the table and laid him upon I
floor. He poured water In Ma hnnd c
bathed the face of the unfortunate o
clal , but It failed to revive him , and tl
ha called up the hospital and one of i
surgeons came with an ambulcnce and c
rlcd the nick man away.
The superintendent , who wns himself
operator , called Eastueck , nnd told him
let nothing pasn that point westbound ur
further notice Troni the dispatcher's office
Ho walked to the window and looked i
over the conch yards , nnd saw the pale t
pacing the platform , walling for u train
cairy her back to her home. Her heart v
heavy with dread of the collision , and
thought of returning to her widowed inotl
with the news of her failure to stci
work. The superintendent tapped upon I
window with awitch key nnd , when t
looked up , he beckoned her to him.
"Tnko that seat , " said the superintend ?
pointing to an empty chair at the dlspati
er's desk. She did as he h.id told her , a
waited tremblingly for the wire to g
her something to do.
Mr. Creamer , the first trick man. \ \
had been pent away , having heard of I
mdden Illness of the tralnniaster , n
came hurrle.lly Into the office. The sup
Intcndent waved his hand In the direct !
of the desk where the girl sat. "Keep yi
scat , " said the dispatcher , as she was nbi
to rise , and after glancing over the wo
turned a blanched face to the iupcrlntci
cut.
cut.There was a moment of silence In wh
the two men gazed helplessly Into c :
other's faces and listened constantly foi
rail from East or Wcstcrtck. The k
clicked merrily , and the girl , whose clie
were now burning red , gathered In the rcpt
from the various stations of the coming i
going of many trains.
Now the operator at Eastbrook tone !
the key and saidi "No. 8 twenty mlnu
late , " and fresh color came to the wl
faces In the dispatcher's ofllce.
*
When the operator \Vcbtcrcek quit
the platform and re-entered the office ,
heard n hurry-up call for him , which ca
in a quick , nervous way , and told him t
lie was wanted. He answered at once i
got this In return : "Held No. S. lap orde
The last two words assuied him that cc
pllance with this ordnr was necessary
prevent a collision. "No. S It , gone , "
leplied. "Hold her T. J. 0. " came , b ;
to him In an Instant. The .mr.n . is era
thought the operator , but he would try.
ho rushed from the office a light eng
was Just pulling out ot the siding to t :
water. This locomotive belonged to
crew of a work train , but the train had b
left In the siding. The operator sprang 1
the cab and shouted to the engineer
P'jll out and catch No , 8. "Lap order , "
added , and that was enough. The drlv
without waiting for his firemnn , v
was some yards behind , tugging at a s
switch In an effort to close It , pulled :
throttle open and bounded away up the sti
grade behind the passenger train.
Now they could see the rear end of No
just whipping a corner. The roadmas
saw the approaching engine and as she ca
nearer guessjed that she was running will
riderless or that her rider had lost cent
of her. It might be that the engineer i
not see them. Theirs was a heavy trait
they were losing time. Ho remembered tl
they had been two minutes late atVc
creek. Ho called the rear flagman , who w
"railroading" with a deadhead conduci
In the smoking room of the sleeper. T
flugman took In the situation at a glan
His business wns to ling , regardless of c
cuinstances and vnguo possibilities , and I
fore the roadmaster could stay him t
fearless flagman swung himself round a
dropped from the train. Iy ) the time he h
regained his feet and found his flag t
light engine , uttering a wild shriek , dash
by him. The engineer , to avoid running
a red flag , turned his face to the llremai
side and refused to see the danger sign
Now ho was near enough to whistle tether
other engines "down , " and the cnglncm
pulling the passenger train phut off , a
when the driver of the light engine saw
chimney of white steam shoot up from oa
at the forward locomotive-si , ho know th
had quit , and slowed his own machine ;
cordlngly. When they hud como up to t
train the operator ran to the rc-ar of No.
shouted , "Lap order , back up , " and turrl
over to the head end , The roadiuasl
reached for the rope and signaled the i
Klneers to back up.
Iho drivers opened their throttles a
ivhlstles and began to Jam the train back.
The driver of the light engine reversed
unco upon dropping the operator , picked
the flagman nml was now becking nway I
\VeUcreek \ at n frightful pnce. Ills flrenu
still at the switch , let him In on the slcllr
No. S dropped in after him , and Just as t
Dpctntor nnd conductor had forced the stu
horn rolls back to the main line , the pn
Ident's special crashed over the switch ,
Not n soul an board the special knew hi
near they had been to death , Their orde
road to meet No. 8 at Westcreek , nnd the
bho was. In to clear , Just as the darl
ilrlvpr of the special engine had expected
find her.
The conductor of No , 8 , with his two cni
nccrs , the roadmaster and operator , wast
live minutes reading , checking , comparl
and examining the orders they had receive
They wore all signed "T. J. G. " by the tral
inadter hlmtelf. The thing WEH plain
hail given a lap order , but had discover
liU mistake in time , by the good fortune tli
liad left the light engine at Wcstcreck ,
lirovent an awful dUastcr. Ho was a go
follow nnd tl-cy were all glad ho had sav
lilmself , although the Incident might wo
to his embarrassment when ho came up I
[ ircmotlon , Ircldentally they were glad tli
they were alive.
To appreciate the mysterious part ot t
' .iile , the reader should understand the val
if time not of hours and minutes , but
seconds In handling trains on a sin ;
track railroad. U will bo remembered th
3oodlough discovered his mistake nt i ) ; :
Mo. 8 wns duo to pass Westcreek at 9 : !
ind at 9:29 : the superintendent had sc
the trainmaster collapse. It will bo rcinei
jerod also that No. 8 was two minutes lai
but the man who had tent the lap ord
lid not know It , and his nerve would n
last until ho could find out. The ord
to hold No. 8 the order which prevent
tie collision and doubtless raved mm
lives was sent at 9:31 : , U was signed w |
the Initials of the trainmaster , but at
lime when that gentleman was dead to t
ivorld , and had been so for two whole ml
Jtcg.
Jtcg.No man was In a better position to knr
iheso facts than the superintendent , vrl
, vas the only man In the dispatcher's c
Ice at the moment whtn the "mysterlo
umago" flashed over the wire , and who
justness It was to Investigate the whc
natter , As the Investigation proceeded tl
mperlntendent became Intensely Interest
n the mystery. For a while he kept tl
natter to himself , but these things w
mt. and tn less than n muntli's tlmo tl
'mysterious message" became the leadli
oplc In shops , cabs.way cars ind boar
ng boukc . To Kay that the clock * were'
variance would not satisfy n railroad man ,
for they had taken time at U n. m. , only
a halt hour before the rnesngc went out.
In tlmo the story of the "mysterious mes
sage" came to the cars of the president at
Boston , and as his life had been saved by
the Rending of this wire , which amounted
to almost n miracle , ho set himself nt once
to the task of solving the mystery. He be
longed to n certain society whose members
delight to delve In things occult , and they
wcro not long In accounting for nil that
had occurred. U fell out later that the
treasurer's clerk was nlso a member of
the Iloston society to which the president
belonged.
* *
The day's work tn n dispatcher's office la
divided Into three tricks. The first trick
man works from S n. m. until 4 p. m. , the
second from that hour to the cud of the day ,
nnd the third man works the "death trick"
In which Vearly nil the ugly wrecks occur
from midnight till mornln .
"You inny go now , " said Mr. Creamer to
the girl , when the second man came In and
took his trick nt 4 o'clock.
"Shall I come back In the morning ? "
nsked the girl with some embnrrnssmcnt.
"Yes , " wns the answer , nftcr n moment's
thought.
Ily n sort of unwritten rule the first
trick man had stepped to the post of train
master when that Industrious but overzealous
ous officer had fallen ,
"Whoso Intltnls shnll I put to this order ? "
asked the girl , sending her first message on
the morning of the second day.
"Your own , " said Mr. Creamer , and the
receiving operator nt Livingston wondered
who the new dispatcher could be. Every
night , nflcr midnight , the operators nlong
the line would ground wire , cutting off the
ofllclnls , nnd discuss the new dispatcher.
Not n few of them felt Hint they wore
entitled to promotion nnd wcro In favor of
sending a grlcvnnco committee- nt once ,
"Who Is the new guy ? " asked the operator
at Lookout one afternoon , when he supposed
the second trick man was at the other end
of the line.
"Go nhcad , 'guy , * " said Miss Morgan , for
she had not > ct been relieved.
"Working the first trick ? " said the operator
rater , finishing his query and making It
plain. There was n dnsh of Irish In Minnie
Morgan , and she answered without hesita
tion. "Miles Mulcahy. "
"Solid with the new push ? "
"Sure , " was the girl's answer , nnd then
she shut him off.
It was not long , however , until the train
men catrled the news out over the road that
Miles Mulcahy was n woman , but not until
the new dispatcher had gained something
of a reputation as an- expert handler of
trains.
Some of the swift senders began to try
yourself Wtstcrcck HM answer , and cnt
your order to heM No. 8 , nnd he held her
nnd there was no collision. "
"Dan , 1 never lent that mcseigc.
wanted to ; God knows 1 would gladly hnv
given my life to have saved those poor fel
lows on the engines ? and the new president
Was ho killed ? Ah'Dun. why don't yoi
tell me the truth"i and the miserable mat
held out his hand brneechlngly.
"I hnvo told the whole truth , " salt
Creamer. "There w s no collision ; " bu
Goodlough shook his head , his eyes fillei
with tears and ho turned his pale , plnchci
fnco to the wall.
The superintendent , whoso "long suit" n
the roadmastcr expressed It , was "nos
sense , " had maintained nil along that th
transmission of the mysterious message wn
still n mystery. Those occult scientist
mliht sit up nights nnd wotk out answer
entlsfactory to themselves , declared th
would never go a
superintendent , but they
his end of the line. "There must be nnotbc
solution of this mysterious message. " ho de
"and I shall nnd 1
dared to Hie president ,
before the end of the year. "
At the expiration ot forty days the mcdlca
staff declared Goodlough sound In body nnd
mind , nnd the old trainmaster called upon
the superintendent for his decision. He
had begun as n messenger boy In the train
master's office on an eastern road when he
could barely reach the top of his desk. Ho
had been with this company so long that he
felt n proprietary Interest In the road. Ho
would bo glad to return lt > nls old post , bu
men were usually dismissed for giving a lap
order.
"H will not bo necessary for us.to rcnow
this matter , " began the superintendent
when Mr. Goodlough had seated himself In
the prlvnto office of his old chief. "Undei
ordlnnry circumstances I should feel It m >
duty to discharge you , but In consideration
of .your excellent record nnd other extenuat
ing circumstances , the confusing natures
of the numbers of the locomotives nnd trains
nnd the names of stations , I have concluded
that I shall servo the compnny best by
nllowlng you to return to your former plncc.
In doing this I wish you to undcrstnnd that
the matter of personal friendship , which
has grown strong In the years that wo have
spent together , makes no difference In my
decision. The sixty days , which 1 must
now give you , Is meant more as n punish
ment for your refusal to listen to n well-
mcnnt wnrnlng which might have snvcd you
than for your carelessness In giving a
wrong order. It Is more your minim-tune
than your fault , however , that you have
lost these forty days , therefore your suspen
sion will date from December 20. "
"Goodlough thanked the superintendent
wnrmly for his conaldcratlon and went out
to begin the hard task of waiting twenty
"WHAT niSTUESSES YOU ? " ASKED MISS MOKGAN.
to rush her , but It didn't go. The grcal
clock continue : ! to measure olt the daja
trains arrived and departed on time , tht
mysterious message was still n mystery , am
the girl stayed at her post. The superliv
tendent was quietly proud of his protege
and Mr. Creamer was enthusiastic. Slu
knew the road , he had declared to his chief
as the red man knows the forest , and tht
tlmo card as Fr. Maloney know the cate
chism. "She's Just a bird , that's all , " hi
observed to the smiling superintendent , "c
regular crackerjack , ami you can't tie her. '
* * * * * * *
The January sun , swinging far and low Ir
the south , sent a stingy ray aslant the win
dow and touched the covers on the sicl
man's couch. He rubbed his eyes , lookei
about and whispered , "Where am I ? " bu
ho was not acting. The bare white walls
the iron bedstead , the little table ) and the one
wooden chair told him that he was In the
hospital. A vase of fresh cut roses stooi
upon the table , nnd he knew that he hai
a friend somewhere. He remembered after
ward that the smell ot roses was the firs :
thing that was quite clear to him.
"Have I been 111 ? " ho as > ked of the at
tendant , who now entered the room , for
being rn official and able to pay extra , Good
lough had not been placed In the open ward
His malady , too , had been , of n nature thai
required close attention. At times he hai
been a raving maniac , screaming and calllnr
for help to rtfccue the president from a burnIng -
Ing car.
"Yes , " said the nUrse , coming caullouslj
to the sick bed , "you have been very 111
You'ru all right now , but you must not talk. '
In n little while the sick man fell asleer
ngnln , for the fever hnd left him very weak ,
When he a\\olco on the following morning
his mind was much stronger. His eyes wun-
dercd directly to the little table , and there
was the vase with fresh flowers , and tears
came to the eyes of the sufferer. Ho won
dered ns the days went by that none of his
old friends came to nee him. Vaguely he
began to recall the past and all that hud hap
pened. He wondered how many were killed ,
but ho dare- not ask. The few people thai
ho saw seemed so cheerful , and the chlcl
surgeon wan always so nenlal that he began
to hope that things had turned out better
than he bad expected. At the end of an-
nthor week the superintendent came in to
see him , and he , too. was as cheerful and
happy as a man could well be. "It Is good
of you to como and see me , " said the tick
man. "I don't deserve It , "
"You do deserve It , " wns the reply , "ami
I have been here many times , but the doctoi
thought you would be better off alone , bu !
now that you are so strong ho says we can
come and see you as often as we will. "
"Will Creamer como ? I always Ilkcil
Dan , and his abscnco has hurt me , but lu
has not forgotten our past friendship , " anil
the speaker's eyes filled with tears as they
rested on the vase. "
"He's hero now , " said the superintendent ,
touched deeply by the tears and tenderness
of the sick man. "Every morning ' for
nearly amonth ho has called here to nsli
after you. I shall send him to you at once ,
and now you must brace up goodby. "
The meeting between Creamer and his
sick friend was too much for the patient ,
and the chief surgeon , who had como In
with the visitor was obliged to send him
away almost Immediately.
It was nearly a week before any more
visitors were admitted to the sick room ,
Only the flowers raino every morning. They
wcro not many , but always fresh.
"I'm strong enough to know , " now , Dan , "
said the patient when Creamer had been left
alone with him , "and I want you to tell
me all about It , "
"About what , Tom ? "
"About the collision how many wcro
killed ? "
Dan assured hjm that there had been no
collision on the road for over a year , "And
you , " ho explained , "have Just been hero a
month today this Is the 20th of January. "
"Don't He to mo , Dan. Anybody could
do that ; but from you I ask the truth , and
[ think I have a right to expect It. I sent n
lap order the day I fell 111 , I became con
fused over the repetition of No. 8 and engine
88 , Eastcrcck and Wrstcrcek , and gave a
lap order. A girl In the olllco tried to save
mo , but I laughed at her , I thought her
crary , and when at last I noticed my inls-
take I tried to call Westcreek to hold 8 , but
could not get him. I called and called up
to the last second , but be did not answer ,
and It seemed to mo that I must go mad.
Suddenly It occurred to me that I might get
Eustcreek , and hold the special , but the
answer came quick and awful , "Gone ; " and
then I knew no more until I smellcd the
smell of those fresh roses you sent me , and
came to life again , " .
"Now I'll tell you the truth , Tom ; the
whole truth , and nothing but the truth ,
as the Judge would say , " began his visitor.
' 'You ' did give a lap order , but you saved
days , for to him every dnyspent away fr (
his work was wasted.
The old trainutbbter spent the greal
part of. his twenty days where he coi
hear the rattle of-the1 Instruments and t
slow , measured ticking'of the great clo <
Ho was Interested In , and then amazi
at the work of the young woman who w
now handling the trains on the first trie
At first he felt halt angry with her I
being nblo to do what he had once made
mess of , but hhe was so sweetly modi
and so utterly unconscious of herseli ate
to faithful to her work , that he soon foil
himself wishing she were a man. Ho s ;
BO to Creamer once , and she heard hi
Long before the time was up he had beg
to wonder where he could put her , for
had no thoufiht of letting her go. r
bhe was a lucky soul , and It seemed tl
the same power that sent the ravens
Elijah looked after her. Just about t
lime Goodlougb was to resume his posit' '
a connecting road wanted a tralumaJi
mid the place was offered to Mr , Cream
Ho accepted It , of course. Mr. GooJlou
was ordered to report for duty nnd hi
Ing no one he considered competent at bat
allowed Miss Morgan to remain wh.-re
had found her. It was understood by ,
that this arrangement was only tempom
tiut Goodlough soon learned that ) io not
lose an able assistant when he parted wl
Miss Morgan , and so wns a good wh'lc '
making a change which all precedent ma
necessary. The second trick man was e
titled to the first , the third man ivas
line for the second , and If he kept Ml
Morgan she must do the "death trbk. "
The two men were notified by letter
their promotion , and then the tralnmast
traced himself to tell the young lady th
> ho would be transferred to the companj
: clegraph ofllce , unless t > ho chose to take t :
third trick , which ho felt ashamed to a
'icr ' to do. It was only right and fair , si
mid , and she would bo glad to take tl
.lilnl trick. All she wonted was an cqu
show with the men and no favors. If 1
.ould overlook her sex nnd forgive her f
mvlng been born a woman she would
: ontent to take whatever he had to off
\cr. "Yo Gods , " said the trainmaster
ilmself , "sho makes meashamed. . She's'
jravc as she Is gentle , and as brilliant as H
s beautiful. " Ho wondered , now , knowli
icr , that ho hnd failed to see that she was
/cry superior woman when be sent h
iway without the promise , even , of ei
iloyipent.
When the two dispatchers who had r
: elved notice of their promotion came In
.he trainmaster's olllco they did not nppr
wcrjoyous. The man who had thus honor
hem saw that something was wrong , ai
nqulrcd the cause of It.
"It's Just this way , " bald the second trli
: nan , "If you are setting Miss Morgan ba
igaln because she U Incompetent to hand
ho heavy business on the first trick \
mvo nothing to say ; but if the change
nadc because * she Is a woman , or as a ma
er of Juhtlco to us , wo most respectful
lecllne a promotion that will work a liar
ihtp to this mobt deserving girl , "
"Tho clwigo vns ordered us a matter
iustlcc to you , nnd In keeping with tl
lollcy of the management. However , if y <
tentlemc'i are disposed to do the gallai
: ho young lady can remain -where she I
She Is thoroughly competent to manage tl
Hislneta , and I can eeo no reason why si
ihould not have an even break with t
est of uu. "
So the split-trick man who had done tl
: alklng. and the "death-trick" man who h :
mdded asseit , went away feeling that tin
lad done the proper thing and the trail
iiaster congratulated himself upon the r
mlt.
* , * *
Minnie Morgan was n woman to win
nan's heart If he had such a thing to las
mil BO , as the eprlpg deepened , Ooodloug
vlio had been too busy nil his life to go 01
nto tlie world and win a heart , dlscovcrc
vhcn It was too late that ho was slowl
nit surely losing his own. Miss Morgai
in her ride , had plttlcd Goodlough at firs
hen when he recovered and came back I
York she had learned to respect and soc
o admire him , It might have cndinl then
o far as she was concerned , if he had m
alien In love with her and showed It
Iczen times a day , or every time ho a
einpted to hide It ; and Boon they tot
ovcd and each resolved to keep the enrn
rom the other , but while cupid held 1.
iandf o er their eyea the world lookt-o. c
.nil laughed.
They parted late at night , only to me
gain In the morning. The days , that we ;
U too short , flashed by as mllepoits pa
lie window of an express train. In tin
ho summer went out of the skies , the fro
ame and killed the flowers , but the sunum
tayed In their hearts and kept them glad.
U wag winter without. Tlie snow lay 1
deep drifts upon the pilots of locomotl
that came down from the hills nnd hid
tnps of Incoming freight trains. Miss M
gun stood at the window , overlooking
yards. An old ttorm-stalned work cng
stood In front of the station , tollworn i
weary , leaking like n sleeve , and the wai
dripping through her firebox , had fro :
and hung Icicles upon her very grates. 1
driver , looking as rusty as his engine , \
coming up tlw stair to tell the dispute
that ho wns not yet In and would not bn
ten minutes , nnd the dispatcher erased
arrival and put him In ten minutes lal
so that the engineer might not get ten d
for fast running , He wns n hero , thisin
begrimed as ho was with soot nnd grcti
for this was the engine , and ho the cngln
who hnd outrun the Atlantic express n y
ago nnd saved that train as well as
president's special ,
The trnlnmnstcr came In with n cad f
nnd n heavy heart. Ho remembered tl
It was Just n year ago today that
had turned n pale-faced young won
away , not because there was no ro
tor her , but ( he blushed to admit It ) becai
she wns n woman. And now that sa
woman was doing a man's work. More , i
could enslave him with n glance or b !
him with a single strand of her silken ht
Ho knew this , and knew that she knew
and resolved not to let another day da
before he had told her everything.
Miss Morgnn was snd , too , for she hnd 1
a secret not of her love , for that wns
secret but she hnd Just revealed to the i
perlntcndcnt the true story of the "mystc
oils message. "
The superintendent was happy. Ho 1
promised to have an answer for the pr
Ident by the end of the year , nnd this v
the Inst week but one. Miss Morgan's st (
wns nil the more timely because the pr
lilcnt would ntrlvo on the morrow , nnd 1
superintendent wns anxious to convince ! h
that the average occult expert , who mal
n sppehlty of "seeing things nights , " lin
about as much of the future or of things i
known as the codfish out In the Atlantic.
* * * * * * *
She was still silent.
The morning broke clear and beautiful n
the crUp u I r wns full of the sounds ot clnr
Ing bells nnd the screams ot switch cngln
Express wagons came down laden with bo ?
nnd packages bundles of sunshine tl
would find their way to hundreds of hon
and gladden the hearts of thousands of pi
pie. Everybody was busy , for the preside
of the road was to arrive today. When Gee
lough left his private office and wander
Into the big room where the dlspatchc
worked ho heard Miss Morgnn calling Wei
creek , nud when Westcreck nnswercd , hen
her say :
"Train No. 8 , conductor Smith , will tal
siding for special west , engine 88 , at' Ens
creek. "
When the operator nt Lookout siding ai
swcrcd nnd she snld :
"Speclnl west engine 88 will meet trn
N'o. 8 nt Eastcreek. "
"Brnvo , " cried the trainmaster , that's o
actly what I wns trying to do n year ng
anly I snld Westcreek nt the last. How
everything ? "
"On tlmo , " said Miss Morgan , still worl
lug the key.
After glancing about for n few mlnuti
3oodlough returned to his office'nnd sci
lut n bulletin promoting the opcrntor i
IVestcrcek to bo trnln dispatcher on tl
: hlrd trick. Tlie same order put the t\\
jld dispatchers a step nearer the president
jf the road.
Ho had barely finished his pleasant tas
when the superintendent cnrao In with tl
. resident , whom Goodlough hnd never me
IVhen they were nil seated the suporlntet
lent asked the trainmaster to relate wh
lie knew about the so-called "mysterloi
message. "
"I know absolutely nothing , " declare
joodlough earnestly , for the subject wi
naturally embarrassing to him.
"You told Mr. Creamer , I believe , tin
> -ou were positive that you did not send tl
order to AVestcrcek to hold No. S , althout
your Initials went with It , " said the superl
tcndcnt with the air of a lawyer cross-o :
amlning a witness.
"I did. "
"And you do not know who sent the me
sage ? "
"I do not. "
"Well , I do , " said the superlntende
ivith a broad smile , "and I'll let you gent !
men Into the secret. When Miss Morg !
saw , or rather heard your mistake , she c
loavored to convince you that you were
: lanKer , but failed. Despairing , she left t ]
building. She was almost wild with gri
ind alarm. I saw her face as she hurrli
ilown the stair and It was the face of
mad woman. I read it wrong and returm
it once to you to learn the cause of h
distress. I heard you call Eastcreek ai
jslt for the special your last message th
lay and heard the answer , 'Gone , ' and sa
you fall. But the frail woman whom yi
had turned away , did not fall. While y <
Tell fainting among the Inkstands and 1 :
itruments she rushed Into the hotel over tl
way , and finding no one In the Wcstci
Union office , took the key and began callli
Westcreek. She could not see the clock >
fou did , and she called and called , and wh
it last the operator answered she told hi
to hold No. 8. " "No. 8 Is gene , " said tl
operator. "Hold her , " said the wire bai
it him , and fearing the operator might quo
tlon the message she sent your Initials ;
: he end of the order.
"Bravo girl ! " cried the president , rlslt
mil beginning to pace the floor , for he wi
Iceply affected by the story of how a your
ivomnn , who , but a day before had been r
'used employment by the company , naj coi
irlved to save the complay's property ai
; hn lives of men whom she had nut know
'She shall have the company's checit for
.housand. " the president added. "You wl
'urnish her with transportation , " ho coi
tnucd addressing the superintendent , "nn
mvo her report to mo at the Boston offli
ho first of the year. "
"Miss Morgan reports to the trainmaster ,
laid the superintendent smiling nnd wa'
ng a hand toward Goodlough , who s.
> ale and silent like a man who had Ju :
ecclvcd a hard fall.
"Miss Morgan will not bo In the con
jany's employ after today , " ho said , lool
ng steadily at the president.
"Has she been dismissed ? "
"Sho has been promoted , and Is to tnli
ler place on New Year's day. "
"May I nsk what office she Is to take ?
nnuired the president , glancing from II
ralnmaster to the superintendent , who wf
itlll smiling.
"Sho Is to bo Mrs. Goodlough , " said tl
rnlnmaster with a stern , calm smile ,
"Accept my congratulations , " said tl
irrsldent , holding out his hand , "This
ho second time , then , she has saved yoi
Ifo , " be continued , as Goodlo.Kh took h
land ; "and I hope you will allow her I
icccpt my personal check for another tho\
; and , for she saved mine as well ,
* * *
Goodlough was greatly affjitoJ by tl
lows of Miss Morgan's hcroluin .ind tl :
londuct of the president an 1 superlntcm
ill of the road. Ho kept cloiv of the ill
mtchcr's ofllre that day , for ho dared m
rust himself In her presence.
That evening , when Mlnnle'H mother ha
ellred to her room , and the lovers woi
eft alone together In tits llttlo lamp-1
inrlor , they looked at eaciJtlior : In sllem
or p. moment.
"What distresses you ? " nsked MHs Mo
; nn ,
"And you ? " Inquired the trainmaster.
"Order No , 70 , " was her reply , "I've Io :
ny place. "
"And found nl friend , a lover , aye , a hui
land and happiness , I hope , "
"And what have you found ? "
"The sender of the mysterious mcssag
aid Goodlough , advancing to where h
.wecthcart . tat.
"Did he tell you ? "
"Yes. How shall I repay you for all th ;
on have done for me ? "
"Ily pardoning rne for forging your natr
o the. message , and becoming cheerful , an
hortenlng your office hours , and well ,
nythlng more occurs to me , I'll tell yo
ator. "
"Then you did send the message ? "
"Yes. "
"And how about the flowers that came the
ho hospital every day ? The red rosei
, hose breath called me back to life ? "
"Yes , " she Bald ; and the llttlo hand stol
nto hla and nestled there.
And then they talked on for Just a llttl
. hllc , She forgot that ehe was out ot em
loyment , and he forgot the lap order of
ear ago. The lamp burned low. H
Ighted a match to look at his watch , and I
. as neither yesterday nor tomorrow , bu
list between ; and then as all telegrapher
o at the end of the day , he gave hit
good night , " and he went away.
"I have been afflicted with an affectloi
f the Throat from childhood , cauied b ;
Iphtherla , and have UBIM ! various remedies
ut have never found anything cr > u < il ti
Irown'u Bronchial Troches. " Uev. G. M. F
lampion , rikettm , Ky. Bold only In boxej
Some Lending Special Features.
MINE OF INTERESTING READ
ING FOR NEXT SUNDAY'S
PATRONS.
< 4The Mutable Many , "
Robert Barr's Great Serial Story.
Installment ot the novel , "The Mutable Many. "
As a foil to the exciting situations in the contest ,
Mr , Barr introduces the happy-go-lucky character
of young Barney Hope , who turns up unexpectedly
in everycemergency and in his own way helps in the
solution of many difficult problems. The story
abounds in the humorous , droll and lively invention
which makes Mr. Barr the most diverting of the
newer writers , " '
Signs of Longevity.
. An article setting forth just how far the doctor , the -r
palmis't , thd phrenologist and the astrologer can
judge with any degree of certainty , from bodily in
i dications , the length of a person's life Based on
interviews with prominent representatives of each
profession.
! Greatest Hotel in the World.
The new Astor , which , with its twin , the Waldorf ,
will be the largest occupied building in existence.
The two will represent an investment of $10,000-
ooo , rent for half a million a year and require a
thousand employes. The new hotel will have a
room , the wonder of the earth , unobstructed
by a single column , though thousands of tons
t weight lie above it ,
i Critical Study of History.
Another contribution on this interesting topic replete -
| I plete with references to the acknowledged authori-
ties on the subject and full of suggestions for students -
! H dents of history A paper that treats the subject
i from the standpoint of historical truth.
gpecialQtmday
* J TB" " k.
epartmetits
In Woman's Domain.
For the Little Folks.
Music and Drama.
With the Secret Societies.
The Realm of Sport.
Gossip About the Bicycle.
Social Happenings of the Week.
TTnexcelled
Service.
New York World's Cable Letters.
Associated Press Telegraphic News.
Special Correspondents Everywhere.
All the Local News.
THE OMAHA
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