322 SPORT INDEED 



passed from the East. I was so anxious to be along 

 with you that I forgot all about my orders until you 

 saw me jump up and hurry down the track. And, by 

 jingo ! had I been half a minute later, I should have 

 had the devil to settle with." 



We sat for awhile listening to the incessant clicking 

 of the three telegraph instruments, and then our curi- 

 osity got the better of us. 



" Tell us, my friend," I said, " what are all these in- 

 struments talking about ? " 



His reply rather startled me. 



" Well, I can't tell you exactly what they are say- 

 ing. This one is a working wire of the Railroad. 



And this one is the working wire of the - - Railroad. 

 It's wet weather now, and I can't take the stuff as 

 well as when it's dry. Although, as I'm only a green- 

 horn, I can't take it very well at any time. I've only 

 been at the business about three months, and this is 

 the first time I've been left alone to run the office." 



" How much do they pay you ? " 



" Oh, I don't get no pay. The station master gets 

 all that." 



" The station master ? Who is he ? " 



" Sam Wright. He's the man that does all the tele- 

 graphing work when he's here." 



" And why isn't he here now, instead of leaving a 

 greenhorn to attend to his business ? " 



" Well, I'll tell you. You see, Sam is awfully stuck 



