Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/229

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THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
217

to do what she was now doing, and had failed. She had tried to help him, he would help her now, if she went wrong; and he listened until the operator at Lookout siding answered, and she said:—

"Special west engine 88 will meet train No 8 at Eastcreek."

"Bravo," cried the train-master. "That's exactly what I was trying to do a year ago, only I said 'Westcreek' at the last."

"How's everything?"

"On time," said Miss Morgan, still working the key.

After glancing about for a few minutes, Goodlough returned to his office, and sent out a bulletin promoting the operator at Lookout to be train despatcher on the third trick. The same order put the two old despatchers a step nearer the presidency of the road. The bulletin named the second trick man to be day despatcher "to succeed Miss Morgan, assigned to other duties."

He had barely finished this pleasant task, when the superintendent came in with the President, whom Goodlough had never met.