Ladoga High School - Canner Review Yearbook (Ladoga, IN)

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.In Lntnrarg Emu Benniv Armin in the mnrlh E was always just the same slow, thick-headed Dennis. They never knew his real name or from whence he came. Rogers found him in a box car asleep one night and when he dragged him out he saw a boy of about sixteen, appearing so forlorn and pitiful that instead of shaking him he gave him a square meal. Dennis was slow and blundering, but he was ready to give his last cent or his last ounce of strength to any one in need. I-Ie always pos- sessed a pleasing, wistful look in his big brown eyes, resembling that of an offended dog. He stayed at Foley's Junction for three years, serving as a messen- ger boy, carrying telegrams up to headquarters Vtfhenever he signed his name to the payroll it was jotted down as Dennis, His long standing desire to be a railroad man flushed up to its highest now. They greatly pitied his condition-a boy with ambitions and no ability, and as a consequence they encouraged and cheered him whenever he was discouraged. From nearly the first day at Foley's junction hc rigged up a learner's telegraph key in the back of the office and with a Morse code he practiced laboringly during his spare time. ' In a year's time he had risen to the re- sponsible job of call boy. He was still hopelessly lost at the key. Six months later he asked Brancroft, the withered tow-head chief dispatcher, whom he liked the best of all men that he knew, to give him the examination for the operator's job. Ile flatly, Hatly, failed, but not discouraged in the least. he went to work again with his key. His big eyes seemed more wistful than ever as lie tried to catch the letters. After several months of diligent study Dennis went to the Chief Dis- patcher for another examination. Again he failed as badly as before. Kindly wishing to advise him as to the best course to follow, Bran- croft told Dennis that he had better begin v.'ork in the car shops or the mechanical department. Dennis did not listen to this advice. but went to work a third time more determined than ever. Next year a hundred miles of new track was completed. Construc- tion gangs worked day and night using the great steam scoops, which gathered the dirt and great mouthfuls while the rails were kept hot by the rush of the flying wheels. The Rapid City Division was alive with trains, as they were increased to carry the additional traflic. In all his labors Dennis had one steadfast friend. This was Letty, the waitress at l-awson's lunch-room. She was always ready to hear his complaints or to receive his good news. She admired his tenacity and patience but pitied his dullness and seeming ignorance. As he worked over the key he would mutter, If I could only get the hang of it! The country was scoured for operators for the new telegraph sta- tions that were being established along the line. Dennis thought this was his chance, so he went a third time to Brancroft for the examination. The chief was tempted to tell him that he was tired of him and that he had no more time to waste, but the big pleading eyes restrained him, and instead he told Dennis to come to the office. after dinner. Dennis told Letty about his good fortune at noon while eating his beef sandwich and drinking his coffee. She smiled encouragingly at him and gave him an extra sandwichgby which she thought she might aid him in his coming task. That evening Dennis was excited for the first time in his life. He came dancing into the hall, threw his old felt hat down stairs, and was covered with grins, as he told Letty about passing the examination. 'Tll get forty whole dollars a month now, he said, beam- ing with joy. Ashamed of his outburst he jammed his hat down over his ears in his accustomed fashion and ran out of the house.

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The next Morning Casey, the foreman of the workmen, saw an over- grown youth wearing a felt hat come down the car steps with a new va- lise. I'm the new operator here, said Dennis, as he followed Casey, who showed him where he was to bunk. Dennis' hours were from 7:00 a. ni. to 8:00 p. m. on regular duty, but he was required to be up on call at any minute during the night. He arranged his office that day and re- ceived his first train orders. Very tired he went to bed that night with orders to awake him whenever he was needed. NVeeks went by and trafiic grew heavier. The Block Signal System was installed to make safe thc single stretches of track. Dennis had trouble in understanding what was said to him over the wires., He readjusted the batteries and put some bluestone in themg but it did not help. The sounders no longer gave a clear sharp note. Trying every- thing he knew to remedy the trouble, he then blamed it to the cool weather which prevailed during those clear November days. A few days later Casey came to the station for some shovels and found Dennis sitting outside the little station wearing a long face. I-luh! what's the matter, asked Casey, as he came up. Looking up into his face Dennis sadly rejoined, I've lost my job, Casey. I am deaf. Somebody told it up to headquarters and I'm fired. It wasn't Brancroft that done it, I'm sure. He ain't that kind of a man. He's square, he is. Why, once when I was sick and off all day, he didn't take off a cent. I don't know what I'll do. I ain't got no education and it'll be kind of hard fer me to make a livin' for myself. A That night about one o'clock Johnnie Stanford, operator at Rapid Fork, lay upon his telegraph table bound hand and foot, while one masked man watched outside the office the other worked at the safe. Orders for Fifty-four, the St. Louis Flyer, to meet Hardwood, her mate, number Fifty-three, which was running twenty minutes late, were on the table beside him. Unless he was able to send them, the trains were in serious danger of colliding. W'hen he pleaded with them they gagged him, saying that it would not do for a train to stop there now. One of the bandits threw the board clear,', regardless of consequences. While the robbers were soaping the crevices of the safe with nitro-glycerine, Johnnie found that by lifting himself painfully up toward the key that he could open it with his hands. He clicked off slowly with his benumber fingers, HH-E-L-P R-P-F- Then the bandit saw him and quickly pressed a revolver to his temple. just then far up the track was heard the long-drawn blast of Ffty-four's big engine. A minute passed and the little station trembled under the shock of the train's tremendous fiight. Langdon at Foley's junction caught ,the warning from Rapid Fork and sent it on to Hardwood. Dennis awoke with a start, for Vinson was yelling at him, Flag Fifty-four, quick ! he snapped. Get a lantern and don't lose a second going south to stop Fifty-three. Come back and ask for orders. There's trouble up at Rapid Fork. HURRYV' There was no time for shoes. The cinders cut his feet as he rushed down the track. He ran until he was dazed, then began to crawl. I can't go so fast, he shuddered. Seems like that switch is miles away yet. On he crawled toward the signal lamp. Behind him glimmered a faint light. Glancing back he saw Fifty-four stop in front of the office. VVith a supreme effort Dennis pulled himself up to throw the switch. Setting the lantern down he pulled at the lever. It stuck, at first, only to yield with a sudden jerk, shattering the lanern globe. Oh! Mercy! he groaned, Fifty-four will not stand there long and my lantern's gone. Fifty-three 'll be along any minute. He tore the target light from the switch and began crawling back along the passing track with it. Be- numbed with cold he kept repeating his orders, as if they could sustain him from dropping between the rails. Stumbling onward he repeated the above sentence in a half daze. He was too far gone to hear the swiftly approaching Fifty-three swerve into the switch and come rumbling onto him. The train was almost upon him before the engineer realized that the headlight of Fifty-four, shining down the track, and the wavering, swaving red light between the rails meant something was wrong. The pilot struck a white object that sailed through the air, rolled along the ties and lay still. Among the clerks was a telegrapher and in a few minutes he and Vinson had the orders straightened out and 'the trains roared onward again. On a bed of coats in one of Ffty-three's coaches lay the apparently