Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/190

178 it with a mile or so of empties, reminding you of a little black ant at one end of a fish worm.

The superintendent had gone into the despatcher's office to talk with the train-master about a meeting point for No. 8 and the President's special. This was the new President, who, with the chairman of the Board of Directors, was making his first tour of inspection. Every official of any importance knew that he must meet the new chief and be introduced. Every official knew that a great deal depended upon the impression made upon this occasion. He must have his department in good shape without showing any unusual effort.

Every one must be busy without appearing to try to be. The section boss saw that each man was at his shovel, and waved a "slow" signal himself to show the officials that he did not trust such an important office to his illiterate men. This slow signal would indicate, also, that they had been doing something to the track. The road-master had gone out that morning occupying a camp stool on the rear platform of No. 8.