Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/217

Rh message, "he declared to the President," and I shall find it before the end of the year."

The statement of Goodlough to the effect that he had not sent the message which saved the two trains, made no change in the mind of the superintendent, to whom it was related by Mr. Creamer. At the expiration of forty days the medical staff declared Goodlough sound in body and mind, and the old train-master called upon the superintendent for his decision. He had begun as a messenger-boy in the train master's office on an eastern road, when he could barely reach the top of the high desk. He had been with this company so long that he felt a proprietary interest in the road. He would be glad to return to his old post, but men were usually dismissed for giving a lap order.

"It will not be necessary for us to review this matter," began the superintendent, when Goodlough had seated himself in the private office of his old chief. "Under ordinary circumstances I should feel it my duty to discharge you, but in consideration of your excellent record and other extenuating circumstances, the confusing nature of the numbers of the