Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/221

Rh When the two despatchers who had received notice of promotion came into the train-master's office, they did not appear over joyous. The man who had thus honored them saw that something was wrong, and inquired the cause of it.

"It's just this way," said Killeen, the second trick man. "If you are setting Miss Morgan back because she is incompetent to handle the heavy business on the first trick, we have nothing to say; but if the change is being made because she is a woman, or as a matter of justice to Mr. Ricker and myself, we most respectfully decline a promotion that will work a hardship to this most deserving girl."

"The change was ordered as a matter of justice to you, and in keeping with the policy of the management. However, if you gentlemen are disposed to do the gallant, the young lady can remain where she is. She is thoroughly competent to manage the business, and I can see no reason why she should not have an even break with the rest of us."

So the split trick man who had done the talking, and the "death trick" man who had