Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/232

220 been called to the despatcher's desk in a dire emergency and kept there from day to day until the train- master had recovered and resumed his office. And then, when one of the despatchers had gone to another road, she had been kept as day despatcher, and all this time she had kept the secret of how she had saved the two trains and possibly the President's life. Every one seemed to regard her as a sort of heroine, but nobody knew exactly why.

"Brave girl!" cried the President, rising and beginning to pace the floor, for he was deeply affected by the story of how a young woman, who, but a day before had been refused employment by the company, had contrived to save the company's property and the lives of men whom she had not known. "She shall have the company's check for a thousand," the President added. "You will furnish her with transportation," he continued, addressing the superintendent, "and have her report to me at the Boston office the first of the year. We need a trustworthy operator in the general office the pay is good and the hours easy."

"Miss Morgan reports to the train-master,"