of Medicine Bend for long afterward.

A few days after the riots Stanley sent for Bucks, who was holding a
key among the operators downstairs, to come to his office.

"How long have you been a telegraph operator, Bucks?" he asked.

Bucks laughed in some embarrassment. "Since I was about twelve years
old, sir."

"Twelve years old!" echoed Stanley in amazement. "Where did you learn
to telegraph at twelve?"

Bucks hesitated again. "I never learned, sir!"

"What do you mean?"

"I used to sit in the telegraph office of the road when my uncle
was superintendent, and I got used to hearing the sound of the
instruments. I just woke up one morning and found I could telegraph.
I couldn't the night before. That's the only way I ever learned,
sir."

Stanley regarded the boy with interest. "How old are you now?"

"Seventeen."

"Very well. When you went to bed last night you were not a train
despatcher: this morning you are." Bucks started. "If any one ever
asks you," continued Stanley dryly, "how you learned to be a train
despatcher, tell them just that."

"I don't want you to think you are old enough to be a despatcher,"
continued Stanley, as Bucks stammered his thanks, "for you are not.
And I don't want you to think I like to make you one. I don't. Neither
for your sake nor mine. I don't like to impose the responsibilities of
a man on a boy. But I can't help it. We haven't the men, and we can't
get them--and we must all, men and boys, pull together and just do
the best we can--do you understand?"

"I understand everything, Colonel Stanley."

"I need not say much about what is before you. You have been sending
despatchers' orders for years yourself. You know how many lives are
held every minute in the despatchers' hand. Don't overrate your
responsibility and grow nervous over it; and don't ever underestimate
it. As long as you keep yourself fit for your work, and do the best
you can, you may sleep with a clear conscience. Report to Mr. Baxter.
Remember you are working with green trainmen and don't expect too much
of them."

When Bucks signed a transfer and took his train-sheet that night at
twelve o'clock, his chief anxiety was to keep the material trains
going to Casement and everything eastbound was laid out in an effort
to send the ties and rails west. Bucks set himself to keep pace with
the good work done by the despatcher in the evening trick and for two
hours kept his sheet pretty clean.

A heavy train of