ission.

The Jewetts were an influential family, and no one doubted the result of
the young despatcher's request. He waited anxiously for some time, wrote
a second letter, and waited again. "Any news from Springfield?" the
conductor would ask, leaving the register, and the chief despatcher
would shake his head.

One morning, on entering his office, Jewett found a letter on his desk.
It was from the Superintendent, and it stated bluntly that the
resignation of the chief despatcher would be accepted, and named his
successor.

Jewett read it over a second time, then turned and carried it into the
office of his chief.

"Why?" echoed the Superintendent; "you ought to know why. For months you
have neglected your office, and have worked and schemed and conspired to
get trainmen and enginemen to quit work and go to war. Every day women
who are not ready to be widowed come here and cry on the carpet because
their husbands are going away with 'Captain' Jewett's company. Only
yesterday a schoolgirl came running after me, begging me not to let her
little brother, the red-headed peanut on the local, go as drummer-boy in
'Captain' Jewett's company.

"And now, after demoralizing the service and almost breaking up a half a
hundred homes, you ask, 'Why?' Is that all you have to say?"

"No," said the despatcher, lifting his head; "I have to say to you, sir,
that I have never knowingly neglected my duty. I have not conspired. I
have been misjudged and misunderstood; and in conclusion, I would say
that my resignation shall be written at once."

Returning to his desk, Jewett found the long-looked-for letter from
Springfield. How his heart beat as he broke the seal! How timely--just
as things come out in a play. He would not interrupt traffic on the
Alton, but with a commission in his pocket would go elsewhere and
organize a new company. These things flashed through his mind as he
unfolded the letter. His eye fell immediately on the signature at the
end. It was not the name of the Governor, who had been a close friend of
his father, but of the Lieutenant-Governor. It was a short letter, but
plain; and it left no hope. His request had been denied.

This time he did not ask why. He knew why, and knew that the influence
of a great railway company, with the best of the argument on its side,
would outweigh the influence of a train despatcher and his friends.

Reluctantly Jewett took leave of his old associates in the office, went
to hi