“Well, I can’t say that I remember him, for I have never seen him; but I have not had an opportunity to forget the story of his having saved a couple of trains for the company. Every time I go down the Line someone reminds me of his heroism. It got to that pass that when I heard the car hit the East Bridge I looked up. In would come this man’s father, who is now roadmaster on the west end, and say, ‘There’s phare Tommy—’ and if I happened to be alone the conductor would break the great news to me, until I am sick of the story.”
“Well,” said the President, “this Thomas is coming over the road to-day. He has just been re-elected President and General Manager of the Inter-Mountain Air Line. He is bringing a wife with him; the daughter of one of the directors, and I want to arrange a little surprise for him.”
“That means a special train, I suppose?”
“No, that would not surprise him, for they are running him special over the Pennsylvania. Do you think we could make time with his car on the White Mail?”
“Well, we can try it. I’ll wire Sedgwick to give us the best engines on the road. It will please him, I dare say, to ride down on the White Mail.”
“Please him! why the Van will get all the business that originates on the Inter-Mountain for the next hundred years.”
“Shall you meet him at the train?”
“Ah, yes. We’re very good friends; he did his first work for me when I was general passenger agent.”
An hour later the office boy handed a piece of white paper to the Trainmaster, upon which was written:
“Put President McGuire’s car, ‘Maid of Erin,’ on the White Mail to-night. G. M.”