rod assists the young man to the “limited.”—(page [133.])
“Because I belong on this train and it is my business to be sure of things connected with it,” replied Rod, still speaking pleasantly.
“Oh, you do, do you. Are you its conductor?”
“No, sir, but I am one of its brakemen.”
“Are there any more like you?”
“Yes, sir, there is another like me. I sha’n’t need his help though to put you off this train if you don’t get off, and in a hurry too,” answered Rod hotly, for he began to suspect that the young man was making fun of him.
“Oh, come now!” said the passenger mildly, “don’t get excited, I’m perfectly willing to go. It was a very natural mistake for a blind man to make. You may be blind yourself some day, and then you’ll find out.”
“I didn’t know you were blind, sir,” exclaimed Rod apologetically and instantly regretting his harshness toward one so cruelly afflicted. “I am very sorry, and if you will allow me, I will see you safely aboard the ‘Limited.’”
The young man accepted this offer, explaining at the same time that while he was not totally blind, his sight was very dim. So Rod helped him off one train and into the other, striving by every attention to atone for the abruptness with which he had spoken before learning of the other’s infirmity. As he took the stranger’s hand to guide him down the steps of the coach he noticed that the large diamond of a ring worn by the latter, had cut its way through the back of one of his kid gloves.
A moment later the “Limited” pulled out, and in a few minutes the express special, laden that night with a freight of unusual value, followed it.