Bart Stirling's Road to Success; Or, The Young Express Agent

express shed. It was the Fourth of July, and early as it was,

of the occasion. He had spent a sleepless night, tossing and rollin

or discomfort, but his career of usefulness and work was over-the d

the calm resignation in her gentle face assured Bart that they would be of one

you to go in and get some rest, and try not to take this too hard. I

se. "Everything is burned up, your father will never be able t

ire, and they have a system to look after here that must not be neglected. I know the ropes pretty well, thanks to father, and I think it a matter of duty to act just as he would were he able to be about, and further and protect the company's inte

yal son, allowed Bart to lead her into the house, and tried to be calm and cheerful when he bade her go

ood silently ruminating for some minutes. He tried to think things out

ait for some official information. In the meantime, though, somebody has got to keep the ball rolling here. I seem to be the only one about, and I am

t into motion a plan his quick

-like structure. He remembered the time, several years

hen the railroad gave up the burned building which they had occupied for

ood half open. Inside was a heap of old boards, and empty boxes and barr

Bart found intact. He ran them down to the building he had determined to

as not yet seven o'clock, but when Bart reached the in-freight house he found it open

fire, and knew Bart as well, and liked him, and when he m

me nails, a broom, a marking pot and brush

ious, he noticed that it had been opened up since he had passed it last. Some

ch outside and stuck his head

gular flagman on duty for whom Wacker had been substituting f

ay, you've had a fire. I h

ously hurt," answ

e troubles of m

he matter,

-nothing Lem Wacker work he'll know i

loaded to the top with tobacco and cigarette ends. Then he cast out half a

ok at my table there, all burned with matches and covered with burnt

e black streaked face he had tried to survey

I'll have a word or two for Lem Wacker when it comes to settling day, I'm thinking. He co

Bart thoughtfully.

nd lofty, and said he h

surmising a good deal

d there what he expected to find-the missing flag from the switch shanty; on

sturbing extraneous affairs, massing all his faculties fo

king outfit painted across it in six-inch letters

SS OF

amb in such a way that it was

littering up the room, swept it, and selected two packing cases and nailed them up into a convenient impromptu desk, ma

day previous from his father as to the

thing, but as these had been destroyed th

ld be held over until the following day except what was marked special or perisha

an hour later, he ran the truck down to the site of t

, backing down the express car. Its en

el

he ruins as Bart explained that, until some new arrangement wa

ug store soda fountain, and two for the picnic grounds, where an afternoon celebration was on the pro

turn inside of half an hour, and loaded into the wagon the entire mor

fternoon, and he stowed them in the new express shed,

ough receipt book out of some loose sheets, and when he cam

ad lost their goods in the fire. Bart explained the situation, saying that they wo

ery anxious about his father, was thankful his parent had escaped with his life, whil

ded. "Some of the express people

packages had been destroyed by the fire, when two boys crossed t

rry Haven, his companion a younger brother, Bo

are the lady's troubles. Mr. Haven had been an editor, but his health had failed, and Mrs. Haven, having some artistic ability and experience, was

ackage of illustrati

ugh to-day, or until you get things i

th," explained Bart, "but you leave the package here an

ire-loss list when a heavy st

aring and evidently on business, stood in

uttered, "W

office," said

y commented the ma

politely a

p; doing bu

can," ann

ed the visitor bending a

uire?" interrogated Bart, pleas

e I am the superintendent of the express company, yo