Show NT 1 1 THE rhe BRAKER IANIS LESSON too late tom ton jeffrey learned the V value lue of a decisive no A fine young fellow was tom jeffreys ir ays eys strong pleasant and good looking he was but eighteen when he first began railroading but he be could set a brake with the best when bis his clear deep voice announced the stations people listen listened dd and made no mistake old ladies caught the gleam of his I 1 pleasant eye and let him help them on and arid off with grateful surprise mothers with more children than they could manage tired women bundle laden and old men recognized a friend and made Us use of lim nor were the railroad officials blind to the young mans helpful and 71 popularity and although tom toni edid did not bream dreim of it bis his was one on a list of mames that meant promo promotion the young brak emans easy going goin good nature however was a drawback drawback in one direction he ile disliked to say no when the train reached boston lie ile always had two boors hours to spare in that time some one of the boys was sure to say come tom lets go to the bar bers bees now this sounded very innocent but in the barbers back room was a green gree n door which opened on a stairway leading down aown into a drinking saloon here the men used to gather a few at a time to take a little something tom usually said his good humored no that meant a reluctant yes and ended by going lie ile never felt wholly at case when taking his beer he ire would not have gone for it alone over and over again ho he acknowledged to himself that it was the laughter of his chums that took look his courage away and so things went on A sear year slipped by and beer eliad iad become almost an everyday drink with him when one afternoon he was summoned from the bar barbers bees shop to the office jeffreys said the superintendent when he entered 1 I have been very much pleased with the way in which your duties have been performed on the road toad in the past and I 1 find wo we need another conductor the gentleman suddenly stopped and then the pleasant smile was gone sir mr jeffreys s your breath tells me that you havo have been drinking only a little beer sir said poor tom flushing crimson 1 I am very sorry replied tho the superintendent in but that will be all today yon you may go the young man left the office downcast disheartened heartened dis what he had been wishing for what he had so nearly gained had been lost through his own misconduct As he thought of it the good natured lips took on a firmer curve the next day one of the boys said comin over to the barbers barber sr no replied tom oh come on struck yer that barber has shaved me all he ever will was the answer although toms no seemed very determined ter mined in its sound there was yet something wanting in it he felt it and when after a few days the real longing for a glass of liquor began to make itself felt it seemed as if the no would 11 bo yes in spite of himself no use in lockin the barn bam door now said his chum the boss hoss is stole the super knows youve taken a smile now mow and then and hell never forget it better be young while you can tom still said no but the little negative grow weaker and weaker the next thing it would be yes when this was almost accomplished spurred by his danger and remembering his early training in the right liewert he went into an empty car and kneeling on the bare floor prayed for strength to resist and then he said 1 I learned to speak a no that all the men on the road turn into a yes christian at work |