Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) an order of wheatcakes and coffee.

1912		Railway Employees’ Mag. 7 16: ‘Wheat cakes and coffee for mine.’ he said. ‘Running orders!’ yelled the waiter. briskly, and turned to confront the next one. ‘A beefsteak, well done,’ said the last arrival. ‘A hot-box, and have it smoking!’.
1913		Coconino Sun (Flagstaff, AZ) 26 Dec. 2/3: Railroad Eating House Lingo [...] An engineer took a seat at the counter and called for, ‘Wheatcakes and coffee.’ ‘Running orders,’ shouted the waiter.
1945		F.H. Hubbard Railroad Avenue 325: [as 1913].