Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-11
pailp ARGUS.
THE RNGIsRER,s PLEDGE.


am an eugiaesr. Ever since - road
vas laid I've uavsued il every day of my
life.
For . COED while I've had the same en-
CINE in OhArge-the San Francisco, the pref
test engine on the road, and as we'll man
aged, IL | say il, as the best.
II was Southwestern road, running, aa
We viii say, from A TO z. Ala my good
mother lived; ct z had the sweetest little
wife andsr the sun, aud baby; aud / always
had dollar or two TO put by for . rainy
day. was an odd kind Of q mao. Being
shut up with an engine, watching with all
your eyos aud heart and soul, inside and out |
dont makes man laxative.
Ny wife's name was Josephine, and l
called her Joe.
never belonged 10 q club or mixed M
self up with strangers any way, aud never
would IL it hadn't been for CRANKY. You
see CRANKY was one Of the Shareholders,
. handsome, SNOWY fellow, and we were
friends He often rode from A TO Il and
back again with me. once he said
You ought to belong 10 the Scientific
Club, Gueldsn.'
Il never heard of it, said /.
Il Am q member, said he. we meet
once fortnight, aud have jolly good
time. We want thinking men like you,
aud I'll propose you il you like
was fond Of such things, aud | had
idsss that fancied might be worth some
thing. Blu, the engineer don't have many
nights or days to himself, and the club
would have one evening = fortnight from
Joe, I said; ....
Il will ask her. II she likes Il, yes
Ask whom ?'he said.
Joe, said 1.
mans wife would have said, Can't spare
at al, said CRANKY.
But made no answer. At home told
Joe. She said
Il shall miss you, Ned but you do love
such things, and IL CRANKY belongs to il
they must be superior men
SO said yes, and CRANKY proposed me.
Thursday fortnight | went with him to the
rooms. The real business of the evening
was the supper.
| had always been . temperate man.
did not know What effect vine would have
on me. bat coming 10 drink more of il thar
ever had before 81 the club table, found
10 put steam on. After so many glasses
wanted TO talk, and after so many more,
did.
seemed like somebody else, the world
we're so ready. My ideas came out AnC
we're listened to. made sharp hits Gnt
INDUCED in repArtee, told stories, and ever
came 20 puns. l heard somebody say
CRANKY, by George, thatsa man -ortl
having. j thought him doll at frat Ye
knew il Was better 10 be quiet Nei Guel-
den, with his ten words an hour, than III,
wine made vii was.
was sure Of il when three months after
stumbled up stairs TO fud Joe waiting fO
me with her baby on her breast
You've been deoeiving me, said Joe, :
suspected 1t, but wasn't sure. A Scientific
Club oouldu't smell like bar room.
Which means that do said
And look like one said Joe, and locked
herself and baby up in the spare bed
room.
one night as vas dressed to 10, 10,
stood before me.
Ned, said she, Il never had fault t.
End with you before. You've been kind Ant
good and loving always; but should b,
sorry we ever met Vt you 20 on in this way
Don't ask what meAn-you know
'IGs only club night said /.
IL vii grow, said she.
Then she pat her arms around my neck
Ned, said abe, do you think shiog 81
much like bolted aud strapped down de
mon a. steam is, ia 1T TO put into the baud
OF = drunken mAn2 And some day, mari
my words, not only Thursday nizht, bot 81
the days OF the week will be the same
have often heard you wonder what the feel
ings OF an engineer who has about the sam,
~ murdered train full Of people, must be
and you'll know if you don'i stop where yoI
are. A steady hand aud clear head hav,
been your blessing oil these years. Don
IhroW them away. Ned, if you donI care
for my love, don'truin yoorselt'
'Don's be afraid, child; I'll never pain yoJ
again
Aud meant IL, but ct twelve O CLOCK tina
night feli that bad forgotten my pronis,
and my resolution.
coudn't get home 10 Joe. made ri
ms mind 70 sleep on the club sofa, ant
leave the place for good the next dsy. al
ready fslg my brain reel as it had nsVsI
done before. 10 an hour WAS In kind o
asupor. IL vas morning. A waiter sloo,
ready ~ brush my coat. ] saw = grin OF
his face. Ny heart seemed ready to burs,
my hand irsmbsd looked 81 my watch;
had only Jus, Eve minutes TO reach th
depot
Jos's words came 10 my mind. Was
~ 10 take charge Of 40 engine? was nc
&c 70 answer. | oughs 70 have asked som
sober man. AS 20 was, only caught my hu
rushed away. 1 was Just IN time
The San FrAnoisco glis,snsd 10 the sun
The cars we're filing rapidly. From IN,
posi- could hear the people talking blddin
each othsr good by, and promising to writ
and earua aU.tn Auan0 han Il
gsnlleman ! knew by sighi-ons Of tn
shareholders he was bidding two TIM
Eirla adisa.
Good by, Kuiy-good BY, Lue,' hear
him say don't BE- nervous. The San Fran
CISCO Is the safest engine on the line, ant
Gusldsn the most careful engineer.
would not be afraid TO ,ruH every mortal l.
their keeping. Nothing could happen wron
with the $50 together
said, veil get through iI somehow, az
Joe shall Esvsr talk to me again. After a.
twas easy suough. | rsslsd rs spoke.
heard the signal We were of.
Five houra from L TO ID; ave hours back
o. the lAs, should DO myself again.
knew nov. ! GAuN hutIer, aud nsvs
guessed What IL was until We had pas'
ed the down train 81 the wrong place. Tw
minutes more and W should have had
collision. Somebody told me. ! Laughed
heard him say respectfully;
'Of course. Mr.. Gueldeu, you know wis
you are aboutP
Then was alone, and wondering whett
or / should 20 faster OF slower. did SONS
thing and the cars rushed on at fearf'
rate. The same man who had spoken I
me before was standing near me. j hear
some question.
He's many miles an hour are We NAL
ingY didn't know.
Tattle, rattle, rAttlel was trying no
10 slAcksn the speed Of shs San francisco
j could uot remember what | should do