The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-02-23
THE 1Ri HIPS RIDE.
AN ESGINEER'S STORY.

No. Ninety-nine stood putting and blow
ing of steam at the water tank Of IL little
wayside station-a beauty aud marvel Of
brass and iron and STEEL strong beyond
smile, making play of the hundred coal
cars it drew swiftly along, with its eye
piercing the darkness as "a MONDAY sun.
with its b, cath of fleecy steam and heart of
volcanic fire, and John Lathrop stood with
band upon whistle aud throttle, waiting the
signal to go ahead.
John Lathrop peered out Of the cab win
dow into the biting cold aud sleet bu, dcned
air-thinking of the hard wiuter-llle al
most starvation prices to which wages had
been reduced, aud, more than all, of his
humble home and bright eyed little boy of
half dozen years, who was then dreaming
that papa would be home to breakfast and
spend the next day, Sunday, with them.
cts harG TO be poor" he said, brushing
the icy frost from his heavy beard and
moustache, ''and it does seem rs if :he
company might he IA little more liberal after
the way they worked us aud piled up stamps
during the Centennial. But
''.Iohn, here's tramp" sung out the
fireman from the interior of the water tank.
That's nothing new,' was the answer.
''They were as plenty all summer as black
berres.'
"But the poor fellows half starved and
frozen, ana begs SO hard for ride"
Ride? iIumph Aud get sent up for
thirty days, If any of the big guns of the
road find il out ?"
The light from the open furnace door
sbOne full upCn the face of the tramp as lie
stepped from the desolate icy tank where
he had paused to gain something Of shelter,
even if little of warmth. A rapid sign
passed between him aud the engineer, and
the latter continued
Come aboard IN take the chances.
Il 4. Il
away, and mighty clear of the brakemen
showing their faces more than they can
possibly help such night as this. Anyhow
/ m not going to leave a fellow being to
starve and freeze to death for all the rail
road companies this side of Canada. -
Blessed if | do! Come aboard, old fel-
low
The tramp obeyed the summons, and
his scanty clothiug, numbed hands aud feet
and pincted up features told how sadly lie
was inneed of food aud warmth he caring
furnace speedily supplied the ore, and the
dinner pals of the engine and fireman the
other, though they would sadly miss their
hot coffee.
Two shrieks of the whistle, tug at the
lever, and Ninety-nine started and shot
away with the long train following behind
like an immense black serpent over an air
line around curve, through tunnel and
across bridge. Then John Lathrop bad
more time to more closely scrutiuze aud
talk to his unpaying passenger. The mys-
tic sign that had passed between them told
of brotherhood and paved the way to his
thinking well of him.
You aren't used 10 tramping and hahn
been long at it, said he, laughing quietly
at the rapid manner in which the supper OF
himself and fireman were disappearing.
Not much, Gully" replied the tramp.
pausing with q biscuit in one hand and the
half picked leg of turkey in the other.
"Cully ?" repeated John, eyeing him
still sharply. ''you are Snowman"
"Was aud few more days like the last
aud could play walking skeleton To per-
fec,ion," and he glanced up at the engineer
with the blackest possible eyes. and face
marked with resolution and bravery.
"What business ?" queried john Lath-
rop.
s'Bar and trapeze."
He did not appear to have time to spare
to make lengthy replies-only uttered the
briefest possible between mou;hfu's aud
noticing this his questioner paused until he
had finished his almost wolf like meal and
then resumed.
81 used to kick up my heels and strut
over the sawdust once myself"
"You?''
Eyes, but gave it up years ago-had a
little set to With q tiger aud nearly cLawcd