The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-08-23
- o l-e q t II ale
Ten Minutes Late.

low on the line than George Kirke.
He was the son Of poor man,
and his mother was dead. His faith
er was confirmed invalid OF the
rheumatic order, and George played
the dutiful son to him in way that
would astonish the young men OF to
day.
Somehow, nobody knew exactly
how George managed 10 pick up a
good education, and he had polished
it of, so to speak, by a two years
course at numerical college.
Kirke begin on the Stony Hill
Railroad when he was about FL or
22 years OF age. First he was a
breakeman. This railway business
is o regular success sion, aud general
ly speaking, n man has to work his
way up IL amt often that lie gets
right up to the dignity of a conduc-
tor at one step, with the chance to
pocket ten cent scrips, and with tho
privilege Of helping all the good
looking and well-dressed ladies out
of the cars, aud letting the homely
ones, with babies anl band boxes in
their arms stumble cut as best they
can.
George did his duty so well that
he was soon promoted to firemen,
and after he had learned the work :
ings of the machine, he was made an
engineer and given an engine.
The engine was one OF the newest
and best on the line, and was called
the "Flyaway," and George was
mighty proud Of her. you may we'll
bolieve.
tell you, sir. your true engineer
one as is ont and out for his bust
ness and feels his responsibility
takes as much pride in his engine as
the jockey does in his fsvorite race
horse, and would sit up nights, or
neglect sweet t-heart, 70 keep the
brasses and 6lagrees OF his machine
SOS you could see your face in 'em.
There was another man wanted
Georges chance. There's generally
more than one after every paying
Job.
Jack Halliday had been waiting
for some time to be engineer OF the
Flyaway, and when he lost it lie was
mad enough to pull Hair. He was
breakeman, likewise, aud had been
on the road full two years longer
than Kirke, and it would seem that
the chance really belonged TO him,
yet he was quarrelsome, disa
greeable fellow, with independence
enough to have set an Emperor up
in business, aud atill have had some
loft.
When Jack realized that George
had got tho inside track of him, his
anger was ut white heat. He curs-
cd Kirke, and cursed tho company
and old Whately, the Superinten.
don't. and things generally, until it
seemed pity that there was not
something else to curse, he was in
such flno cursing order.
There was moro than ono thing
which made John Halliday down on
George Kirke. George lad been
his rival in many respects, and par
tioularly where the fairer creation
was concerned. George was q great
favorite with tho girls, for ho was
handsome aud generous and good
natured, md Jack was sarcastic, and
always on tho contrary side, and the
girls avoided him, as they always
should such men.
We always expected that i'll would
como TO George, from Jacks bad
blood against him, and we warned
him more than onco, but ho always
laughed. and reminded us of tho old
saying that barking dogs seldom
bite, which Ia true in tho main.
And as tho time went on, until
three or four months had passed.
since Kirko's promotion, and moth.
ing had occurred, wo forgot all q.
bout our apprehepsions Of evil, and
wo thought wo had wronged Halli-
day by our suspicious.
II was O dark night in November,
with considerable fog IN tho air, aud
strong appearances OF rain
IL was q Golosha, tho northern tor.
minus OF tho road, looking aftor
somo repairs on a defective boiler
aud ! WAS going down TO New York
on the 7:50 train--Kirkes train.
Abont 7 there camo telegram
from .,ld Whaieiv. whom sum ma,