The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-03-23

| on aTen uSeu 10 lldlIlplDg, an(
hain't been very long at it, said John
laughing quietly at the rapid manner il
which the supper of himself and fireman
was disappearing.
Not much, Gully replied tae tramp
pausing, with biscuit in one hand ant
the half picked leg of turkey in th'
other, to answer.
Gully" repeated John, eying hin
still more sharply. "You are a show
mani"
"Was, and another few days like in.
last and could play walking skeleton
to perfection and he glanced up at thu
engineer with pair Of The blackest.pos
sible black eyes. and face marked viii
resolution and bravery.
Wat biz" quired John Lathrop.
Bar and trapeze."
He did not appear to have time tC
spare to make lengthy replies-only ut
tered the briefest possible between
mouthsful. and noticing this his question
er paused until he had finished his almos
wolfish meal and then resumed:
Il used to kick up my heels and s:ru
over the saw dust once myself
Your
Yes; bnt | gave it up years agO-hat
little set to with tiger, and got nearly
chawed up. And you don't look as i
you had Jared much better Here's pipe
smoke, and spin your yarn
"Well, did the flying trapeze and al
hat sort Of things in the Grand Trans
continental and Ever-so-many Other
things Circus. Humbugs were better
name as it turned out for us. Yet | reel
on we might have got our pay if it had
been a success. But we had devil of a
hard time. The public didn't appreciate
horses gave out, wagons broke down
he premiere equestrienne' ran away
with Bones of the sideshow, funds rar
low, the great Polar bear wanted his ice
became disguised and turned up his toes
the zebra passed in his checks, and the
result was We became fiat broke and had
to leave our baggage, and take the tramp
in order to get home"
Been there myself, said John Lathror
becoming interested.
Then | needn't tell you what sort Of 4
time have had footing it, stealing rides
and begging for something to eat
Bad enough in summer" growled
John Lathrop.
"But now? Talk of the North Pole
Whew, | thought / should freeze to
death in that old tank with the water q
dripping and freezing around me; and il
You hadn't taken care of me guess I'd
have thrown myself under the cars and
put an end to 'he thing What's the use
Of fighting hard times and bad luck for
ever?'
We'll, cheer mp. You're Ill right now
that is, TO the end of nv run. Then
"a. shall go home with me and recruit
bit, and It'll go hard if | cant manage
to get you a free ride with some u the
boys TO the ei d of the road. Itsagainst
sll orders, but John Lathrop's got a
heart in him. and went see any one suf-
fer if he can help it-not much.
His presence attested the truth of his
words. He was tall. broad shouldered
and deep-chested, and his face told Of
goodness" in every feature and his man
ner, if bluff, was hearty. In the physic-
al, the stranger was his opposite. Yet
his frame was strongly knit. and his
muscles. trained by severe and long con-
tinued exercise. until they STOOD out as
whip cords, strictly obeyed his will and
were firm as steel, and daring flashed
from his black eyes and was revealed by
every line about the mouth.
Il don't know" he said, looking at the
engineer thankfully, how am | ever to
pay you. My life you certlinly saved,
and it may be can DO you good turn
some day. If the chance comes,you can
depend upon my doing it, for I'm not
one to forget favor"
'Ibelieve it. But don't think of my
giving you a ride and a bite. It's no
more than anv man that wasn't brute
would have done, and who knows but
either or my boy, when he grows up.
may want a lift of the same kind"
Your boy?"
@Yes, the brightest, cutest little chap
you ever saw. I'll show him to you to
morrow. Yes, and my wife, too-just
The prettiest dearest little woman that
ever walked in two shoes"
No SO was running smoothly and
steadily along. 1t was Sunday morning,
and there was nothing in the way, not
even an up-train to pass until John
Lathrop would uncouple his iron steed
and put him in the great round stable,
70 rest and be Gle ned. for twenty-four
hours. So while the fireman kept his
eyes ahead John Lathrop seated himself.
and, while keping watch of the steam
guage and his eyes open, told f his early
life under canvas, his present home hap
piness, and the bright-eyed. blithe- heart
ed ones that were waiting there to vel
come him.
The life Of an engineer, he said, has
its ups and downs the same as any other
and is full of dangerand requires sharp
lookousstrong hands and quick decision.
I know one is never safe. and my Jen-
ME often talks Of what narrow escapes
I've had, and shivers as she thinks how
others have been killed running over this
very road"
Why don't you give it up
"Well, there's an excitement about it I
like. and the pay is certain though it
aren't what it ought to be considering
the risk we nave to run and how we carry
our lives in our hands as one might say.
Keep sharp look out, Jack" ITO the
tireman) Il remember well running
over this very section on such night as
some 'hree years ago. and going smash