The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-02-01


resolution and bravery.
"Wnat biz% Queried John Lathrop.
Bar and trapeze."
He did not appear to have time to
spare to make lengthy replies-on ut
tered the briefest possible between
mouthfuls; and, noticing this, his ques-
toner paused until he had finished his
almost wolf-ike meal, and then resum-
ed:
81 used to kick up my heels and
strnt over the sawdust once myself"
| "You"
eyes, but gave it up years ago
had little set-to with tiger, and got
nearly chawed up. And you don't look
as if you had Jared much better.
Here's pipe-smoke, and spin your
yarn"
"Weli, / did the hying-trapeze and
all that sort of thing in the Grand
Trans-continental and Ever-so.many-
other things. Circus. Humbug were
better name, as it turned out for US.
Yet reckon we might have got our
pay if it had been a success. But We
had devil of hard time. The pub
lie didn't appreciate-horses gave out,
wagons broke down, the premiere
equestrienne' ran away with Bones of
the side-show, funds ran low, the great
Polar bear wanted his ice, became dis
gusted and turned up his toes; the
zsbra passed In his checks, and the re-
suit was we became fat broke, and had
to leave our luggage and take the tramp
in order to get home"
"Been there myself" said John
Lathrop, becoming deeply interested.
"Then I needn't tell you what sort Of
time have had footing it, stealing
ride and begging for som ethlng to eat"
Bad enough in summer" growled
John.
But now2 Talk of the North Pole.
Whew 1 thought l should freeze to
death in that old tank with the water
dripping and freezing around me; and
| if you hadn't taken care of me, guess
I'd thrown myself under the cars and
put ali end to the thing. What's the
use of lighting hard times and bad luck
| forever"
Well, cheer up. You're all right
now-that is, to the end of my run.
Then you shall 60 home with me and
recruit bit, and it'll 60 hard if l can't
manage to get you free ride with
some of the boys to the end of the
road. It's against all orders, but John
Lathrop's got heart in him and won't
see any one suffer if he can help it
not much"
His presence attested the truth of
his words. He was tall, broad shout
dered and deep-chested, and his face
told of goodness in every feature, and
his manner, if bluff, was hearty. In
the physical the stranger was his oppo-
site. Yet his frame was strongly-knit,
and his muscles trained by severe and
long continued exercise until they
stood out ss whip-cords, strictly obeyed
his will, and were firm as steel, and
daring flashed from his black eyes,
and were revealed by every line about
the mouth.
II don't know" he said, looking at
the engineer, thankfully, chow am
ever to pay you. My life you certainly
saved, and it may be / can do you
good turn some day. If the chance
comes, you can depend upon my doing
it, for Pm not one to forget favor"
81 believe it. But don't think of
my giving you ride and bite. It's
no more than any man that wasn't
brute would have done; and who
knows but either l or my boy, when he
grows up, may want lift of the same
kind"
"Your boy?"
"Yes, the brightest, cutest little
chap you ever saw. I'll show him to
you tomorrow. Yes, and my wife,
too-just the prettiest, dearest little
woman that ever walked In two Shoes"
steadily along. 1t was Sunday morn
ing, and nothing was 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
to rest and be cleaned for twenty-four
hours. So while the fireman kept his
eyes ahead, John Lathrop seated him
self, and while keeping watch of the
steam-gauge and his eyes open, told of
his early life under canvas, his present
home happiness, and the brighteyed,
blithe-hearted ones that were waiting
there to welcome him.
"The life of an engineer" he said,
"has its ups and downs the same as
any other, and is full of danger, and
requires sharp lookout and strong
hand and quick decision. know one
is never safe, and my Jennie 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 like, and the pay is certain, though
it aren't what it ought to be consider
ing the risks we have to run and how
we ever carry our lives in our hands,
as one might say. Keep sharp look
out, Jack" (To the freman) 1 re-
member we'll running over this very
some section on such night as this,
some three years ago, and going smash
through the culvert over the Big Stony,
and breaking things generally. Engine,
tender, and half a dozen cars were
stove and piled up together, my fire.
man killed, and 1 was dragged out
from under the wreck, pretty badly
scalded and used up. But, my time
r hadp, ts come yet, and was soon on the
Something on the track, Looks
like somebody waving lantern, but
the sleet is so thick can't rightly make
out" shouted the fireman.
John Lathrop sprang to his post,
made the whistle shrek like an impris-
oned and tortured fend, reversed the
engine, and visited on brakes. But his
| trained eye instantly saw it would be of
no use-that he could not check the
| hesdway of the heavy train in time to
avert running over the object, be it
what it might, for the track was SO mar
row and walled in by high embank-
ments that escape was impossible. Be-
sides, they were upon the something
upon the track" before they were
aware of it, having just rounded a
sharp curve.
There is my home," gasped John
Lathrop. pointing out into the gloom,
"The Big Stony is just ahead, and-Oh,
my Cod if tho c,,lvorf ohorli howe