Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-10-21
Running Pilot. .

| ply.
"Tell him to come here, will you?
and hurry up?
The foreman hastened away, and both
he and Seth Martin must have "spread
themselves" as the former said, for in
few minutes the engine-driver stood
before his chief.
The great man took a comprehensive
look at the engineer, who hinched not a
muscle. His-clear, steady eyes were as
blue as the sky handsome brown
beard ornamented his face, which, albeit
rather dirty, was full Of character and
determination. To use the popular ex-
preston, che was pure gold down to
bed rock"
The superintendent, satisfied with his
scrutiny, nodded to the englne-driver
and said:
There's specie train up out of Col
linsville tonight, Seth"
Il know that" was the curt response.
"And it will require close watching"
continued the chief.
81 s'pose so-I know that" repeated
Seth.
"You are mighty KNOWN this even
ing" said the superintendent, smiling;
"but there is one thing you don't know,
Sonny. You don't know that you are
going to run pilot to that train"
"Yes, l do," replied the engine-driv-
er.
"Who in thunder told you, then? l
didn't know it myself till ten minutes
ago l'
"You told me this minute, then l
knew it." replied Seth, smiling, and dis
closing his white, even teeth. "I'm
ready, boss"
"Seth Martin, you ought to be a
Judge; your talents are thrown away on
this line. But listen; we've no time to
split straws in chaff There's very
festive gang of desperadoes hanging
about up hartford way. They nearly
wrecked the through Pacific last week.
Fortunately, the passengers were handy
with their shootin' irons and bullets was
rainin' pretty thick, else there would
have been something unpleasant.
"Wa'al," said the engine-driyer. ego
ahead"
"Now you must run pilot to the spe-
Gle train and see that the lines clear up
as far as Dartford City. Ye can shunt
at the Trestle- Bridge siding and wait to
pull the wagons up the Bunker incline
through the cutting. Once safe there
ye can rattle along, and lnind ye keep a
good lookout
"You bet ]" was Seth's reply. I'D
better take my six-shooter, suppose.
, Well have to fight, maybe ?"
"Moost likely" replied the superin-
, tendent, coolly. "Keep this quiet. I've
got men on the lookout along the line.
Who's your mate?"
"English Tom Atkins" was the reply.
"He's grit !"
"All right, then,' said the chief.
: "Now don't drink; keep full head Of
steam; bring back the specie safe, and
f -"
"Wa'al 2" drawfed the other, coolly.
III provide for your family if you're
= hurt or shot; if not, I'll reward you"
sis that all, then? Well, good night,
r boss. and thank yc."
e Good luck" was the answer ..I'll
a not forget you"
Seth Martin turned away with noe
! ! of acknowledgement and directed hii
. steps to the shed where his engine was
/ standing pilot" This means that the
engine had steam up (or was Gin steam
; to speak, technically and was ready fol
q any sudden emergency. The driver wa
. just as well pleased te run couple o
. hundred miles on dark night, ever
when the chance of being shot, as t
r the "White House" itself.
Ie "Tom p
r "Hallo !" came back in an unmistaka
BILE English voice.
"Fire up bit; we're bound west
specie pilot; 10 o'clock. Keep itquiet.
'e A man, unseen by the driver, put u
IN his head to listen. a
= Seth was man of action, and so wa
at his mate, Tom Atkins. They looked t
ID the engine and their revolvers I; put
IN dozen cartridges in tin can; filled
,1 ,1 similar can with some old Bourbon whis
= ky at saloon close by, whittier the
+ were followed by the man who had bee
10 listening to their conversation, and wh
a noted their preparations.
~ After communicating with some az
'le complice, this mysterious individual lei
!" the saloon and made his way toward th
be signal box. which stood some distanc
ia down the line.
1t
he AS soon as the engine driver and hi
mate were recognized they were warml
y
no welcomed, for they were favorites. Man
ls- drinks were rendered for their accep
re ance, and declined on various pleas, II
- at length one man declared the Britishe
Ii. wanted to fix an insult on free-bor