Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-27
RUNNING "PILOI."

"Who is standing pilot this eve
ning?" said the superintendent or
"boss," as he was called,
"Seth Martin" was the foreman's
reply.
"rell 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 a few minutes the en-
gine.driyer stood before his chief.
The great man took a compre-
hensiye look at the engineer, who
flinched not a muscle. His clear,
steady eyes were as blue as the sky !;
handsome brown beard orna-
mented his face, which, albeit
rather dirty, was full of character
and determination. TO use the
popular expression, che was pure
gold down to bed rock"
The superintendent, satisfied with
his scrutiny, nodded to the engine.
driver and said:
"There's a special train up out ol
Collinsville tonight, Seth"
Tknow that" was the curt re-
sponse."
"And it will require close watch.
ing" continued the chief.
"I s'poSe SOL know that" re.
peated Seth.
"You are mighty KNOWN this
evening"" said the superintendent
smiling, "but there is one thing yoI
don't know, sonny. You dom
know that you are going to ruI
pilot to that train"
"Yes, do" replied the engine
driver.
"Who in thunder told you then
1 didn't know it myself till tel
minutes ago!"
'You told me this minute, thel
I knew it," replied Seth, smiling
and disclosing his white, even teeth
"I'm ready, boss"
"Seth Martin, you ought to be
iudpe; your talents are throw
away on this line. But listen
we've no time to split straws i
chaf. There's a very festive gan
of desperadoes hanging about u
hartford way. They nearly wrecke
the through Pacific last week. Fol
tunately the passengers were hand
with ther shootin'-irons, and bul
lets were rainin' pretty thick, elf
there would have been somethin
unpleasant"
HWaal," said the engine-drivel
ego ahead" =,
"Now you must run pilot to I'll
specie train and see that the line
clear up as iar as Dartford Git,
Ye can shunt at tue Trestle BridG
siding and wait to pull the wagol
up the Bunker incline thtonghov
the cuttings. Once safe there,
can rattle along, and mind ye kee
a good lookout"
"You betp was Seth's repl
'1'd better take my six-shooter,
suppose. Well have to fight, ma.
be?"
'Most likely" replied the Supel
intendent, coolly. "Keep this quie
I've got men on the lookout alon
the line. Who's your mate|
"English Tom Atkins" was Il
reply. ''He's gritl'
"All right, then," said the chic
"Now don't drink; keep fullhet
of steam; bring back the spec
safe, and"
"Wa'al?" drawled the 9th
cooily
YOU'RE hurt or shot; if not, I'll ]
as that ali, then? Well, goc
night, boss, and thank ye."
1Good luck" was the answ,
I'll not forget you."
Seth Martin turned away with
nod of acknowledgment and
rected his steps to the shed whit
his engine was standing pilo
This means that the engine b
steam up Tor was Gin steam" !"
speak technically and was rea =.
for any sudden emergency. 1
driver was Just as we'll pleased
run a couple OF hundred miles o.
dark night, even with the char
of being shot, as to have an invi
tion to the "White House" itself
"Tomw
"Hallol" came back in an unn
taxable English voice.
'Fire up a bit; we're boz
west; specie pilot; ten o'clo
Keep it quiet.
A man unseen by the driver
up his head to listen.
Seth was a man Of action, ant
was his mate, Tom Atkins. i
looked to the engine and their
golyers; put q dozen cartridges