St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-10-27
THE ENGINEERS STORY.

THE ENGINEERS STORY.
"A Midnight Experience in the White
Mountains.
1t had been showing steadily all day
long, not in boisterous, tempestuous
way, but quietly and persistently, as if
the feathery flakes which were rapidly
piling themselves one upon the other
<on the frozen ground had come for a
long stay. Towards night the wind
began to rise, and when the darkness
settled down moderate winter storm
was raging. We were waiting in the
little station at L. for the down
train, telegraphed an hour and half
behind time, and were endeavoring to
keep warm around the small air-tight
stove which served as the only heating
medium in the low-studded apartment.
L. is place of little Importance ex-
cept as railroad center, for here two
trunk lines cross each other, and it is also
the point where locomotives were
changed on the different trains. With
the exception of the hustle and excite
ment incident to junction station,
there was but little to attract a tourist,
and the few natural charms the place
possessed at this time were hidden be-
meath the soft covering of snow. So
the weary walters were forced by dearth
of amusement, as well as the storm, to
while away the time as best they could
in the dingy depot. The different time
cables were perused, the flaming adver-
tisements scrutinized, all to no purpose,
for the hands of the monotonous-tick-
ing clock crept around the dial with
that tardy pace peculiar to railroad
time pieces when one is waiting for a be-
lated train.
The conductor who was to take
charge of the express came in to warm
his hands by the little stove, and soon
the party was increased by the engi-
neer, whose machine could be dimly
seen far down the track ready for its
expected charge.
bad night, Bob" said the conduct
or. s.Better come in and warm up. She
won't be here for an hour yet. =
The engineer made some reply, and
Joined the circle around the stove. He
was man of slight build, dropping
shoulders, and perhaps not up to the
average height. Rather effeminate at
first sight, until one noticed the square
firm chin, the quick, steady eyes, and
the lines about the mouth, which
showed that beneath that calm face and
quiet manner lay the will both to do
and dare. He had been selected es-
pecially to run this night express on ac-
count of the danger of the position, for
the down train was frequently late, and
the lost time must be made up before
reaching the end of the road in order to
meet connections. Time and again
nothing but the GOODNESS and judgment
of the engineer had brought this train
to its destination in safety, and Bob
Jennings, as he was called, had been
remarkably fortunate, and had never
met with serious accident. The run
ming of the two trains up to l. and
back to the city constituted his days
work The position was a responsible
one, the remuneration good, and the
ssiob,,' as the boys termed it, was
looked upon with envy by Bob's fellow
engineers.
After some minutes passed in con-
versation between the engineer and
conductor, the latter suddenly re.
marked:
How was it, Bob, you happened to
get this express? The Superintendent
of the Portland & Ogdensburg helped
you to it, didn't he, on account of that
affair up in the mountains? Tell us
about it?
eyes, yes" spoke tip several who
had overheard the conversation. Let
a,s hear the story, by all Means
q Well, boys" said Bob, as he bit of
"a generous chew, and deposited the
quid lovingly in his cheek, " it AIM
much of a yarn, and it II make you laugh,
for you'll think me spooky like. How,
;someyer, it's as true as Gospel, and i
Dan was here he'd say SO, too.
ss'Twas when / was running 40 or
the P. & o. Road which hadn't beer
agoin' more'n a couple Of years. lou
may perhaps be acquainted with the
line. She runs through the White
Mountain Notch, and is built right or
the side Of the hills. How they evel
had the spunk to start such road beats
".