Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-05-31

been drinking. Leslie was a man born TO
command, aud when he threw King into
the seat at the side of the cab and told
him to stay there" the engineer obeyed
like child. Then Leslie took the trottle.
much TO the relief of the fireman q green
hapd), and the small hours of the morning
safely drew Number Nineteen into Track.
vile.
The four-hours, ride, relieved from
duty, had sobered up the engineer. so
that he was able to take 4O4 into the
IOundhousv, and as Leslie stepped from
the engine in the depot he said TO the
conductor. tom was pretty sick about
the time we jumped over that crossing
guess | went TO him in the nick of time
he's better now"
To Tom he had said rather sternly:
Come up 20 my Office at ten o'clock"
Robert Leslie was at his desk the next
morning when King entered looking pale
and agitateG.
81 suppose it's all up, Rob-" he said.
"You a.e gong 10 discharge me, and |
deserve It, Wen, it don't matter much;
nobody will feel the disgrace but my
self"
Tom replied the friend ana chief,
"this Is a serious matter, and for the ter
rible breach of discipline with its fearful
possibilities | ought TO discharge you.
But am more grieved thar offended. l
know what is the trouble, Tom, but you
should be too much of man, to act in
this way. See here, Tom King, l am not
going TO discharge you, because some
body would be disgraced beside yourself
| should feel my old friends fate keeuly;
Miss Gray would feel it more. On the
first of the month | am going to appoint
you foreman of tbs big rouudhouse here.
That will be promotion in the way of
pay, and it will keep you in Trackville all
the time. am going 10 make my head
quarters a. Sandy Run for the next few
months. That's all, Tom Be man"
There were big tears filling Tom Kings
eyes as he took the perintendent's hand
in a strong grip and in choky voice
said; Rob, | will be a msp-till die"
Yes, it cost Robert Leslie q big effort
to do do that good deed for a man will
give up a great deal before he will lose
his chances on winning the girl on whom
he has set his heart; and Leslie knew that
in thus lessening his own opportunities
by leaving Trackville, he added to his
friends chances. But then Supt Leslie's
friendship for the engineer was no fairy
tale--no my;h--no thin veneering; it was
true friendship, and he could not bear to
see his old companion going wong. And
Bob Leslie was good judge OF human
natures he knew that his kindness to, and
expression of confidence in, Tom King
would not be thrown away. And it was
not.
Two months later Engineer King was
married to Miss Jennie Gray, and right
happily they lived together until death
claimed the young wife for his own.
One year later everything at Trackville
was ominOusly still. The tracks were fill
ed with idle care the round houses with
idle engines, and the streets with idle
men. There was a great strike in prog
cess and the feeling between the Officials
and employees was very bitter. Doubtless
there was fault on both sides, but at any
rate the long delay in arriving at a settle
ment only strained the relations to dan
ger0us tension. For the most part the
men we're in favor of preserving law and
order and abstaining from anything like
riot. But, as is always the case, there
NtAk a uhA4An1A VI AAE1bANhhNNd dAAA lNhh-
less spirits who refusd to be governed by
the common sense of the majority, and
it was this lawless and unreasonable sec
tion of the strikers from whom the otlic-
ials of the Overland Western appfehend-
ed danger.
The superintendent, Mr.. Lesie, sat in
his Office in the Trackville depot, with him
being the master mechanic Of the Track
vile Shoes, Thomas King; at a little dis
lance away from them was the operator
watching the ticker as it clicked iuces-
sanity.
Both our old friends were easily recog-
nizable, though suspicious streaks of
gray were to be seen IN the hair of both
men.
"rhis is fearfully dull work, Tom, said
the superintendent. 81 almost wish our
directors would agree to concede a few
points to the men. The road has been
practically idle three weeks. The worst
of it is am afraid there is serious trouble
ahead-so much that | sent Bertha away
on No. s this afternoon Bertha was
Robert Leslie's wife.
1t should be explained that No. 8 being
a mail train was one of the few watch the
strikers dared not prevent running. No.
had only left on her way West about ten
minutes.
"Click click click went the tele.
graph instrument. In a minute the
operator handed the superintendent a
message.
A crowd of men are working on the
trestle over Yellow Dog Creek. Think
there is mischief in the wind.
OPERATOR, YELLOW Doc.
Leslie read the h essage with alarm and
handed it to a detective who at that
moment entered.
''Yes," said the detective. "There is
mischief brewing. have at THIS instant
learned that the strikers have spread
themselves all along the road between
here and Yellow Dog, OF the trestle
heard nothing, but / did hear that they
are going to cut the wires and render
them useless. Has No. gone ont yet?H
Eyes, more than ten minutes" said
Leslie "She has passed the first tele
graph station by this time, but we can
catch her at the Mex, Johnson 60 the
OPERATOR "call up the agent at Water
bury and ten him 70 hold No. Shave
him repeat back The order"
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