Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-31
TOM KING, ENGINEER
William II. S. Atkinson.

William Il. S. Atkinson
Trackville is nothing if not railroad
town. The place was created by the
Overland Western Railway and depends
for its very life upoE the existance and
prosperity of that great enterprise.
The traveller passing through Track
nile perceiyes nothing but acres of
tracks, switches, shops, and round
houses, and miles of cars, caboOses, and
locomotives; but back of all these imme-
diate surroundings there is town con-
tanning several thousand sculs-men,
women, and children-all directly or in
directly interested In the success of the
Overland Western.
Ten years ago everybody in TrackviIle
knew Robert Leslie, who, although
scarcely more than 80 years old, was su-
perintendent of the road; and when they
knew Rob Leslie it followed, as a matter
of course, that they also knew Tom King.
King was only an engineer, but wonder
fully bright, intelligent, and pleasant fell
low, and, although there was so much diff
ference IN their respective positions on
the Overland Western, King and the su-
perintendent were warm friends and al
most separable companions in their off
duty hours.
They were both of an age, both were
bachelors, and their tastes and inclina-
tIons we're identical; both came from the
same New England village to enter the
railroad service in the West, both rOOmed
at the same hotel, and the friends of one
were also friends of the other.
But there came a time when the warm
tn of their friendship cooled somewhat,
though both felt sorry for 1t, the cause
being-a woman. As though there were
not enough good, as well as pretty girls
in Trackville for these two men to Sc
cure one apiece, they both had to fall
desperately in love with the same young
lady. Up to the point when this narrative
commences neither Leslie nor Tom King
had expressed their love in words to Miss
Gray, and just how much that young
lady knew or surmised is not for me to
venture an opinion, nor is it necessary to
the story that we should be informed.
Perhaps, at the oGGset, Robert Leslie,
by reason of his superior position on the
railroad and in the town, possessed some
advantage, and at any rate, Tom King
(manlike) SO thought. For when King
slower than his friend, made the discov-
cry that Leslie undoubtedly loved Jennie
Gray, he really thought that mis- own
chances of success as a suitor were very
slim, and made up his mind that he might
as well back out of the race. When he
arrived at this faint-hearted conclusion,
he became ve-y sullep and morose and his
friend wondered at the great change
that had come over the Hght-hearted en-
gineer.
No. 10, the fast eastbound express, was
pulling cut of Sandy Run late on nasty
evening in fall. Engine 404 had just
been attached to the train to haul her
oy er the last division, whose terminus
was Traokville. It was ore of those dark,
rainy, blus tering nights, when railroad
men land especially engineers) require
all their wits about them, and when travel
ers appreciate somewhat the risk of rail-
road travelling after dark. Superinten-
dent Leslie sat in parlor car trying to
steal little sleep after a long and busy
days work. But he could not lose his
senses in slumber-the noise and rattl-
ing of the rushing train, the splash of the
rain on the windows, and the picture of
fair face a hundred and fifty miles away in
Trackville, kept him wide awake.
Onward the heavy train sped, crashing
over thu line of steel rails stretched ac-
ross the almost interminable prairie. It
was known as the Nineteen Flyer, but it
seemed to Leslie that the speed they were
now making was something extraordinary,
AS the conductor passed through the car
the superintendent stopped him.
"This is Kings rum"
Eyes, sir."'
SIS he on to-night?"
Eyes, SIR"
"He's a good man and ought to know
his business; this is a bad night and there
may be washouts. He's running very
fast and we must be near the Big Horn
Crossing Heavensr'
This exclamation was caused by two
quick iolts in succession, such as only su-
perintendent and conductor knew could
be caused by running fast over cross
tracks.
'We've passed the Big Horn Railroad
without a stop! Why, we must be going
50 miles an hour. Are you certain King
is the engineer?"
Yes, sir"
"Wel, don's say a word to any one,
but come to the front of the train and
help me on to the engine"
The two men walked Quickly through
the train, and stepped out to the front
the locomotive. At greet peril with the
aid of the conductor, Leslie climbed on
TO the tender and crawled over the wet
Goals into the cab.
1t was a weird sight, as the red glare
shot out of the furnace, illuminating with
an uncanny CLEAN the excited features
and blood-shot eyes of Tom King. 1t
needed only one glance for the superin-
tendent to see that his old friend had
been drinking. Leslie was man born &c
command, and 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 "a greer
handy, 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, 81
that he was able to take 404 into thu
roundhouse, and as Leslie stepped from
the engine In the depot he said to TIL
conductor. "Tom was pretty sick abou
the time we jumped over that crossing