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


William h. $. Atkinson.
r,aosgil. is nothing if not a railroad
.,vr Tn, place was created by the
or.rIard Western Railway and depends
a.it,very jfe upor the existauce and
r.5spsriJy of that great enterprise.
The traveller passing through Track
Hs rerceives nothing but acres of
racks. switches, shops, and round
-5g,es. and miles of cars, cato9ses, and
fa5mgtiyes; but back of all these imme-
i.,.a surroundings there is a town con
aiming several thousand souis-men,
F5msp. and children-all directly or in
a,sety interested in the success of the
Overland Western.
Ten years ago everybody in Trackville
anew Robert Leslie, VINO, although
scarcely more than 80 years old, was su-
1.rHtsudeut of the road; and when they
knew Rob Leslie II followed, as q matter
of course, that they also knew Tom King.
King Was only an engineer, bat a wonder
fully bright, intelligent, and pleasant fell
og and. although there was so much diff
ference IN their respective positions on
a. Overland Western, King and the SUI
r-uluatut were warm friends and all
u0-t segarable com paulons IN their OFT
orty hours.
They wcro both of an age, both were
bachelors. and their tastes and incliua-
aols we're identical; both came from the
same New England village to enter the
abroad eryice IN the West, both rOomed
q, tae same hotel, and the friends of one
YER, also friends of the other.
But there came time when the warm
"a of their friendship cooled somewhat,
though both felt sorry for It, the cause
beng a woman. AS though there were
not enough good, as well as pretty girls
10 Trackvlle 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 OF surmised Is not for me TO
venture an opinion, nor is il necessary to
Dog story thatwe should be informed.
Perhaps, at the outset, Robert Leslie,
lg reason of his superior position on the
'a..road aud in the town, possessed some
advantage, and at any rate, Tom King
uauiikei so thought. For when XII Z
slower than his frieAd, made the discoy-
ty that Leslie undoubtedly loved Jennie
Gray he really thought that mis- own
chances of success as sui+or we're very
slam. and made up his mind that he might
s we'll back Ont of the race. When he
2mysd at This faint.hearted conclusion,
be became ye.y sulien and morose and his
friend wondered at the great change
.9aI ned come over the light-hearted en-.
g.leer
No. 10. the fast eastbound express, was
pulling cut OF Sandy Run late on a nasty
t'lng in fall Engine 4o4 had just
.ssl attached 10 the train to haul her
over Inc last division, whose terminus
was lfacayllle. II was ore of those dark,
rainy clustering nights, when railroad
1sh and especially engineersl require
'' saelf Wis about them, and when travel.
"' appreciate somewhat the risk of raft
.ya- travelling after dark. Supesinten
-'-. A.slle sat IA parloi car trying to
't. little eep after a long ana usy
-'' ~ork. But he could not lose his
senses iu 1mber-the noise aud rattl-
.-- o' .ae rushing train, the splash Of the
l '.l oh The windows, and the picture of a
,-.. lace hundred and fifty miles away in
'.e.a'iAe kept him wide awake.
l-8arl the heavy train sped. crashing
ever = line of steel rails stretched &c.
.-s almost lntermiuable prairie. II
aL3"n a- the Nineteen Flyer. but it
e =slle tha- the speed they were
-eh'nE was something extraordinary.
'Ad1etor passed through the car
.Fs''a'.ndeDt stopped him.
.-is A'ug'- ruus5
lt- -.r"
De W. t1-uight."
l=- ,Ir.~
-e- gooo man and ought TO know
-'r7 tals Is q bad night and there
"a-aoots. He's ranuing very
VIE must be near the Big Horn
Great uegveusl"
rEe.ama'iou was caused by two
p succession. such as only sn-
--sht and conductor knew could
Icy running fast over cross
passed the Big Horn Railroad
stop. Why We must be going
aH pour Are you certain & iug
aEEIeartt
le
-aa. .ay word 10 any one.
.o FPS front OF the rain and
to the ugine."
A7n walked quickly through
.al ''spped out to the front
.a- baggage car. just behind
AT greet peril, with the
conductor, Leslie climbed on
md cravled over the vet
taec cab
~3ra sight. as the REQ glare
5ae t17uace. Illuminating with
CLEAN tae exciteg features
.Ao' eyes OF Tom King. Il