The Columbus journal., 1889-05-01

Tho conductor waD John Bolton and
- regular patsooo oe tho @ and A.
Wsgo Gid q it. for when The genial. open
oounesnance and postly form Of Condno'
tee Bolton were seen upon tho train III
passsngees knew they were in good
handA Hs was looking st his watch b.
ths aid of . stzay my from tho ssttina
sun when small boy hurried quietly
'llr. Boltonr
''Why-hello. my ladi What b II
aid John. who. even when busy. gave Z
pleasant greeting.
''l(r. Bolton. I'm no sneak or tell tale.
but it's only right to Let you know that
Engineer Daily hes been talking ugly thia
evening. There isn't time to tell you all
about It, sir. heard him and his flre-
man talking and they mean mischief
this very night Excuse me for interfer.
ing but you ought to change engineers q
else watch Mr.. DAILY pretty close"
"Oh. pshawr' said the conductor. with
his usual gufEaw. "Daly and his man
were just talking-those fellows always
do like to talk considerably. They won't
10 any harm-for. don't you zee. they
ant hurt tho train without hurting
themselves. I'll keep my eye On them
when We stop. Much obliged to you.
my lad. all the same. All aboardr'
Thirty seconds later the heavy train
was moving out Of the depot. but no one
noticed ON the front platform Of the for.
ward baggage car. just behind the en-
gine, tho curled up form Of tho under
sized hoy. Charlie Stockwell.
When the express left Axleborough
she was scheduled to run ninety miles
across the prairie without . stop. the
time allowed being two hours and City
minutes. Along this ninety miles there
were NO towns and few settlements, and
a. No. s had the right Of way clear
through there was no necessity for stop
ping. or even for Glowing up.
The train had run perhaps twenty
miles. and was well on to the thinly peo-
pied prairie. when Stockwell. in his hid
ing place, noticed that they were slowing
up With an effort he climbed on to
the tender and cautiously peeped over
the coal and wood into the cab. The lad
took in the situation at . glance, for this
10 what be saw: The engineer wasat that
instant turning ON q full head Of steam:
the fireman was closing the door Of the
furnace. which he had just filed up with
coal: both were preparing to desert the
engine.
Charlie debated in his own mind
whether he had better 60 back and ham,
mer ON the door Of the baggage car to
notify the train men or stay where he
was and be ready to take the engineers
place. He concluded that it would bo
safer to stay where he was, and he had
hardly arrived at this decision when the
engineer and fireman dropped oil, one
from each side Of the locomotive, leaving
No. s with its living freight to dash on
ward to destruction.
But quick a. dash the boy hustled
over the coal laden tender, down into the
cab and took his stand on the plate with
the coolness and nerve Of . veteran. Yet
though his head waslevel his young blood
flowed fast and Charlie Stockwell was .
proud lad a. he regulated the speed Of
the giant locomotive. He was sorely
tempted to take the train right thrt,ugh
to Tetterby Junction, but remembering
that he was ignorant Of the traii, orders,
his better judgment carried the day. So
when. after Q nine mile run. l,r sighted
Boouville telegraph cabin. he l.',l'ed up
his snorting, Kissing steed anu reported
the whole affair to John Bolton.
But the lad was permitted to indulge
his wish. after all, for Bolton was %
pleased with the brave conduct Of the
clever young machnist that he insisted
upon Charles acting a. engineer clear
through to the end Of the run, he him
self taking the second place in the cabas
Charles fireman.
Old John Bolton died last year, but he
lived to ses his young friend and prime
favorite occupying . high position in the
mechanical department of q great rail-
road. But il you, reader, desire to know
any more about the plucky young ap-
prentice, just drop . line to Mr.. Charles
Stockwell, chief engineer Of the Denver
and Duluth Short Line. He will doubt
less answer your letter.-William 81. S.
Atkinson in Philadelphia Times