Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-11-16
How Sue took the Engine to
the Junction.

"Please take me Joe, Just this time
"What will the people think Sue, tc
see you riding on the engine so much
| don't see what you find to amuse you
between here and the junction, ;
answered her brother, waiting with his
watch in his hand for the moment
when the train must start.
at isn't that Joe" "but it is so grand
to see the engine move as you dictate
and like living thing obedient to your
touch, and then as easily subdued as a
little child. Let me go Joe ?"
"Well jump on then. Times up.
All aboard"
Sue eagerly grasped the rail, and a
few minutes later the local train from
Redfern to the junction was on its
way. Sue watched narrowly as she
always did, the movements of her
brother. There were two stations in
the run of five miles. After they had
left the first, Sue said.
Joe, let me stop the engine at Rose
Bank, will you, know | can, and |
long to control the great creature. |
have rung the bell and sounded the
whistle every time when it was neces-
sary since we started. Please let me
make the stop ?"
"You can't do it Sue"
eyes | can. You stand close by
and no one will know, and you can
easily take my place if there is any
thing wrong" She already had her
hand on the lever that moved the
throttle, and when the station was near,
slowed up the engine, and brought it
to stand-still
"Now | shall start" she said eagerly
and not waiting for her brothers con-
sent, when the signal was given, she
opened the throttle and the liberated
steam turned the huge wheels and with
quivering and almost human move
ment the engine started. Joe pushed
her aside. "You are crazy Sue" he
said, "don't try that again"
Sue laughed, and gave up her place.
IrI have the satisfaction of knowing
can do it," she said.
When she reached home that day,
her mother took her to task for her ex-
plot. "You are the talk of the village,
Sue" she said, "you must stop going to
the station with Joe. What business
is it of yours; and to see a young
woman in place like that is so alb
| surd."
Sue was silenced, but not satisfied.
About two weeks after this, she was
standing by an open window in the
kitchen of her home which was within
sight of the station, when she saw the
young man who was the telegraph
| operator, leave the little station-house
and run across the lot toward her.
When he was within calling distance,
he shouted.
"Where is Dennis, Sue? They have
sent from the Junction for the extra
engine No. 5 because No. II on the
Express has broken down"
'Dennis has gone to the woods" ex-
claimed Sue, what pity. What
shall we do? Is there no one who can
run it down p
"Not a soul. Even John who used
to fire is up in the country" replied
the operator.
"Then I'll do it" exclaimed Sue.
"You, gasped the operator, bit he
talked to empty air. Sue had thrown
aside her apron and seized her hat and
five minutes later was in the locomo-
tive shed lighting the fire under the
boiler. She watched breathlessly as the
steam gauge showed the increasing
pressure, and with trembling hand
she slowly opened the throttle, and the
engine, obedient to her will, moved out
on to the main line.
1t must be explained that the little
station of Redfern, was the end of q
short branch extending five miles from
the Junction. There were two stops be
tween and the trains ran four times 8
day between the points. Joe had sent
for the extra engine thinking Denni:
the fireman could bring it, and Sue
knew that Joes reputation with the
railroad company depended upon the
delivery of the engine at the Junction
to help the disabled express.
What are you going toedo Sue,
exclaimed the frightened operator, a
the engine moved past the station door
She did not answer; she did not see he
mothers terrified look from the door o
the house, or the bewildered faces o
the people at the station. She had he
eye on the road, and one hand was OIL
the lever while the other grasped tn
bell rope. With a seconds pause t.
nerve herself, for effort, she opened tn
throttle, and the engine answering he
demands, seemed almost to spring for
ward down the line.
Ding dong, ding dong" sounde'
the bell People FASTENED to thei
windows at the sound, at this unusual
time, farmers in the fields stopped t
look, little children in the roadwa
Il stared at the Hyino eDoine They 81,