The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-06-14

en- the mischief out OF her. " suggested
the '.boss"
The mischief niver comes out OF
the likes Of her" returned old Mike.
grimly. and the men accepted his
verdict unquestioningly. Among the
frcmen was = new hand, Charlie
Ruggles. who had but recently come
on the road. He was n young fer
low. bright looking ami good tenn
pered. but. as yet. none OF the boys had
made much Roadway in getting nc
quaintcd with him. though all felt
kindly to him. and We're disposed TO
be friends. 1t was rumored that he
was the sole support OF a widowed
mother. who was "A consumptivc sent
10 Colorado for health. When IL was
made known 10 the men that he was
to be engineer on No. 147 a cry Of
dismay went up from one and all.
"Oh. me by" said old Mike, ''what
are ye thinkin' OF"
! Thinking Of the dig wages" said
Charlie. ''and the comforts can buy
for the little mother
'.Oh. wirra. wirra. let her alone.
Have nothing TO do with her. She's a
murtherin' villain. that's what she is
| Mike meant III. not Charles moth
err
'Why. Mike, you cant really think
| the engine is to be blamed because
people got on the track before herr
said Charlie
| Its her luck thin. it's all the same
She II bring throuble TO any one who
has aught 70 do wild her. Let her
alone. me by"
Nov. Mike" said Charlie, II take
| il ere all in the han Is OF the Lord.
wherever we are. am rs much in
His care on No. l47 as am standing
here talking to you. don't believe
lie gives locomotive power to hurt
His creatures. and ] do believe it Is my
duty to take this chance, and dc the
best can"
This was n new view OF the matter,
and the men wee silcnced. If not con-
WINGED. No one opposed Charlie Rug
giles decision. and in a day or two he
entered upon his new duties.
He was sent into the mountain re
gions to help take trains over the
highest passes in the State. Until one
has crossed the Rocky Mountains BY
rail il is impossible to form an idea Of
the awfulness Of these passes. The
train creaps slowly up the mountain,
with laborcd breath. giving one a SEN
sation Of painful sxcrton. The road
winds about 70 find the easiest grades,
now zigzagging back and forth. now
crossing itself By means OF trestle
work. or tunncling under. but always
going upward. slowly but surely.
| As the train climbs higher. far be-
low in some abyss may be seen the
track already passed. whilc high
above tower rows OF snow sheds yc'
to be gone through. In the higher
altitude the solitude and stiffness be
come oppressive. Ono seems lost in d
sea OF mountain peaks. while above
all tower mighticr SUBMITS. externally
snow clad. where foot Of man has
never yet trod.
In the heat Of midsummer below, il
Is always winter in these passes
Huge iciclcs hang upon the roofs 0
these snow sheds. ard deep snow lie
on the ground. 1t was at the entranc
to such pass that Charlie and No
, l47 were stationed. When the through
express came. daily. II was divides
| into two sections. and each section
twas given two engines 10 pull 1t NJ
the steep grade. But at he top il wa
, coupled together again. one locomo
time being quite enough to take itovc
, the down grade. and the remainin,
three we've sent back again 20 he'll
bring the next train up.
Well up in the pass stood littl
, cabin. where few OF the sectio
hands had their home There wer
two little children. boy and cir
in this family. to whom Charlie be
} came much attached. They wer
pretty little creatures. but II seemed
lonely life for them. isolated cntire
from playmates. from school and al
, the pleasant things which childre
I love. A watcr-tank stood near tn
cabin. where the locomotives stoppe
} 70 take in water, and in summer III
children ran through the cars Will
| they waited selling lunches OF IN
beautiful Colorado wild flowers whic
+ blossom in spite Of discouragcmcn
, under the shadows OF the cvcrlastin
snow banks.
This was their only diverso
, and Charlie learned to watc
for them as the prctticst inc
, dent OF the trip. He Away
had pleasant word and smile 70
them. and often something more. A
apple or an orange, pretty caro-
I which. small as II was. went far I
: brighten the childrcns' day.
( No. liz behaved herself perfect,
r As week after week and month afts
month slipped BY. and she did ne
> even kill sheep. the train men bcga
e 10 breathe frccr. nndcvcn Charlie VIA
4 conscious Of a sense Of relief II wa