The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-27

the AID OF q stray ray from inc setting
sun when a small boy hurried quietly
up.
"Mr. Bolton"
"Why-hello. my ladi What is it,"
said John, who, even when busy, gave a
pleasant greeting.
s'Mr. Bolton, I'm no sneak or tell tale,
but it's only right to let you know that
Engineer DAILY has been talking ugly this
evening. There isn't time to tell you all
about it, sir. 1 heard him and his fire
man talking and they mean mischief
this very night. Excuse me for interfer-
ing. but you ought to change engineers or
else watch Mr.. DAILY pretty close"
"Oh, pshaw!" said the conductor, with
his usual guffaw. "Daly and his man
were just t~alking-those fellows always
do like to talk considerably. They won't
do any harm-for, don't you see, they
can't hurt the train without hurting
themselves. Ill keep my eye on them
when we stop. Much obliged to you,
my lad, all the same. All aboardT'
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-
CINE, the curled up form of the under
sized boy, Charlie Stockwell.
When the express left Axleborough
she was scheduled to run ninety miles
across the prairie without a stop, the
time allowed being two hours and fifty
minutes. Along this ninety miles there
were no towns and few settlements, and
as No. 5 had the right Of way clear
through there was no necessity for stop
ping, or even for slowing 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 a glance, for this
is what he saw: The engineer was at that
instant turning on a full head of steam;
the fireman was closing the door of the
furnace, which he had just filled up with
coal; both were preparing to desert the
engine.
Charlie debated in his own mind
whether he had better go 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 DO
safer to stay where he was, and he had
hardly arrived at this decision when the
engineer and fireman dropped off, one
from each side of the locomotive, leaving
No. s with its living freight to dash on
ward to destruction.
But quick as a fash the boy hustled
over the coal laden tender, down into the
cab and took his stand on the plate with
the GOODNESS and nerve of a veteran. Yet
though his head aslevelh his young blood
flowed fast and Charlie Stockwell was a
proud lad as he regulated the speed of
the giant locomotive. He was sorely
tempted to take the train right through
to Tetterby Junction, but remembering
that he was ignorant of the train orders,
his better Judgment carried the day. So
when, after q nine mile run, he sighted
Boonville telegraph cabin, he pulled up
his snorting, kissing steed and reported
the whole affair to John Bolton.
But the lad was permitted to indulge
his wish, after all, for Bolton was SO
pleased with the brave conduct of the
clever young machinist that he insisted
upon Charles acting as 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 see his young friend and prime
f~avorite occupying a highposition in the
mechanical department Of a great rail
road. But if you, reader, desire to know
any more about the plucky young APP
prentice, just drop a line to Mr.. Charles
Stockwell, chief engineer of the Denver
and Duluth Short Ling. He will doubt
less answer your letter.