Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-09-27

plice. His wife and children were to
without his knowledge accompany him
to the end OF the run, where the sur
prise was to be sprung. AS luck would
have 1t the fireman had taken sick
coming in. AS l walked towards the
engine, after seeing my charges safely
out OF sight in the train, was met by
the engineer, who was known to every
one as "Wild Bob" on account of the
fast runs he had made.
"Well," said he, 'T'm in fix. My
fireman is sick and there isn't man
here that would trust on this run.
don't know what I'm going to do"
Here was the unlooked-for opportu-
nifty. My old love for an engine came
back with q rush and almost before
realized 1t, was asking Bob in timid
sort Of way whether or not would
suit him.
"You?" he exclaimed, "why, that's
so; you're q fireman. 1 had forgotten
it. OF course I'll take you and be
mighty glad Of it."
rushed back to notify my charges,
dropping an excuse to Bob, and returned
to the engine. Bob had already OBJ
tanned permission to take me, as his
Judgment was relied upon, and in less
time than 1t takes to tell 1t, had d.
vested myself of superfiuous clothing
and covered my "boiled" shirt with the
sick fireman's blouse, ready for work.
We were out of the station on the
double quick as the train was ten min
utes late and Bob was on nettles until
he had made up the time again. Tt is
no easy matter to fire" a passenger
engine and was little used to hard
work, but my old training served me in
good stead and managed to ''keep her
hot"
We had run about fifty miles with o
couple of stops and had reached an i'm
portant station where we were to get
orders against special. When the con-
ductor brought the orders to the engine
could see there was something wrong.
His face wore troubled look us he
handed the order to Bob in silence. and
he remained standing near the engine
instead of signaling us out and board
ing the train. The instant Bob read
the order his otherwise pleasant face
clouded, and in short, sharp tone he
asked the conductor what the dispatch
err meant.
II don't know" replied the conduc-
tor, there's the orders, and it's for you
to say whether we'll go or stay"
Bob glanced at his watch. then at
time card and again at the sheet OF It's
sue paper.
''Tll CO." he said; ''get on"
"We've got a train full" said the
conductor, nervously, "but we had bet
ter obey orders"
"All right" was the reply, and We
started.
Twas too busy just then ringing the
bell and putting in q fire to ask the
cause of the apparent doubt in Bob's
mind. 1t was nearly dark, and after /
had lighted the lamp in front of the
steam gauge could plainly see Bob's
face. He was evidently worried. In
stead Of letting the engine pick up her.
self" as we left the station he pulled
the throttle wide open, and, with
glance at the gauge, simply said: 'Give
her another firev'
had hardly regained my seat before
he called again: "Give it to her! We've
got to be livelyw
We were running then at tremen-
dous rate of speed. Boh's watch was
swinging near the gauge lamp whore he
had placed 1t, and his gaze was divided
between the gauge, the watch and the
track ahead. He had left his, seat,
and was standing over against the re-
verse lever, which was within o notch
or two of the center, with one hand
gripping the throttle and the other on
the lever, his body bent forward in a
strained attitude, rs though he would
push the machine along. Every second,
almost. his eye would rest on the steam
gauge, and in sharp tones he would call
out for fire.
was shoveling away for dear life, as
it were, and began to feel hurt at his
persistence. My back was aching,
there were big blisters on my hands,
and at one time felt as though would
give up. One look at Bob's set face,
which was now strangely white, con-
WINGED me that he had no thoughts Of
my fatigue, and l kept Up out OF sheer
desperation. I was beginning to feel
frightened myself, too, and that aided
me.
We were running at fearful rate.
The mighty machine rocked and swayed
from side to side as it bounded along,
cutting what was now inky darkness with
the one CLEAN Of light from the head
light, and it was no easy matter to keep
my feet while in the gangway. A red
stream OF fire trailed from the smoke
stack and once as glanced back from