The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-27

with the sick flreman's blouse, ready for
work. We were out of the station on the
double quick, as the train was ten minutes
late. and Bob was on nettles until
easy matter to Sire passenger engine,
and l 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
couple of stops, rnd md reached An i'm
pOrtant station N.ser" " were to get orders
against n spscin. EN- the conductor
brought the orde S to til. engine could see
there was something wrong. His face wore
a troubled look as he handed the order to
Bob in silence, and he remained near the
engine instead of signaling US out and
the order his otherwise pleasant face
clouded, and in short, sharp tone he
asked the conductor what the dispatcher
meant.
Il don't know replied the conductor,
there's the orders, and it's for you to say
whether we'll 90 or stay"
Bob glanced ut his watch, then at the
time card, and again at the sheet of tissue
"rll Co." said he. ''get on.'
We've got train full" said the con-
ductor,, nervously, "but we had better obey
ORDERS"
'All right" was the reply, and We started.
/ was too busy just then ringing the bell
and putting in a fire to ask the cause Of the
apparent doubt in Bob's mind. 1t was
nearly dark. and after l had lighted the
lamp in front of the steam guage could
worried. Instead of letting the engine
''pick up herself rs We left the station he
pulled the throttle wide open and. with a
glance at the !guage. simply said, "Give her
| another FIRE ~
| had hardly regained my scat before he
called again, Give it to her! We've got to
| be lively"
We were running then at tremendous
rate of speed. Bob's watch was swinging
! near tho gauge lamp where he had placed
| it, and his gaze was divided between the
| gauge, the watch and the track ahead. lie
| had left his seat and was standing over
| against the reverse lever, which was within
a notch or two of tn, center. with one hand
| gripping the throttle and the Other on the
lever, his body bent forward in q strained
attitude. as though ne would push the ma
chine along. Every second. almost his eye
would rest on the steam gauge, and IN sharp
tones he would call out for fire;
was shovelirg away for dear life as 1t
was, and began to feel hurt at his persist
ence. My back was aching, there were big
blisters on my hands, and ut one time felt
as though l would give up. One look at
Bob's set face, which was now strangely
white. convinced me that he had no
l
of sheer desperation. ! 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 us it bounded along cutting
what was now inky darkness with the one
CLEAN of light from the headlight, and i,
was no easy matter to keep my feet while II
| tho cangway. A red stream of fire trailec
froE, the smokestack, and once as glanced
back from the cab window the GLOWING
| guape was close to 15O pounds, and my con,
| tinued exertions kept the needle from drop
ping farther than 145.
Ut seemed hours to mo since We had lef
the last station, but it was really only few
minutes. As we ran Bob became more aRi
tated and constantly his voice rose aSoy
the din of the engine as he hoarsely cried:
More coalr'
thought it would never end. The joltinI
of the engine, combined with my incessan
shoveling end scrambling to keep my feet
had made me sick. gasped for breath a
my feelings grew into terror, and workes
madly at the shovel and the door ohain
seeing nothing, hearing nothing but tn
hoarse and terrorizing cry of More coal.
which came between Bob's set teeth a. b
stood with staring eyes now riveted on tn
gauge with never look ahead.
Blinded by the glare from the soethlnt
furnace in the 6re-box and weak from exer
ton and fear, could bear up no longer
In weak voice ! attempted to attrac
Bob's attention as sank to the floor of tn
cab, overcome.
AZ dropped. Bob gave q wild yell an.
closed the throttle with q mighty thrust
His ory partially reused Ws, and J man