Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-02-28
THE ENGINEERS STORY.


BY ARTHUR DODGE.
Did you ever hear Of railroad Presi-
dent running as fireman on an engine
Well, / know of one who did, and, if
you've got time to listen to it, I'll tell
you the story now while I smoke this
cigar you were kind enough to give me.
1t was along in the summer of 'S5 that
[ was firing on single track, one-horse
road, that runs up from Junction City
through Georgetown, matter of hun
dred and ten miles. The road was most
ly owned by man named Thedford-
William B. Theford-who was President
and Superintendent all in one. | had
been firing on the road for two years
back; all the time with one engineer,
Bob Hunter by name, and a finer man
never lived. [ suppose it would be only
natural for me to speak we'll of Bob,
anyway. for | was clean head over ears in
love with his pretty daughter Molly; and
was only waiting for bit of raise in my
pay to make her Mrs. Jim Martin.
Though didn't see any chance for that
raise where I was, didn't like to leave
and go on another road, for that would
take me away from Molly.
T. One day Bob says to me:
Jim, amt you and Molly never goin'
to get married?''
''Just as soon as can get my raise, >"
says I; ''but don't see how I'm going to
get 1t here"
''Why don't you go and ask Billy?"
says he.
You see Billy was what we always
called Mr.. Thedford-behind his back,
of course, for I warrant you we were
mighty polite to his face.
''He won't do anything for me-" says
I, 'for you know either one of the clean
ers up to Georgetown would be glad
enough to jump into my place, and he
amt a-going to give me a raise just to
please me-
"Well," says Bob, cit won't do any
hurt to try it."
So next day [ washed up and went to
the company's offices and asked for Mr.,
.Thedford After a few minutes he sent
word for me that he would see me, and
in went. There he sat-a large, heavily
built man, with large side whiskers and
pair of gold trimmed eye glasses on his
nose.
"What is it my man? I'm very busy"
says he.
So up and told him what wanted.
GLOW much are you getting now?"
says he.
''Forty- five month" says I.
Then he pursed up his lips, and
hemmed and hawed a little, and says:
II don't see how we can give you any
thing more, my good fellow. Yours is
not very responsible position; merely
one that requires little bodily strength.
And we can find plenty of men who
would be only too glad to take your
place at that salary"
With that he turned to letter he was
writing, and | knew | had no more bust
ness there.
| tell you I felt sore to be told it
didn't take much to know how to fire an
engine, and [ came mighty near throwing
my job up and trying to get in on an
other road. But Molly persuaded me to
hold on a little longer.
Now before | come to the particular
point Of this yarn I want to tell you a
little about the road. / have said it was
a single track road running from juno
ton City to Georgetown. The latter
place was a little town of five or six hun
dred inhabitants; but in summer great
many Chicago people came up there, and
so | suppose the road paid. Anyhow,
Thedford, who had summer place there,
was rich enough to run the road for him
self alone, If he wanted to.
Bob lived at Georgetown and boarded
with him. Our trips began at eight in
the morning, and we generally ran the
hundred and ten miles in five hours. Then
at three III the afternoon we came back,
getting home at eight. AS soon as we
reached the round-house at Georgetown
our days work was over, for the cleaners
took the engine then, cleaned and pol
lshed her and laid the fire all ready to
start next morning.
Well, rs l said, hung on to nv Job
hoping that something would turn up
that would give me a lift, till one day in
August. The whole summer had been
uncommon hot, but that day went ahead
OF anything ever saw. OF course, while
Ee were running we had breeze, but
the minute we stopped it seemed as if we