The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-10
ghe auha nairy eagle aaeanesday aorng gune 10,

Some are switchers that ought to be
freights, am some are freig.hts that ought
to be dom express business on one minute
time"
YES laughed Decker, "that's just it,
v'see was built fer fast time, but since
Pm such a man OF family I've had to take
to switchin'."
A loud guffaw through the tobacco
smoke greeted Deckers sally and followed
him as he went down the steps and over
the tracks to his engine. An hour later
he was leaning from his cab window
watching Finnegan as he backed into the
ward, His cheeks were flushed and his
ewes felt queer. He had been taking fire.
Ouent Graughts of something from the top
of his Dinner pail. The sight of Finnegan's
freshly painted and gayly decked cab irri-
tated him more than usual.
'He amt got no eye for anything but
that blamed engine" he grumbled to
"Cabby," the fireman.
''Who ain't?"
FInueratl-Finneganl" reiterated Deck
er conteTnpnuously.
Both men we're making up their trains.
Freight cars switched in different direc-
tons across the,yard. Engines started from
the round house as if bound for some re-
mote point, then scuttIed steaming back
again with no apparent reason. A gang of
track laborers sho~eled the ciDder spreDt
snow from between tracks. Gondolas, laden
with the impeding masses, moved slowly
off to some convenient dumping ground. A
passenger train shrieked past on its way
to the city. Bells were ringing. empty cars
Gathering, and everything was taking the
accelerated movement that precedes the
lull of noon.
Finnegan's engine was running dead
ahead to make q switch. Decker's was
coming down the same track, and Einne-
gan, expecting hiRS to side off to the left,
kept on his way, when a sudden and awful
crash threw him violently backward.
There was a cracking, singing sensation
in his head; he heard nothing but whistles
in every key, and lost consciousness. The
Kissing of steam and the pounding Of shat
tered wheels mingiedwith terrified excla-
nations
Anybody hurt"
Decker appeared with the'remnant Of a
piece of mince pie in his hand and his cap
damned sideways on his head. The fire
man scrambled hastily from the debris.
"Tender'n' a4l-clean gone, busted! Eli,
Decker? Got that mince pie yit? Pll be
hangedi The last / saw of you you was
putting it down with your head banged up
against the cab ceiling, an when you come
plump down on the steps you was chawin'
yit, an still you're at it."
GLOW did it happen?" asked several in
breath
"Finnegan's dandy did it."
"Where's Finnegan?"
'Finnegan?"
"Howly Vargin" exclaimed a burly
Irishman, don't ye see him, did or ash
lape, there in his cab, an nobody to kape
him fran burnin' till a cinder2 Out wild
yer pies an nonsinse. Finnegan, me by,
wake up; wake up, an till man if ye be
did or ashlape. Ochl Take holt. It's
hurt he is. Whisky-somebody-a good
swigl Decker, it's yer breath as has it, be-
gorra; where's yer fashk?"
81 haven't any," said Decker.
'The divil take the inside o. ye for it
thin. Finnegan? He's wakin'W
Finnegan opened his eyes. A spasmodic
twitch of the muscles about his mouth evil
denced his agony.
"All gone to smash?" he asked. END
me up"
With difficulty he staggered to his feet
and surveyed the wreck.
Lord Pm sick, boys. Just help me over
to the association rooms till l can get
Strengthened out"
"If he'd been straight at first 'twouldn't
have happened" observed Decker as Fin
negan, supported by "Cabby" and the
Irishman, made his way down the yard to
the rooms.
So the report spread that Finnegan was
drunk, and through carelessness had
caused the collision.
AS for Finnegan, he made no attempt to
defend himself, and when his discharge
came from headquarters he accepted it
without a word. Yet he knew that it was
Decker who, in half stupor, had mis-
taken the switch. The only eyewitness to
the whole occurrence was Dempsey, the
1rishman. Every one else in the yard
thought Decker blameless
Mrs. Finnegan was indignant.
There's no use talkin', Barley" she
said, you amt to blame, an you know you
amt, an to see you takin' the blame that
ought to rest on Jim Decker makes me
mad. It's the first lay off you've ever had,
and it's all because you won't use your
tongue. Don't you s'pose they'll take you
back by and byl"
''It is said that was drunk. No."
And Decker is still on?"
"He hasn't been laid off yet, and | hope
to God he won't be. He's got six chill |
dren, and he don't know nothin' but rail |
roading."
Neither do you. You can't even make |
a garden. We've had to draw already on
what was laid by. l can't see that the |
Deckers are any better to starve than we
are"
There's more of EN-"
Yes, and they've got lots of sympathy |
too. Mrs Decker is always whinin' about |
hard times, an all the neighbors gives her |
old pants N coats fer rugs m to make |
over for the little Jims.' No, sir, BARLEY; |
they amt no better to starve than we are" |
Finnegan made no reply. The terrier, |
who had missed his meat for a week or |
more, put up his nose and uttered dismal |
whine. Finnegan put his head in his hands |
for moment, then put his cap on his |
head, gave the astonished terrier a boost |
with his boot, slammed the door and went |
down the walk. He had 40 definite place |
In view, but, dropping involuntarily into /
the familiar steps he had so many times /
been over, found himself at last in the |
yard. he hung round, watching the COM
ing and going of the trains with a sense of |
vacuity and uselessneSs that made him |
feel by degrees wretchedly worthless. The |
corner saloon was alight with warmth and |
cheer. The strains Of an accordion min
gled with oaths and laughter. The power
of glass of something TO make him forget |
his troubles was more than alluring He /
Jingled his trousers pockets meditatively /
and unconsciously bent his steps in that
direction.
'Whist-Finnegsnl If 1 don't see We
again-heilo! An is it job ye're lookin'
fur? Are We out o. warruk yeti"