Evening journal., 1891-07-08
ENGINEER BOB.

on that part OF the road, and besides his
regular trips he WAS called on to take out
many a special The "main guys. as Bob
called the chief dignitaries OF the road.
never felt 70 safe as when Bob was in the
cab, and it began to be considered that Bob
must take ont every fast train if they
wanted a smooth, safe run.
Bob took his honors stoieally, only say
ing sometimes in that grim way Of his.
It's better for me TO 20 than any Of you
fellers. If you get killed there's your
wives an the kids, but If ever | 60 down
nobody's hurt.n
One day, rs his train ran in beside the
depot Of Texas town, motionless among
the crowd on the platform was poor,
thin, forlorn looking woman, with baby
in her arms and every one could see that
her eyes were red with crying and that
she WAS getting the worst of it in her bat
tie with the world.
Anything the mattergn asked new
conner, moved by curiosity and on the alert
for a sensation.
"Nothin' much, 2 was the idle reply Of a
man perched on the outer edge Of the plat
form, swinging pair Of large shoes in the
space below. Woman wants to 60 to the
city and amt got money enough. You can
hear sech as that ever day.
"You bet The woods is full Of 'em,
exclaimed the questioner, going about his
business, with his curiosity satisfied.
The conversation had gone on with the
amiable disregard for the feelings Of the
poor that is sometimes shown by very
charitable people, Suddenly the woman
broke out in a helpless way. fresh tears
running down her cheeks:
eBut, oh, il ! could only 90 there, per-
haps | could get work, and can't get any
here. have tried and tried. They won't
even let me cook for them unless / can
give references, and dispose of the baby,
and what can dog'
A dignifed and prosperous looking gen
tleman turned away, lingering his gold
watch chain.
"The same old cry,n he said; anybody
that wants work can get it in this coun-
try"
Into the little silence that fell after this
speech came clear voice, saying with some
emphasis;
Here's my pilel"
And looking up they saw the engineer in
the cab just above them going down into
the pockets of his greasy overalls, and
bringing out what silver they cons aimed
The next minute he had climbed down,
taken the astonished and half dismayed
woman by the arm and was leading her
down the platform and helping her into q
coach. When he had placed her in a seat,
and had poured his money into her lap,
his courage suddenly deserted him, and il
was with quite shamefaced air that he
touched his cap, stammering;
Good evenin', ma am. Hope you'll
have pleasant journey"
And so the tides bore them apart, and
they met no more.
Actions like this were not so rare that
Bob held any Of them in special remem-
brance. Indeed, he had forgotten all about
this event when, about three years later, a
portly woman, wearing a straw hat with
bedraggled plnmes, and clad in a cheap
green dress, walked suddenly up to Bob as
the train was about to start, leading by
the hand a tiny bit of girl with long, fair
hair.
"Air you Engineer Bob?n asked the new
conner. Because IL ye air, I've brought ye
this child, as was left fur We by its mother
when she died at my house night afore
last That was her las will an testament,
she said, that you was 70 have the child on
accounts OF your givin' her money to come
here with matter o. three years ago, an
mighty glad am that she give the young
'un to you, fur I've got six Of me own, an
that's enough to keep one woman adjust.
lin"
And having delivered this extraordinary
speech, she at once took herself OIL.
am sorry TO say that Engineer Bot
stood still and stared down at "the last
Will and testament as disconnected and
speechless as though some eccentric friend
had made him a present Of white ele
phant, or a roc's egg, or perhaps of the roo
itself With her hands behind her, the
little creature stared up at him in turn
but her survey ended sooner than his. N
vexing question Of what will he do Will
itgn disturbed her reflections, and she held
up one tiny hand toward his large anC
brown one, saying with self-posscssioI
orators might envy:
''Howdy, Bobf"
She was in his arms next minute, &C
| cepted as a gift from the dead, and it wa.
with queer, soft feeling tugidng at hi,
heartstrings and making a foolish mos
ture in his eyes that Bob climbed into tn,
cab with her, and put her up on the sea
beside him, thanking his stars meanwhil,
that none Of the "main guys wer
around.
Tor they wouldn't allow it, that's
fact" he said 20 himself can vet, tn
Lord only knows what Pm goin' to d,
with her. Maybe I'll think up somethin
after awhile, but l can't now, to save me.
He was very inconsiderate, this Enginet
Bob He did not stop to inquire whathe
this child had any ancestry, or, il she did
whether it were quite correct. He tool
her as she was, bringing no family recor,
with her, and NOT even graced with
name. When he came to inquire he foun,
/ that she was "Baby,n and Baby She re
manned. the sweet diminutive falling ten
derly, If little awkwardly, from the lip
Of this man, who had never felt the love .
wife or child.
All day long Bob pondercd over his per
picking problem, and came no nearer
solution. He caught himself a hundre
times staring helplessly at his small charge
only 70 be met with the calm look of To
three year-old philosopher, whose problem.
other people must solve. Between station
she swung her little feet and sung bah
songs in some strange tongue Bob ha
never learned or had perhaps forgotten
and she made friends with the people d
stations, and shouted .By by" at then
and threw airy kisses as the train role
away
1t would be difficult to tell how man