Evening journal., 1891-12-30
THE ENGINEERS STORY.

It was In the summer Of 1885 that was
firing on a single track line that runs up
from Junction City through Georgetown,
a-matter Of 10 miles. The line was owned
mostly by a man named Thedford, who
was president and superintendent all in
one.
had been firing on the line for two
years back; all the time with one driver.
Bob Hunter by name, and finer man
never lived ] suppose II would be only
natural for me TO speak well Of Bob, any
way, for / was clean head over ears in
love with his pretty daughter, Molly, and
was only waiting for a bit OF rise in my
pay TO make her Mrs Jim Martin. Though
didn't see any chance for that rise where
was, didn't like to leave aud 90 on an
other line, for that would take me away
from Molly
One day Bob says to me;
"Jim, amt you aud Molly never going
10 get married"
Just as soon as can get my rise, " says
I; "but don't see how Pm going to get It
here"
"why don't you go and ask Billy" says
he.
You see, Billy was always what we called
Mr.. Thedford-behind his back Of course
for warrant you we were mighty polite to
his face
"He won't do anything for me-" says /.
"for you know either one Of the cleaners up
to Georgetown would be glad enough to
jump into my place, and he amt going TO
give me a rise just to please me.n
"Well," says Bob, 1T won't do any hurt
TO try it,"
So next day washed up and went to the
company's Office, and asked for Mr.. Thed-
ford After a few minutes he sent word
70 me that he would SEQ me, and in / went
There he sat-a large, heavily built man,
with big side whiskers and pair OF gold
trimmed glasses on his nose.
What is it, my mani Pm very busy"
says he.
So up and told him what wanted.
How much are you getting now2n says
he.
''Forty-fve dollars a month, y says l.
Then he pursed up his lips, and hemmed
and hawed little, and says:
II don't see how we can give you any
thing more, my good fellow. You see
yours is not a very responsible position;
merely one that requires a 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 a letter he was
writing, and knew / had no more bust
ness there. ] tell you 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 it on another
line. But Molly persuaded me to hold on
a little longer.
Now, before / come to the particular
point Of this yarn, 1 want TO tell you a lit
tie about the line. ] have said il was a
single track one running from junction
City to Georgetown. The latter place was a
little town of 500 or COO inhabitants; but in
summer great many Chicago people
came up there, and so I suppose the line
paid Anyhow, Thedford, who had a sum
mer place there was rich enough to run It
for himself alone II he wanted 10.
Bob lived AZ Georgetown and / boarded
with him. Onr trips began az in the
morning, and we generally ran the 10
miles 10 five hours. Then at 8 In the after
noon we came back, getting home at 8 As
soon as we reached the roundhouse at
! Georgetown our days work was over, for
/ the cleaners took the engine then, cleaned
and polished her, and laid the fire all ready
| TO start the next morning.
Well, as I said, hung on TO my job,
hoping that something would turn up that
would give me lift, till one day in Au-
| gust. The whole summer had been uncom-
mon hot, but that day went ahead OF any
thing I ever saw. OF course while we were
running we had breeze, but the minute
we stopped 1t seemed as II we were ia a
furnace, and naturally, working as we
were near a hot fire didn't improve things.
On the home trip Bob was taken sick
and had all be could do to hold out till we
got 70 the home station, when he got home
as soon as possible. After the train was
emptied l ran the engine to the round
house, expecting TO 90 straight home and
wash up. But when 1 ran the engine in
the first thing saw was my two cleaners
laid out on a heap of ashes, dead drunk
Here was pretty mess, for Il would Ger.
tainly take me until midnight to get the
machine in proper trim for the next davis
run; and a hot, greasy Job it was in any
weather, but on such a night as that It was
frightful TO think Of it. However, there
was no help for It, and j started in.
had barely made beginning when
heard some one coming in at the door
Looking up saw that it was Billy Thed
ford. In a very excited voice he askec
where Hunter was.
Home" said. "and so sick he cam
hold his head mp"
"Heayensp said he; 81 shall be ruinedr
Then be went on TO say that IL he WASH
In Chicago the next day, some deal, Ithinl
he called it, would fall through, and /
would cost him quarter Of a million.
There's train goes through Junction
City at eleven-flve that will get you to Chi
cago in time" says l.
What good'll that do mef" saws he
1--WE been away for two days, and only jus
now got the telegram. If Hunter was her
he might get me down; but as It is ma
as well go home aud let the money 90"
Mr.. Thedford, " said I, Bob is sick, bu
can run this machine TO junction City Il
time to connect with the train you want
q but you will have to fire for me, as my tv
{ cleaners are drunk, as you see, and Their
: isn't another man in this village know
b the engine from the tender hardly"
r hope that have been forgiven that lie
7 for there were two or three men that coui
6 have fired all right. but it struck me all Z
4 sudden that here was fine chance I
B get even with Billy, and let him see wheti
/. er It look any knowhow to fire an engin
Q for l10miles run. 1t so happened that "
q had just wooded up on the home trip at
Q little station three miles from Georgetown