Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-05-21

"You must lend me your overalls and
jumper" said the stranger to III" engi'
ncer," for | do not care to spoil a gooG
suit of clothes"
"Oh. certainly" replied Baxter, who
an to this time had been so astonishet
| hat he had not uttered a wor,.
| After drawing the clothes on. the new
engineer grasped the throttle with his
left hand. thrust his head out of the win
dow. and said:
| "Now we are ready"
| Then came the order to start. and the
next minute the complicated machinery
was set in motion, but so gentle was the
start made that scarcely person on the
train realized that they were under way
until the cars had drawn out of the depot.
Gradually the speed was increased until
| they were soon running upon their regu-
lar time.
The superintendent could not refrain
from casting several glances of approval
at Baxter as he noticed how deftly the
stranger handled his Iron horse. AS
they drew near the junction short dis
tance from L, the regular engineer
usual blast, but he found the hand of his
substitute there before him, who said to
him with kind smile:
| "You see l know the road.
"Truly you do" replied the superin-
tendent. land although am taking great
chances l think I will let you go on with
the train while Baxter and l return by
| five accom- an o1 q tiop
AS Baxter was about to step out Of the
cab when the engine stopped at L, he
grasped the hand of the stranger, and
said with deep feeling in his voice:
"Oh, sir, you have done me a great
favor tonight, and rest assured if itever
lies in my power shall repay it.
| Don't mention it, " was the hearty re-
joindcr Hurry home to your wife, and
| don't worry about the train; everything
will be all right.
Accordingly the superintendent and
Baxter returned to their homes on the
way train: but the former felt by no
means easy in his own mind and re-
mained in his office until midnight,
when he received a dispatch from the
end of the line saying that train number
GS had arrived all right and on time.
| As the official seated himself at his desk
The following morning his eyes rested
upon note from the president of the en-
tire system, stating that he would arrive
on the IS train and wished 10 see him
/ on in,pultant business.
Tine I,ands on the clock in the supcrin-
;tn;,nt's Office were resting at a GUAR
t,.r p,st that hour when Baxter entered.
well, began the official. as he recog-
niz"d his caller. "are YOU going to shirk
another trip to night"
20, sir; my wife is much easier and
shall be at my post. lcanne up to
:hanAi you for letting me of lasl night
"Oh, it's turned out all right, I'm
thankful to say. But"
He would have gone further had not
the door opened and two gentlemen en-
tered. One was the president, who, step
ping quickly forward, said in a CHEEKY
voice:
"Ah, good afternoon, Mr.. Curtis. AL
low me to introduce Mr.. Donaldson, the
| gentleman whom the directors have
elected to supersede me in Office
AS the superintendent rose from his
chair to acknowledge the introduction,
he almost tainted with surprise, for there
before him stood the substitute who, the
night before, had run the engine in place
of the regular driver.
Why-why-is it possible?" he stam-
mered
"Yes, indeed, Mr.. Curtis, replied the
new president. II am the one who drew
ON the overals last night for the first
time in 10 years, but you see l had not
forgotten how to run the machine. I
overheard your conversation with this
poor man here, turning to Baxter. 81
pitied him in his dilemma and resolved
to assist him. If you had refused to
allow me to act as his substitute should
have made known my identity then and
there, and requested you even to let the
fireman take his place, rather than to
keep the faithful engineer away from the
bedside of his wife. And you, sir, F." con-
tinued the kindhearted railroad magnate
to Baxter, may lay off for few days.
We will find some one to take your place
until your wife is recovered. And, Mr..
Curtis, there is one thing l should sug-
gest before we proceed to other business,
and that is, from this ou- treat your men
kindly"
This was a lesson that the arbitrary
superintendent never forgot
Lightning Proof Ships.