The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-12
FIREMAN.

-" '" bop VIM w istch w ~ VIZ tcit
you the story now. ..i
Twas in tho summer OF 1885 that I
was firing on single track limo that
runs up from Junction City through
Georgetown, u matter lilo miles. The
line was owned mostly by man named
Thedford, who was president and super
intendent all in one. .sl25
| had been firing on tho limo for two
years back; all the time with one driver,
Bob Hunter by name, ind n finer man
never lived. l sIppose it would be only
natural for me to speak well OF Bob,
anyway, for was clean head over ears
i'll love with his pretty daughter, Molly,
and was only waiting Tor II bit OF rise in
my pay to make her Mrs. Jim Martin.
Though l didn't SEQ any chance for that
rise where was,T didn't like to leave
and go on another line, for that would
take me away from Molly.
One day Bob says to mo: .E
Jim, amt you and Molly mover 60.
ing to got married !"
Just rs soon lis 4 can get my RISE"
says i" butI don't sec how Pm going
to got il here"
why don't you 20 and ask Billy?"
says lie. ~
You see, Billy was always what We
called Mr.. ThGdford-behind back, OF
course-for warrant you we were mighty
polite to his fncc.
"lie won't do anything for
me-" says I, a"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"
"Wcll," says Bob, cit won't do any
hurt to try ii"
So next day ! washed up and went to
the company's office and asked Tor Mr..
Thcdford. After Il few minutes he sent
word to me that he would see me, and
in went. There lie sat-a large, hcav-
lily built man. with big side whiskers
and a pair OF gold trimmed glasses on
his nose.
what is It, my man? Pm very
busy says he. t
So | up and told him what l wanted.
How much arc you getting now?'
says he. Is
"Forty-fve dollars month" says I. !.
Then he pursed up his lips and
hemmed and hawed little, and says:
Il don't see how We can give you any
thing more, my good fellow. You see
yours is not 4 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 letter he was
writing, and know l had no more bust
ness here. ! tell you felt sore to be
told it didn't take muck to know how
to fire an engine, and I came mighty
near throwing my job up and trying to
get it another line. But Molly per-
suadcd me to hold on little longer.
Now, before | come to the particular
point OF this yarn, l want to tell you n
little about the line ! have said it was
single track one running from Junction
City to Georgetown. The latter place
was little town of 500 or 900 inhabi.
tants but in summer a great many
Chicago people came up there, and so
suppose the line paid. Anyhow, Thed-
ford, who had 4 summer place there,
was rich enough to run it for himself
alone il he wanted to.
Bob lived at Georgetown and I board
ed with him. Our trips began at in
the morning. and we generally ran the
ITO miles in five hours. Then at 5
in the afternoon we came back,
getting home. at s. AS soon rs
VIC reached the roundhousc at George
town our days work was over, for tho
cleaners took the engine then, cleaned
and polished her, and laid the fire all
ready to start the next morning
Well, as l said, hung on to my Job,
hoping that something would turn up
that would give.me.a.ift, till one day in
August. The whole summer had been
uncommon hot, but that day went
ahead OF anything l ever saw. Oh
course while VIC were running we had
a breeze, but the minute wo stopped it
seemed MS if We were in n furnace, and
naturally, working us we were near a
hot fire didn'timprove things. y
On the home trip Bob was taken sick
and hadiall he could do to hold out
till we 30 to the home station, when he
got homo as soon rs possible After
the train was emptied ran the engine
to the roundhouso, expecting to 90
straight home md wash up. But when
! ran the engine in the first thing
saw was my two cleaners laid out on 4
heap OF ashes, dead drunk. 4
Here was pretty mess, for it would
certainly take Inc auntil midnight to
get the machine in proper trim
for the next days run; and a hot.
greasy job it was in any weather. but
on such q night rs that it was irightiul
to think Of it. However, there was no
holp for it and started in.
I had barely made Il beginning when
] heard some one coming III tthc door.
Looking up | saw that it was Billy
Thediord. In very excited voice he
asked where Iiunterwas. & \
"Elome," / said, 'and so sick he can't
hold his head up"
"Heayens!' said he; II shall DO
ruined !" .s "
Then he went on to say that if he
wasn't in Chicago next day, some deal,
/ think he called it, would fnll through,
and it would costshiln n quarter OF a
million. n,
"There's a train goes through June
City,at eleven-tive that will get YOU to
Chicago in time" says I.
"What goodll that do me?" says he.
1--WE been awaysfor two days, and
only Just now got The telegram. Ii Hun
tor was here he might get me down;
but.a it is may as well go home and
let the money 60"
"Mr. Thediord," said I, "Rob is sick,
but can run this machine to Junction
City in time toconncct with the train
you want; but YOU will have to fro for
mo, as my two cleaners arc drunk. rs