The Penn's Grove record., 1894-06-29
SAVING THE EXPRESS.

lbu u "a SbaplS VI '~S
would like to take a vacation, said
the general manager of the G., u. Z
L. Railroad.
Kent Ballard was night telegraph
operator for the c., ID. & p. read, II
the big terminal station at Chicago
He was Is years old, AMI as bright
capable and faithful an employc a
the company had in the entire sys
TEN. As the general manager came
and leaned over the window shelf o.
the telegraph office, with his pleas
ant announcement, Kent looked vi
gladly and gratefully.
81 would like a little outing, sir
he said, 'ifit is perfectly convenient.
It's been pretty steady work the pasl
year, and 1 confess thai l am a BIZ
tired. When car you spare me
sir?!"
"Day after tomorrow, II you wish.
We will have a man at u disposal
then, and can put him on your work
for a couple Of weeks. Have you am
idea what you would like to do, oil
where you would like to go-anJ
vacation plan in which l could be OF
any assistance 10 you?"
Kent hesitated a moment. 81
have had a plan in my mind for some
time, sir" he said, at length, ''but
hardly dare to mention IL even now.
1t would be asking a great favor OF
the road"
s.Out with it, my boy!" cried the
general manager. "If it doesn't in
volve US too deeply in financial en-.
barrassment"-and he laughed good
humoredly-"I can promise you it
will be granted"
~ want to make a trip over the
road on a locomotive" said KENT.
II should like to go clear to the
Pacific coast if there is time. II |
could venture to ask you for permits.
sion to go out and back with the en-
gincer or one Of the overland ex.
press"
"Why of course you can, my boy"
exclaimed the general manager.
'Say no more about it. Make all
your preparations, and come to my
office tomorrow for your pass and
written permit, IN case ANYBODY should
dispute your right Of way. l will
speak to Mr.. FaleY, the engineer OF
the midweek overland, and he will C
ready for you on Thursdays outbound
trip"
Thank you, s%ir,-ever so much"
cried Kent sit will be a great
pleasure to me, and l shall lever for
get your kindness"
Kent Ballard told his mother next
morning that his pet vacation project
was to be realized. II have always
longed to cross the Rockies and see
the Pacific" he said, land now, il
you can spare me for a couple Of
weeks, mother, l am of. Fred and
George will take care of you. They
have had their vacations already, you
know"
On Wednesday Kent went up to
the general managers office and got
his passa and permit II have also re-
served section twelve In the sleeper
for YOU, said the manager. you
will want a good comfortable bed at
night, you know, Here is your ticket
And as for your meals, get them In
the buffet al regularly. The steward
understands"
ooh, sir, you are too kind!" cried
Kent
mo, lam mott" laughed the man
ager. "a man can't be too kind
it's impossible. You must remember,
too, that you have served us faith
fully, in q difficult and responsible
position for three years. You deserve
a favor now and then, according TO
my way Of looking at things. Well,
good by to you and a pleasant trip"
The mi1week overland express
pulled out at ten o'clock on Thursday
morning with Kent Ballard in the
cab of the big Mogul locomotive.
''Our first run will be express for
fifty miles," said Mr.. Faley, the ell.
ginecr, ''and You will have a good
chance to see how No. 312 behaves"
1t was a trip full of profit and de-
light 10 tho young telegraph oper.
ator. He was very fond of all kinds
of machinery, and the mechanism OF
the engine proved q most fascinating
study as they whirlcd along over the
rails. Then tho cyer-changing seem
cry, the bustling cities and towns
along the routes, the big rivers over
which they steamed on spider-web
steel bridges, the wide level prairies,
across which they raced at whirIwind
speed, occasionally sighting a herd OF
deer or frightening up a flock of prai-
rio chickcns-all these things made an
endless program of interest and pleas.
ure for Kent Ballard. Then whaG a
thrill passed through him when at
last they came in sight Of the tower
Zig Rockies, with their terIaced foot
hills, like natures doorstep to the
threshold of the mighty range.
So far the overland express had
whirlcd on its long Western trip
without the slightest adventure,
had not been an hours delay. Tho
tram was sharn On time and Il every.
5ning went we'll Its journey would be
completed In twelve hours They
had o reached the ascending grade
over the foothills, and were slowly
crawling upward toward the pass be-
tween the great snow-capped peaks,
through which they were to gain the
Pacific slope. The scenery was in
describably grand, and Kent's eyes
never wearied of feasting upon it.
oh, If mother could only sec these
grand mountains" he thought. "And
if l ever get promoted to a good sal.
AIRY, she shalt"
Nine hours passed, and at length the
great engine, with an almost human
sigh of relief, stopped, painting, on a
side track at the Summit station OF
the divide" A train of fiat cars,
loaded with stone and drawn Gy tTG
locomotives, was slowly punlng up
the western grade. The express had
to wait on the siding until this
freight train should pass and leave
Jhc main track clear. While they
were waiting, Kent Ballard left the
engine and took his seat OF the rear
platform of the last car, where he
could look back at the grand snow
capped mountains they had just
,No-eal