The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-09-18

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always had the girl to himself when
he called. while when Hank was
there in the evening her father and
mother were apt to be on hand.
Hank was terribly jealous Of
Matt, and he never lost chance to
make things unpleasant for him on
the road. He would pull out from
the siding where he had been wait
ing for the express minute before
she was due, and when he met her
he would show his watch, which he
had showed ON until she was two or
three minutes fast, and stick to it
that she was right. Reasoning with
him wouldn't do any good. There
was his train on the track, and he
wouldn't bulge an inch, so the ex-
press would have to back down, and
Hank would remark to Matt that if
he didn't get new watch he would
come to grief some day.
why didn't he complain to the
superintendent So he did, but when
the superintendent called Hank up
and questioned him Hanks watch
was exactly right, and he stuck to
his story till the superintendent be
lieved him, and he began to think
that Matt was getting little too old
and too careless. This wouldn't have
made much odds to Matt if it hadn't
been that he found himself wonder
ing if possibly Hanks watch was
right, and if he himself was begin
ming to show signs of failing. This
Is just what Hank was working for,
for he had sworn that he would make
Matt lose his nerve, providing Matt
got the better of him with the girl.
Then Hank took to hating his
train on down grade and informed
the conductor that his engine wasn't
working just right and required a
little repairing. He would make a
big show Of unscrewing nut here
and easing a valve there, and then
he would oil her and spill lot of oil
On the rails. When the express came
a-groaning and a-panting and a-puff-
ing up the hill, her driving wheels
would strike the oil and slip, and the
train would be stuck long enough to
make her come into the next station
10 minutes or so behind time. Matt
knew well enough that Hank was
playing it on him, but he couldn't
prove anything, don't you see, and
all he could do was to swear and take
the reprimands that he got without
attempting to defend himself.
"After awhile the girl made up her
mind, and she took Matt. l don't
blame her, for though he was pretty
old for her he was good man, with
cash in the bank and
a big life insurance policy, while
Hank hadn't cent beyond his pay
and was liable from his reckless ways
to be smashed almost any day. Of
course Matt was in high spirits over
his success, and Hank was CORE
spondingly nasty. The first time the
two met Mattsays: Look here, Hank
Stevens, I've had about enough of
your games, and I'm not going to give
you the right Of way many more
times, when you know as well as I
do that you are not entitled to it.
Some day you'll pull out of thatsiding
ahead of time once too often.
What are you proposing for to
10 in the premisesF says Hank, who
mad fine command of language, and /
could be most deadly polite when he .
to be.
II propose, says Matt, for to open
ny throttle and smash your dirty
title accommodation train into 5000
100 splinters and you with it. That's
What intend to do, and what ! ought
% have done long ago, only I had a
weak sort Of feeling for your passen.
sers.
"'All right, says Hank. You
,ome along with your bullyragging
I'D express and try to smash me if
you want to. Well see who will
ome out on the top of the heap. I've
generally got about two carloads of
oal just behind my engine, and
al'late you'll have some little trou-
lie driving through them.
Nov, Hank knew well enough
hat Matt meant what he said. Matt
vas, as / have told you, mighty
areful and conscientious man, but
GU could drive him too far, and he
ad certainly made up his mind to
un into Hanks train if it kept get
ing in his way, and l don't blame
i'm. However, he never did run
ito Hanks train, though he thought
g did, but Hank worked a little
anne on him that left him with no
lore nerve than a race horse that is
lghtened by a bit of paper and
links it's going to rise up and tear
i'm all to pieces.
About a week went by, and Hank
ever crowded the express off the {
'ack except once, and he did that {
hen MATHS girl was on the train, 6
nd that he naturally wouldn't scare {
81 by a collision. The very fact I
lat the girl was there at the time c
ade it all the harder for Matt to C