The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-02-08
OLD

John Saggart stood in a dark cor
ner of the term nus. out or the rays
OF the glittering arc lamps, II
watched engine No. s.. The engi-
ueer was oiling her and the fireman,
as he opened the furnace door and
shovclcd in the coal, stood out like a
red Rembrandt picture in the cab
against the darkacss beyond. AS the
engineer with his OIL went carefully
around No. SO, John Saggart drew
his sleeve across his eyes and a gulp
cane up in his throat. He knew
every Joint aud bolt in that contrary
Old enginc-the most cantankcr0uS
iron brute on the road. and yet, If
rightly managed, one of the swiftcst
and most powerful engines the COM
pany had, Notwithstanding the many
Improvements that had been Tut
upon locomotives since ola 81 lett the
foundry
,aggart, as he stood there, thought
Of the seven years he had put in on
the foot boards of Old Sc, and Of the
many tricks she had played him dur
ing that period. If, as the poet says,
the very chains and the prisoner be-
come friends through long association.
it may be imagined how much Of a
mans affection goes out to a machine
that he thoroughly understands and
likeS-a machine that is his daily
companion for years, in danger and
out OF it. No. So and John had been
III many a close pinch togeth and at
this moment Saggart seemed to have
forgotten that often the pinch was
caused by the pure cussedness Of S6
herself, and he remembered only that
She had bravcly done her part several
times when the situation was exceed
lngly serious.
The cry of 'all aboard :" rang out
and was echoed down from the high
arclicd roof Of the great terminus.
and JOln, with a sigh, turned from
his contemplation OF the engine and
went TO take MS pace on the train.
1t was a long train, with many Sleep
ing c rs at the end Of it, tor the
heavy Christmas traffic was on, and
people were getting out Of town By
the hundred. The engineer had put
away his Oil can and had taken his
place on the engine, standing ready
to begin the long Journey the moment
the signal was given.
John Saggart cl mlcd into the
smoking carriage at the front part of
the train. He found a pla G in one
OF tn forward seats and be sank
lnu,t, inf. - ,.itH :, ngr,, fn,1;.A, -
uneasiness at being inside Il coach
instead Of on the engine. He galed
out Af the window and saw the gilt
tering electric lights slowly slide he
hind, then move quickly the red.
green and white lights Of the station
lamps, and finally there liickered
swiftly past the brilliant constella-
tion of city windows, showing that
the town had not yet gone to bed.
AT last the dying train plunged into
the dark country and Saggart pressed
his face against the cold glass Of the
window, unable to shake Off his feel
ing of responsibility, although he
knew that there was another man at
the throttle.
He was aroused from his rcverie by
a touch on his shoulder and a curt
'equest, "TiCketS, please"
He pulled out of his pocket a pass
and turned to hand it to the con-
ductOr, who stood there with a gilt
tering plated and crystal lantern on
his arm.
"lIello, John, is this you cried
the conductor as soon as he saw the
face turned toward him" Hang,
ii, man, you didn't need a pass tray
cling with me-"
II know it," said the engineer,
'but they gave it to Inc to take me
home. and | may as well use it as
not. don't want to get you into
trO.ble."
'Oh, I'd risk the trouble" said
the conductor, placing the lamp on
the floor and taking his seat beside
the engineer. 81 heard about your
worry to-day. It's too cursed bad.
II q man had got drunk at his post,
as you and l have knOwa 'em to do,
it wouldn't have seemed &C hard, hut