Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-05-26
ON TINE.

many years ago. Draw up your chairs.
You, Tom. throw another log upon
the embers, for the air seems chilly.
We JscksOns are railroad men from
away back, and a better engineer than
my father never opened a throttle or
moved a wheel. He was employed Oh
what was then known as the Pacific
Short-Line and pulled No. 1S from
Paekford to Denver, through a country
wilHls. romantic but thinly settled.
Wien No. Is started on her regular
trip you could not imagine a prettier
train in those days. Cars all new, lamps
bright, windows polished and the head
light glowing with a brilliancy that, as
| remember 1t, was far ahead Of your
modern electricity.
The road was Just built and men
were scarce. so the company practiccd
economy by letting me run with my
father as fireman. 1t was a feather in
the cap OF a boy Of IA and | appreciated
1t.
What pride | experienced in leaning
out of the cab window and watching
the scenery as we flew over the country!
shall never forget how magnificent il
all seemed. Here and there the road
curved to the left or right, TO pass some
deep glen filled with pines and over
hanging rocks; often a flock of deer
could be seen on a plateau 100 feet be-
low quietly grazing. but ready TO toss
up their pretty. innocent heads and fee
at tho slightest approach Of danger.
Sometimes we would dash into a deep
cut ahd run more slowly, while dark
ness reigned for a mn Emerging
from this, we crossed a pretty mountain
stream. The little rivulet came bubbling
and rushing down the steep hillside like
a silver ribbon, growing suddenly
wider and falling over a precipice in
CLASSY haste on Jagged rocks below.
where it broke into a brilliant mass Of
spray and dazzled the eye with its form
and color.
1t was a dreary afternoon in Decem-
Der. We had been running extra for
folty-eight hours, on ccoun of the
heavy storms that had been raging for a
week previous. / was % tired that |
slept upon my cushion, while father
added my work TO his own and piloted
our precious freight of human life
through the snow.
oaA ~ hdNA fiil h4Ntt'All tktu dlu
labored heavily under her burdens as
the climbing grew sleeper; but father
stirred up her strength whenever she
shivered beneath the sleet that struck
her iiercely in the face and at 10 O'Clock
/ aroused myself to learn that we were
at our terminus.
All, me! How YEARLY my poor
father staggered from the cab and how
gladly saw the groom" take posses
sion Of the old iron horse 10 rub her
down and put her in a stall 10 rest!
But before we left the station for home
an order was given my father TO start
In W hours on the night mail and
make the run 10 Denver in place of the
regular engineer, who was dangerously
Ill. He shuddered as he read the order
and put his hand to his forehead in a
feeble way. but there was no possibility
of getting rid of the trip and he did not
complain.
Mother fretted about the effects of so
much anxiety and loss of sleep upon
him and vainly tried to tempt his appe-
tite at suppertime, but he talked to her
cheerfully and said he should be all
right, that Ned would take care of him.
and when this trip was over he would
have a rest.
We hurried to the depot, where our
train was waiting. and | thought when
we came to the engine that it painted
and chafed as if tired of the delay.
Father patted her sides as if she was a
living creature and said to me, with o
smile:
"She is a stranger to me, Ned, but she
Is strong and willing. With plenty OF
coal and water she will show steam
enough to take US safely through"
We had to wait a few minutes for the
passengers to come boiling out of the
depot. with their arms full of parcels
and l~unch-baskets, but at last the signal
came and with a firm, gentle hand
father guided us out into the darkness
Of the night.
/ was determined to keep awake and
do my part of the work, and | soon saw
that father was not rs well as when we
started. He leaned heavily against the
window and as | opened the door of the
furnace to feed il with coal | though l
had never seen his face so pale.
He did not talk much, but whenever
/ looked at him he smiled in a way that
seemed sad and CHASTITY.
1t was nearly 6 o'clock in The morn
ing when we left Nicholby and two
hours more would bring us to Denver.
In spite of my fears about father | was
growing Growsy. when / was startled
to hesr him exclaim. in a clear, ringing
voice:
Ned; do you see yon light3 IT'S .
signal, lad"
! glanced out of my frosty window,
but could see nothing and. getting down
from my place, crossed over to his side
OF the cab. thinking the signal would be
visible from that seat.
His eyes had grown wonderfully
bright and were fixed upon something
In the darkness FAR away.
Springing lightly up beside him. !
gazed in the same direction, but the light
be saw was not for me.
Where is ii, father:?' Z asked, eager.
ly.
His eyelids closed u moment and then
opened slowly.
Dear Ned" said he. in beautiful
tenderness, 1.-THE signal is put out for me.
It means n report to headquarters
long layof-and-rest."
He sighed gently and his head fell
back on my shoulder.
For the first time in my life l drew
near the presence Of death and my
thoughts dew to the mother who was
waiting u return Ny tears fell thick
anu ias. ard ] s.rcked the damp hail
that clustered about his forehead and
kissed him again and again.
The hand That had been guiding us
safely through that night of form owe
those black miles Of peril fell from the
lever and | cried aloud in agony.
He reused himself again. leaned for
ward, gave the throttle = tremulous push
and looked at me with the glory Of
eternity shining on his face.
al shall be found at my post, lad, and
the Master viii care for you and mother.
Don't cry. dear. but tell her how l got
the summons.v
His breath grew shorter aud | gather
cd him closer to my heart, listening in |