The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-01-12
A BRAKEMAN'S STORY.
The Tragic End OF Happy
Young Life.

II was so quiet outside that when
the long freight train would come 10 n
standstill with an abrupt, awkward
jerk we could almost heSr the big,
drifting flakes ns they fell. Not a
bpeiith of air was stirring and the big.
round moon filtered down through the
snowstorm with white. softened
light that revealed nearby objects in
a strange. ghostly sort OF n way. The
soft-coal fire that spluttered htfully in
the old-fashioned cast iron upright
DUNe lacked cheer enough % break
spell Of the outside air. Without
Knowing precisely why, we sat mostly
az silence or muttered an occasional
monosyllablic observation as 10 how
soon we might reach Jersey City. We
were four hours behind time and
somewhere baclx OF us we knew was
the West Shore express, likewise be-
hind time and endeavoring to make up
something OF its lost run.
Sitting in the little red caboose In
the rear OF the big freight train, rum
bling along through n blind fog OF
snow with flying express at our
heels gave an uncanny sensation that
/, for one, did not relish in the least.
The drummer who had boarded the
train at Newburg sat morosely on a
pile OF grips, which afforded him n
softer seat than the hard, wooden
benches strung along the sides OF the
car. A couple of shippers anxiously
discussed the prospects for getting
their stock 20 market without having
them half frozen TO death.
At the entrance Of Joe. the brake
man, however, the glum little party
seemed TO thaw at once. He swung
down off the roof OF the last box car
and in through the door In CHEEKY,
wholesome sort Of fashion that
warmed MS at once.
Joe" said one OF the shippers, ''be
we going TO reach Jersey City afore
Christnas?"
Isn't this good enough for you to
live In? How'd you like 70 be out
bralSing to-night?"
- 'Tain't no snap, that's fact" the
per assented.
NO, you bet IL amt" said Joe, de-
cisively. but this amt n patching To
what IL is sometimes"
Something i'm the manner in which
Joe carefully filed his cob pipe, took
bit OF stick from the floor, polsed 1t
into the fire and liz his pipe slowly and
thoughtfully, indicated that a story
was coming.
STRANGE" said Joe at last, with
ruminant look into the fire and long,
steady pull at his pipe, somehow to-
night reminds me OF day two years
ago. That was when we brought
Johnny IIRines home. Guess you must
"a known Johnny" he added, turning
TO the shipper.
Nope. Heard OF him. Go on, Joe.
What was the story?"
Not much Of one" Joe replied.
deprccatingly. "Just a braSeman's
garn, only it's little out OF the com
Jon run. The first day ] ever saw
Johnny Haines ! thought he was
about the handsomest lad | ever set
eyes on. He came mp on No. Q on her
first trip. We used 20 meet often up
and down the road and got TO know
each other pretty well. lie was one
OF these lads with fresh. pink and
white complexioT and jolly laugh
that made you warm up 20 him at
once He was straight and strong,
and when he used 10 stand jaAntily
on top "a the car. the train going forty
miles an hour and he not seeming 20
think !, was moving at all, there
wlsnt girl along the road that
n't smile for him as he went by.
The lad was anxious 20 stick and
worked hard. and. as he kept his
mouth shut pretty close, IL was a long
time before we found out anything
about who hc was. lie had little ways