Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-03-29

tgalsssssiss,ie 9l;;,s3SlsalsAi1ssS nrc lamps,
" Sfs.iffNWNNSSS%Is and watched
Ea9Sl(\WNW$SSN5e, engine N o.
>SS. ..!$s.!!ssSsSsi@<> Sc. Tho en-
iS~ ginccr was
oiling her, and tho fireman. Ms ho
opened tho furnace door and shoveIcd
IN tho coal, stood out like rod Rem
brandt picture in tho cab against tho
darkness beyond. AS tho engineer.
with his oil can, went carefully around
engine No. Sc, John Snggart drew his
sleeves across his eyes, aud gulp
cnmo up in his thront. IIo knew evory
Joint and bolt in Tint contrary old
engine tho most cnntankerous iron
brute on tho road, and yet, if rightly
| managed, ono of tho swiftest and most
powerful engines tho company had,
notwithstanding tho many improve
ments thnt had been put upon locomo-
tives since sc left tho foundry.
Saggart, MS ho stood there, Thought
OF the seven years lie had put in on
tho footboard of old Sc, and of tho
many tricks hho had played him dur
ing that period. If, rs tho poet says,
the very chains and tho prisoner be-
como friends through long associn-
ton, it may DO imagined how much
of mans affection goes out to n
machine that ho thoroughly under
stands and likes-n machine that is
his daily companion for years, in
| danger and out of it. No. SO and
John had been in many close pinch
together, and Mt this moment Snggnrt
seemed to have forgotten that often
the pinch was caused by the pure cuss-
edness of Sc herself, and ho remcm-
bered only that she had bravely done
her part several times when the situa-
ton was exceedingly serious.
The cry of "All nboard!" rang out
and was echoed down from tho high
arched roof of tho great terminus, aud
John, with n sigh, turned from his
contemplation of tho engine and went
to take his place on tho train. 1t was
long train, with many sleeping cars
at the end of it, for the heavy holiday
traffic was on, and people wero getting
out of town by tho hundred. The
engineer had put away his oil can and
had taken his place on the engine,
standing ready to begin tho long
journey tho moment tho signal was
given.
John Saggnrt climbed into tho
smoking carriage ut tho front part of
the train. Ho found place in ono of
the forward seats and ho sank down
into it with vague feeling of uneasi-
ness Mt being inside coach instead of
on the engine. He gazed out of the
window and saw the glittering electric
lights slowly slide behind, then more
quickly the red, green and white
lights OF the station lamps, and finally
there aickered swiftly past tho brill
liant constellation of city windows,
showing that tho town had not vet
gone to bod. AT last the flying train
plunged into the dark, and Sngeart
pressed his fuco against the cold glass
OF the window, unable to shake off his
feeling of responsibility, although he
knew that there was another man Mt
throttle.
He was aroused from his reverie by
(" touch on his shoulder and a curt re-
quest. Tickets, PLEASE"
Flo pulled out of his pocket n pass
and turned to hand it to the conduct.
or, who stood there with n glittcrins
plated and crystal lantern on his arm.
"Hello, John, is this you?" cried
the conductor MS soon as he saw the
face turned toward him. "Hano il.
man, You didn't need pass TRAVELLING
with me-"
81 know it, said the engineer, "but
thoy gave 1t to mo to take mo home,
and | may MS we'll use it MS not.
don't want to get you into trouble"
"Oh, I'd risk the trouble" said the
conductor, placing tho lamp on the
hoor and taking his seat beside the
engineer. 81 heard about your
worry today. It's too cussed bad. II
: man had got drunk ut his post, as
you and I have known 'em to do, il
wouldn't have seemed SO hard, but nj
its worst your case was only nm error
Of judgment, and then nothing really
happened. Old sc seems to havo the
habit of pulling herself through. !
suppose you and she have been in
worse fixes than that with not word
said about it,"
"Ob, yes" said John. "We'vo been
in many tight place together, but We
won't be any more. It's tough, rs you
say. Two been fifteen years with the
company and seven on old sc, and al
first it comes mighty hard. But
suppose I'll get used to it,"
"Look here, john" said tho con
dnctor, lowering his voice to con
fidential tone, "the President of tn,
road Is with us tonight. His privat,
car is the last but one on tho train
How would it do to speak to him?
you're afraid to tackle him I'll put il
word for you in minute and tel
him your side of tho story"