Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-05-02
OLD EIGHTY-Slx

woe, JOnn OaSSdIG eIoOu III Nhih
corner of the terminus, out of the
rays of the glittering arc lamps, and
watched engine No. Sc The engineer
was oiling her, and the fireman, as he
opened the furnace door and shoveled
in the coal, stood out like red Rem
brandt picture in the cab against the
darkness beyond. AS the engineer,
with his oil can, went carefully around
engine No. sc, John Saggard drew his
sleeves across his eyes, and a gulp
came up in his throat. He knew every
Joint and bolt in that contrary old
engine-the most cantanksrous iron
brute on the road, and yet, if rightly
managed, one Of the swiftest and most
powerful engines the company had,
notwithstanding the many improve
ments that had been put upon locomo-
tives since sc left the foundry.
Saggart, as he stood there, thought
of the seven years he had put in on
the footboard 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 prisoners be-
come friends through long association,
it may be imagine how much Of "a
mans affection goes out to a machine
that he thoroughly understands and
likes-a machine that is his daily COM
panion for years, in danger and out of
it. No. Sc and John had been in
many a close pinch together, and at
this moment Saggart seemed to have
forgotten that often the pinch was
caused by the pure cusSedness of sc
herself, and he remembered only that
she had bravely done her part several
times when the situation was exceed
ingly serious.
The cry of call aboard y rang out
and it was echoed down from the high
arched roof of the great terminus, and
John, with sigh, turned from his
contemplation Of the engine and went
to take his place on the train. 1t WAS
long train, with many sleeping cars
at the end of it, for the heavy holiday
traffic was on, and people were getting
ont of town by the hundred. The en-
gineer had put away his oil can and
had taken his place on the engine,
standing ready to begin the long jour
ney the moment the signal wa, given.
John Saggart climbed into the
smoking carriage at the front part of
the train He found a place in one Of
the forward seats and he sank down
into it with vague feeling of uneasl-
ness at being inside coach instead of
on the engine He gaaed 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 the brill
liant constellation of city windows,
showing that the town had not yet
gone to bed. AT last the flying train
plunged into the dark, and Saggart
pressed his face against the cold glass
of the window, unable to shake off his
feeling of responsibility, although he
knew that there was another man at
the throttle.
He was aroused from his reverie by
a touch on his shoulder and curt re-
quest, Tickets, please.
He pulled out of his pocket pass
and turned to hand it to the conduct
or, who stood there with a glittering
plated and crystal lantern on his arm.
Hello, John, is this you?' cried
the conductor as soon as he saw the
face turned toward him. Hang it,
man, you didn't need pass travelling
with me.
81 know it, said the engineer, "but
they gave it to me to take me home,
and l may as well use it as not. l
don't want to get you into trouble"
"Oh, I'd risk the trouble, d." said the
conductor, placing the lamp on the
floor and taking his seat beside the
engineer. II heard about your worry
today. It's too cussed bad. If a
man had got drunk at his post, as you
and | have known 'em to do, it would
mt have seemed SO hard, but at its
worst your case was only an error OF
judgment, and then nothing really
happened. Old Sc seems to have the
habit of pulling herself through.
suppose you and she have been In
worse fixes than that with not word
said about it.
"Oh, yes, said John. We've been
in many tight place together, but we
won't be any more. It's tough, as you