The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-28
A RAILROAD STORY.
OLD EIGHTY-SIX TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF THE GREENHORN.
The Machine Went ON a Rampage,
But Has Now Reformed and Is Try
ing to Lead n Better Life.

ing TO Lead n Better Life.
From the Detroit Free Press.
John Staggart stood in a dark corner of
the terminus. out Of the rays of the gilt
tering arc lamps. and watched engine No.
IS. The engineer was oiling her. and the
fireman, as he opened the furnace door
and shoveled in the COAL stood out like
red Remrandt picture in the cab against
the darkness beyond. As the engineer,
with his oil can, went carefully around No.
s., John Saggart drew his sleeve across
his eyes, and a gulp came up in his throat.
lie knew every joint and bolt in that con-
trary old engine-the most cantankerous
iron brute on the road, and yet, if right
~ managed, one of the swiftest and most
powerful engines the company had, not
withstanding the many improvements
that had been put upon locomotives since
So left the foundry
Saggart, as he stood there. thought of
the seven years he had put in on the foot
board of old Sc, and the many tricks she
had played him during that period. If,
as the poet says, the very chains and the
prisoner become friends through long as
sociation, 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. S6
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 cussed-
ness of IS herself, and he remembered
only that she had bravely done her part
several times when the situation was ex-
ceedingly serious.
The cry of IAN aboard" rang out
ana was echoed down from the high
afched roof of the great terminus, and
John, with a sigh turned from his con-
temptation of the engine and went to take
ms place on the train. 1t was a long
tram, with many sleeping cars at the
end of it, for the heavy Christmas traffic
was on and people We're 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
John Saggart climbed into the smoking
carriage at the front part of the train
He found place in one of the forward
seats and he sank down into 1t with a
vague FEELING of uneasiness a being inside
coach instead of on the engine He
gaized out OF the window and saw the
glittering electric lights slowly slide be-
hlnd, then more quickly, the red, green
and white lights of the station lamps
and finally there fickered swiftly past
the brilliant constellation of city win
dows, showing that the town had not vet
gone to bed. At last the flying train
p plunged IN into ea the dark and saggart
OF the window unable to shake off his
feeling of responsibility, although he
knew that there was another man at the
He was aroused from his reverie by a
touch on his shoulder and a curt re-
quest, Tickets please"
He pulled out of his pocket a pass and
turned to hand il to the conductor, who
STOOD there with ghttering 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 il. man. YOU
dl az !, need pass travelling with me-
gave II 10 me to take me home and I
may as well use it as not. don't want
to get you into trouble"
"Oh, I'd risk the trouble" said the con-
ductor, placing the lamp on the floor and
taking his seat beside the engineer. II
n n9aa about t your worry to-day It's too
his post, as you and l have known EN-
to do, It wouldn't have seemed so hard
error OF Judgment, and then nothing really
happened. Old So seems to have the habit
of pulling herself through. l suppose you
and she have been in worse fixes than thar
with not word said about it."
'Oh, yes" said John. We've been in
many tight place together, but we won't
been fifteen years with the company and
seven on &c. and at first 1t comes mighty
hard. But suppose I'll get used 10 It."
,o,. nso9k mere mere John SAID the conductor
the president of the road is with US to-
night. His private car is the last but one
on the train. How would 1t do to speak to
him? If you're afraid to tackle him I'll
put in word for you in a minute and tell
him your side of the story"
John Saggart shook his head.
1T wouldn't do" he said. He wouldn't
overrule what one of his subordinates had
done, unless there was serious injustice in
the case. IT. the new manager, you know
There's always trouble with a new mana
ger. He sweeps clean. And I suppose he
thinks by bouncing one of the Oldest en-
gineers on the road he'll scare the rest
well, l don't think much of him, be-
tween ourselves" said the conductor
! What do you think he has done tonight?
+ He's put new man on S6-a man from
one of the branch lines, who doesn't know
the road. / doubt if he's ever been over
the main line before. Now it's an anx-
ious time for me, with all the Christmas
traffic moving, with the thermometer al
zero, and the rails like glass and / like
10 have man in front that ] can depend
ITS bad enough not 10 know the road q"
said John, RlOOmily, but it's Woree not
20 know old &c. She's brute II she takes
II don't suppose there's another en-
gine that could draw this train and keep
her time"
mo. She'll do her work an right If
your humor her" admitted Eaggarf. who
could not conceal his love for ne engine
even while be blamed her.
We'll" said the conductor. rising and
picking up his lantern. THE man hi front
may BE- 40 right. bat ] would foei
safer N you were further ahead On ms
train than fhe smoker I'm sorry i eanit
offer you berth tonight. John bui ws,re
fell clear through ~ me rear lights There
"oh. q doesn't mhfffr" said gauFart
~ eeHiqH sleep anthoN 20 rather sit
hefn AID Jock 0Hf ~ fhf HlnaoM
+Hai. - Tong Hata ihf cohlurfor Hfff
ofop ~ ara see feu se zoe Highi passes
or