The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-03-20

won't be any more. It's tough, as you
say. I've been fifteen years with the
company and seven on old sc, and at
first it comes mighty hard. But l
suppose I'll get used TO it.
''Look here, John, said the con-
ductor, lowering his voice to q con-
fidential tone, "the President of the
road ls with us tonight. His private
car is the last but one on the train.
How would 1t do to speak to him2 II
you're afraid to tackle him I'll put in
word for you in n minute and tell
him your side of the story"
John Saggart shook his head.
cit wouldn't do" he said. "He
wouldn't overrule what one of his sub
ordinates had done, unless there was
serious injustice in the case. It's the
new manager, you krow. There's
always trouble with a new manager.
He sweeps clean. And 1 suppose he
thinks by bouncing one of the oldest
engineers on the road he'll scare the
rest"
"Well, don't think much of him,
between ourselves" said the conduc-
tor. "What do you think he has done
tonight He's put new man on SO
"A man from one of the branch lines,
who doesn't know the road. 1 doubt
If he's ever been over the main line
before. Now it's an anxious time for
me, with all the holiday traffic moving,
with the thermometer at zero, and the
rails like glass, and l like to have q
man in front that can depend on"
'It's bad enough not to know the
road" said John, gloomily, 'but it's
worse not to know old SO. She's a
brute if she takes a notion"
81 don't suppose there's another
engine that could draw this train and
keep her time"
''No. She'll do her work all right
if you'll humor her." admitted Stag
gart, who could not conceal his love
for the engine, even while he blamed
her.
"Well," said the conductor, rising
and picking up his lantern, "the man
in front may be all right, but I would
feel safer if you were further ahead on
this train than the smoker. I'm sorry
l can't offer you q berth tonight,
John, but we're full clear through to
the rear lights. There isn't even a
vacant upper on the train"
"Oh. it doesn't matter, !" said Sag
gart. ~ couldn't sleep anyhow. I'd
rather sit here and look out of the
window"
" "Well, so long," said the conduct
or. "I'll drop in and see you as the
night passes on"
Saggart lit his pipe and gazed out
into the darkness. He knew every
inch of the road-all the up-grades
and the down.grades and the levels.
He knew it even better in the darkest
night than in the clearest day. Oc-
casionally the black bulk Of barn or
a clump of trees showed for one mo-
ment against the less black sky, and
Saggart would say to himself: "Now
he should shut off an inch of steam i''
or, ''Now he should throw her wide
open"
The train made few stops, but he
saw that they were losing time-96
was sulking, very likely. The thought
of the engine turned his mind to his
own fate. No man was of very much
use in the world, after all, for the
moment he steps down another is
ready to stand in his place. The wise
men in the city who had listened to
his defense knew so we'll that an en-
gine was merely a combination of iron,
steel and brass, and that given num-
Der of pounds of steam would get it
over a given number of miles in IA
given number. of hours, had smiled
incredulously wheas he told them that
an engine had her tantrums, and that
sometimes she had to be coddled up
like any other female, and that even
when man did his best there were
occasions when nothing he could do
would mollify her, and then there was
sure to be trouble, although John had
added, in his desire to be fair, that
she was always sorry for it afterward,
which remark, to his confusion, had
turned the smile into laugh.
He wondered what SO thought of
the new man. Not much, evidently,
for she was losing time which che had
no business to do on that section of
the road. Still, it might be the fault
of the new man not knowing when to
push her for all she was worth and
when to ease up. All these things go
to the making up of time. Still, it
was more than likely that old SO, like
Gilpin's horse, was wondering more
and more what thing upon her back
had got. ''He'll have trouble" NUT
tered John to himself, "when she
finds out"
The conductor came in again and
sat down beside the engineer. He
said nothing, but sat there sorting out
his tickets, while Saggart gazed out
of the window. Suddenly the engi-
neer -sprang to bis feet with his eyes
wide open. The train was swaying
from side to side, and going at great
speed.
The conductor looked up with
smile.
sold &c." he said, sis. evidently
going to make up for lost time
"She should be slowing down on
crossing the G. andM line, answered
the engineer. Good heavens /" he
cried moment after. ''We've gone
across the g, aud NJ. track on the
keen jump"
The conductor sprang to his feet.
He knew the seriousness of such a
thing. Even the fastest expresses