Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-04-08

in many tight place together, but we
won't be any more. It's tough, as you
say. I've been fifteen years with the
company and seven on old 86, and at
first it comes mighty hard. But I
suppose I'll get used to it,
"Look here, john" said the con-
ductor, lowering his voice to a con-
fidential tone, "the President of the
road Is with us tonight. His private
car is the last but one on the train.
How would it do to speak to himp II
you're afraid to tackle him I'll put in
a word for you ina minute and tell
him your side of the story"
John Saggart shook his head.
'It 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
He sweeps clean. And I suppose he
thinks by bouncing one of the Oldest
engineers on the road he'll scare the
rest"
"Well, 1 don't think much of him,
between ourselves" said the conduc-
tor. "What do you think he has done
to night? He's put new man on Sc
"a man from one of the branch lines,
who doesn't know the road. l doubt
If he's ever been over the main line
before. Now it's On anxious time for
me, with oil the holiday traffic moving,
with tho tharporn otar ~ 1aro or1 ~ =
rails like glass, and l like to have a
man in front that I can depend on"
''It's bad enough not to know the
road" said John, gloomily, "but it's
worse not to know old Sc. 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, oven while he blamed
her.
"Well," said the conductor, rising
and picking up his lantern. "the man
in front may be all right, but would
feel safer if you were further ahead on
this train than the smoker. Pm sorry
l can't offer you berth tonight,
John, but we're full clear through to
tho rear lights. There isn't even q
vacant upper on the train"
"Oh. it doesn't matter" said Sag
CART. "I 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 sec you as the
night passes on"
Saggart lit his pipe and gazed out
into the darkness. He knew every
inch of the road 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-S6
W. was suiAin8' very iiHeiy. Inc thougnt
VI thc ensine 'urneo MS mlno TO MS
omn ia'e; NO niaa was OF very much
uso IN .n1 "ot'u' ni'er a'i' ior tne
lnothciS no h.eps oowh anotner is
leaoy " sO"uu III nis Piace' Inc wise
II; men 5 IN .ne Gi'y VINO haa listened to
n; n,s uoiouso huew 30 wen tna1 I'm en-
e,n1 was iileleiy coilpiaa'ion OF lron'
,' s.eei .s snu ofass' anu .na' given num-
osi VI pounus Vi Steam woniu get IL
osel gwen NUMBER Oh mics IN
gwen numoer OF nours' had smiled
inole''ulousiy wheh ne tolu tnem that
~ an engine hau her 'an'fums' ana that
suno'i'nes s;,i sno nao 70 DO coadiea up
nh rnho any o'her a:, iemaie, ana tnat even
"heh d niau oio ms peSC tnere were
ocous,ons ,' Wnen ho1nlng ne couid do
"ouiu monty ner' and tnen tnere was
sure 70 pe 'rouoie' ai'nough John mad
~ auoou' Al nis uosire 10 % iair' mat
sue sue WI Mas always sorry 1or IL atterward.
mnion iu''i"i ., n, W MS Ioliuslon' had
turneu tuo hmHe INTO lauSn.