Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-05-23

had to come out of the base on each
side for a mile or more.
/ set the men to work and walked
up and down the track to keep my
self warm until Joe brought the fat
cars down.
Joe was very fond of practical
jokes and some of the men bore him
grudge on that score. / believe
there wasn't man out of the TWEEN
ty-four indeed that didn't dislike
him.
They got along we'll enough with
me for it was company work, you
know, and besides that / was think
ing of Belle Carroll all the time and
| couldn't have been hard on the
biggest loafer that ever handled
pick.
But I'm forgetting Joe Handley
and his practical jokes. Well, sir,
he played off one on his fireman.
mere slip of boy-that made me
think he was crazy.
They were both on top of the EN-
bankment which was very high and
very steep. was standing in the
caboose looking up at them, wonder
ing what on earth made Joe laugh
SO wildly at nothing, when all at
once Joe gave the fireman power
full shove down the slope.
1t was the maddest thing / ever
saw one do as joke, for the chances
were fifty to one in favor of broken
bones or death outright, as man
with half an eye could see. Why,
my heart was in my mouth. Fortu-
nately the lad, after pitching for
ward, got his legs straight under
him somehow or other and came
down frightened and angry.
He got into the cabcose and swore
he wouldn't fire another time for
Joe HaDdley.
Joe set up loud, queer laugh, and
upon my word thought his dane
ing. glistening eyes would shoot
clean out of his head.
Lord !" thought I to myself, "if
I was the company, I wouldn't have
such pair of eyes behind an engine
of mine !" but you see wanted to
ask favor of Joe, so / didn't tell
him what / thought.
The passenger train from the west
came into Decatur at half-past elev.
en- in the morning, and we had to
back to the switch at Harristown 10
order to let it pass.
"Joe,' said |, as he let on the
steam, sI'll want you to stay a bit
for me in Harristown. / wish to
make visit. The men have plenty
of picking to do, before they'll want
the dat cars
"All right said he. readily. I'll
wait as long as you like. Is there a
petticoat in it, Bill p
Now, hadn't made a confidant of
Joe. l don't think l could have
brought myself to do it for money,
unless he had put a green shade over
those terrible eyes; and even then
If he had laughed one of those queer
laughs, I'd have stopped dead short
and smashed his face to pulp, so
help me.
"Petticoats be hanged r said /.
give business of another sort to at
tend to-"
l left him at the switch, and set
out for CAROLS house.
Belle was making biscuits in the
kitchen, and l caught her in her old
est dress, up to the elbows in dough.
You can guess how glad she was to
see me, and how she welcomed me,
when / tell you there was -four all
over the back of my coat, and you
could pick Jumps of dough out OF
my beard, two minutes after passed
the kitchen window.
Time travelled like lightning, I tell
you, for / succeeded in making her
name the day, and the old man gave
me his blessing, and the old woman
kissed me, and begged me to be good
to her child !; and Belle cried, and l
cried for company. was very hap
by, till I bethought me of the bright
eyes that were dancing up and down
the track in quest of me.
/ took my leave of the old couple
and Belle went to the garden gate
with me, to make the parting easier,
she said.
I was looking down into her dear
eyes, seeing there all sorts of joy in
store for me, when a little start OF
hers made me look up, and there,
leaning over the gate was Joe Hand
ley.
/ nearly jumped out of my boots.
l wasn't afraid of the man, mind
you, so far as a fair stand-up fight
went; but I never caught the CLEAN
of his eyes on mine without feeling
cold in my spine.
what liar you are, Bill said
he, with one of his queer laughs.
aThere is petticoat in it, after all. !"
l couldn't speak. If l bad OPEN
ed my mouth, I should have struck
him.
$50, that's the favored one, Miss
Belle 7" said he, pointing at me with
his thumb.
Belle was greatly put out. She