Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-12-17
LE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS DECEMBER IL SSN7EEN PAGES


herman song 10 himself Us ne WOrheu-
some song that carried him back to q
little village in the Rheingau, where his
mother lived; but how could the dredge
men know that his eyes grew misty at
iecollections Of home, or that the
strange words Of his song had a mourn
full strain in them? So his martyrdom
went on. Wrenches began to disappear
from the engine-room, and his tobacco
never lasted long
Late one afternoon the W. II. Maxwell
was dispatched to the 500 for some re-
pairs. In place Of the regular fireman
Of the tug-if the fireman who had only
been on for the last two weeks and had
quit the day before could be called reg
ular-one Of the dredge fremen was
substituted. 1t was only Q half hours
run to the 500, and 1t was expected that
the captain could pick up a new fireman
there.
At the 500 the captain received the
needed repairs, took on a few boxes of
vegetables for the dredpe and was ready
for the return. He had not been able to
find a new fireman in any Of the loafng
places or saloons on Water street.
Jakey went to the post Office for his
mnil, expecting. Of course, that the fire.
man would stay on the tug and keen
up steam, but what was his chagrin
to find the fireman gone, and the steam
low on his return. Any hitch in the
workings on his mart Of the boat was an
annoyance to Jakey; and then the cap
tain WAS particular and liked the tug
to carry a good head Of steam, Jakey
climbed down into the firehole and
fixed the fire. and lust as he came up
the fireman and the captain came back
The old man was feeling pretty testy
at his failure to find new man, and
the man who had fired coming up had
been drinking somewhat. "Jetzt wird's
los gehen," said Jakey to himself, in
German, then relapsing into English.
"Die old man he get mad and die foire is
most oudt."
They cast off the lines and backed out
Of the slip. There were number Of
boats passing, and the captain sicnaled
to 20 ahead, and reverse, and to slow up,
and to put on steam, till poor Jakey
was, wild. "py gracious! Die captain
he Won wild mani" he kept muttering
to himself, as he sat al the lever, and
the signals came pouring in like news
on election night. A half mile down
the river the signal bell again changed:
Full steam! Full steam! Full
steam!" "Tod und teufel!" said Jakey,
aloud. Full steam! Dot vas q shoke;
We aindt full steam"
"Jakey,' yelled the captain, there
comes Morrisons tug for race! Open
her up!"
Jakey was beside himself. He
crawled out and ran TO the pilothouse,
"Cabtain, We no have shteam. Dot fire.
man he let die foire most 20 oudt."
Make him fire up!" shrieked the |
cantain
II the "old man" on the w. II. Max
well had one pride more than another
in his old age It was that his tug should |
never be passed.
Jakey hurried to the fireman. who |
sat on the hawser post of the rear deck, |
looking stolidly at the approaching TUG, |
IVY you make no fire, Spitzbub?" he |
,aid, with excited yolubility, eve must
have shteam! We must have 'foire!
They beat us!"
"Shut up. old sauerkrautl I'm TAX
nr rest" answered the fireman.
"You no shoke now. Iwant shteam."
said Jakey. but the man only laughed.
he was drunk enough to be ugly. and
hen he knew II was only .Jakev
In the meantime the bells came faster
md faster to the enoine-room "HIm.
circulated Jakey. Eve
10 have shteam. ,lnd vet the cabtain he
Dust"
The fireman was now around on tbe
NOW md the cantain was swearing NJ
him and telling him to fire IN. Finally
Jakey appeared again at the nilot
house. I've have a kriep n vor.' said
he to the captain. "but donnerwetterl
tink We viii have peacelo Here he
I'm to the fireman. His bot
was off and his flaxen hair was Autter.
NO in the wind "vill Won make
'oire9" he demanded
"Hellol You here. GERMANY 9u