Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-10

have to get married or go to work
sooner or later, ] suppose"
II wish we could get into some
thing together"
like enough il we did get in to-
gether, they'd put us in separate
cells" said Gene. He had money
not much, perhaps, but money-and
parents well-to-do, and could afford
to joke. But it was a serious matter
with Tom. He was as poor as a
Greek and as proud as Spaniard.
One day he hailed Gene with happy
shout, and announced that he had a
job for both, where they could work
together by day and bunk together
BY night.
80 it's work, is it?" asked Gene,
looking his friend over.
"Well, yes. You were not expect.
ing job stopping balls in a tennis
court, were you?"
mot exactly; but I thought we
we're going into some sort of business
together"
This is business-good business.
and you wind it up with brake.
chain every time the whistle blows
"What is it?"
"Braking on the Burlington"
"W-h-a-t?"
"Braking on the Burlington"
Gene smiled.
The Burlington had just been open
ed as far as Omaha, and Ottumwa
was only small settlement. Iowa
was right out on the raw edge of the
wild, wild west The Indians were
wrecking stations and robbing
freight cars, and fagman three cars
from the caboose couldn't call his
scalp his own.
Passenger train, presume" said
Gene, breaking the hush.
Freight"
"What?'
"Freight."
"Say, Tom, you're crazy. What you
want to throw yourself away on a
box-car for? 1t won't do-not for me
its preposterous!"
1T beats walking
perhaps, but we haven't had 10
walk yet. Think of it! Society col
umn OF the Chicago Tribune, Captain
Smith and Captain Jones are braking
on freight out of Ottumwa.' Come,
Tom, I'm not broke yet; besides, you
are too young and handsome to be
killed"
"rhen you won't go?"
NO." said Gene, and he began to
sing:
''Don't you go, Tommy, don't go;
Stay away Tommy, don't 60"
well, I've always feared it would
come to this sooner or later" said
Tom. He held out hus hand, and Gene
took 1t.
II love you, Tommy" said he, but
can't join you in blue jumper and
go skating with you over the icy tops
of rolling box ears"
"Good-by," said Tom.
"Good-by! God be good to you, cap
tain-my captain!"
1.-THE same to you" called Tom, and
his friend watched him wander away
down among the cars in the newly
rallied freight yards.
Ticket" called the conductor.
The man was reading,
"Ticket," and he touched the mans
shoulder, and the man looked up.
"Why-hel-lo, Tom. What you do
ing?"
"Im trying to run this train said
Tom, passing the punch to his left
hand in order to shake the hand the
passenger held out.
When the conductor had worked
the train. he came back to the pas
senger with the book
Say, Gene said the ticket-taker,
II was so elated over this unexpected
pleasure that forgot TO get your
ticket, You ought to be ashamed to
make me ask the third time for it."
well, you can keep right on, for
I've got no ticket. had barely time
to throw myself aboard as the train
pulled out"
well, you've got money, 'haven't
you? Cause If you haven't / know
where you can borrow"
Gene smiled and gave up, and then
the two ex-captains Of cavalry sat
and talked Of the old days, when there
were no railroads there.
"Well, Tom, you've made a great
success Of the railroad business, and
I'm proud Of YOU" said Gene, glanc'