The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-12-07
A COUPLEO' CAPTAINS

Jimmy Christmas" groaned Tom,
show my arm aches ~
"BOn't think o. your arm,n said
Gene, twisting in his blankets. I'D
take your wound for the prospect of
promotion that hangs over your head. {"
BE quiet, said Tom, and he sighed
heavily.
The stars were burning like Goals Of
fire in the blue above them, and all
about the winds were breathing in the
ssge-brush. Tho two boys had been in
battle that dsy-a hot fight with the
Sioux-aDd Tom labored and lsrruped
a willy warrior single-h handed and alone
under the very nose Of the Colonel, and
for that reason and not because he had
received a slight, though painful wound
in his arm, his c0mrade Gene argued
that promotion would come 10 Tom.
Il did come, aud still another, and in
less than a months time he was cap
tain.
Gene was big, brave, stron. youth,
and it was not long until he, too, be-
gan to take on markers at the tops Of
his shoulders. Without any Of that in
visible something commonly called
''pull,v both boys fought themselves
up 50 that at the end Of five years
strife with the Sioux they were cap
tains of cavalry. II was all very ex-
citing; even thrilling at times. But
the war ended cne fine day, as wars
will, and the two captains found them
selves without employment, and. one
of them at least, without tangible
means of support. The disbanding of
the army had thrown some thousands
of men suddenly upon a country in
which all the good jobs seemed to be
iiIled.
ave must do something, said Tom,
"Yes," assented his friend; "we'll
have to get married or 50 20 work soon
er or later, 1 suppOse-"
II wish we could get into something
together"
Like enough FIVE did get in togeth-
er, they'd put US in separate cells, -
said Gene. He had money-not much,
perhaps, but money-and parents we'll
to-do, and could afford to joke. But it
was a serious matter with Tom. He
was as poor as Greek and as proud as
a Spaniard. One day he hailed Gene
with happy shout, aud announced
that be had a job for both, where they
could work together by day and bunk
together at night.
80 it's work, is ii?" asked Gene,
looking his friend over.
''Well, yes. You were not expecting
a job stopping balls in tennis court,
were your"
mot exactly but l thought we were
going into some sort Of business
together"
This is business-goOd business,
and you wind it up with brake-ehain
every time the whistle blows.p
"what is it2"
"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 Ottamwa was
only a small settlement Iowa was
right out on the raw edge of the wild,
wild West. The Indians were wreck
ing stations and robbirg freight ears,
and fiagman three cars from the ca
boose couldn't call his skin his own.
Passenger train, presume % said
Gene, breaking the hush.
Freight
"what?''
Freight"
"Say, Tom, you're crazy. What do
you want 10 throw yourself away on .
box-ear for? 1t won't dO-not for me
It's preposterOus y
at beats walking"
Perhaps, but we Invent had to
walk yet Think of il. Society col.
unn Of the Chicago Tribane Captain
Smith and Captain Jones are braking
on a freight out Of Ottumwa-' Come.
Tom, I'm not broke yet besides, you
are too young and handsome to be
kliel.n
"Then you won't go?''
"No," said Gene, and be began to
sing:
Don't you 60 Tommy. don't you;
stay away. Tommy. don't go"
swell, I've always feared it would
come to this sooner or later" said
Tsm. He held out bis hand, and Gene
took it
81 love you, Tommy said he, ''bul
/ can't join you in blue jumper and
go skating with you over the icy tops
of rolling box-esFs .
''Good-by sSsaid Tom.
..Good-b ps9sd he good to you, cap
tain-my captain r
ssTae same to you," called Tom, ant
his lend astrhed him wander aEal
down among the ears in the newly
rallied freight yards.
Ticket, called the conductor.
The man was rAdiBg.
Ticket. aud he touched the man
shoulder, and the man looked up.
ssWhy-hel-lo, Tom What yol