Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
Chapter TX.


ever get this road through, so 1 can get
my coal mine"
l think that was rather rubbing it in, but
perhaps they deserved it.
The company's attorney, a fine, big,
handsome old gentleman, carrying a heavy
gold-headed cane, called on Dave and talk
ID to him like loving father to way
ward son. But the old engineer was obsti-
nate: he wouldn't sell the vein at any price
He would only consent. as his wifes repre-
sentative, to contract, binding the COM
pany to mine minimum of, say. thous-
and tons Of coal per monitor as much
mere as they chose-paying her royalty
on every ton taken out. For himself, he
didn't want work, only a guarantee of en-
plCyment for life, as master mechanic. at
$1,000 per year, of the local division. The
guarantee so worded that no sale, lease,
transfer or other juggling with the prop
erty could throw him out: his duties and
salary to begin at once.
AS even the willy railroad lawyers were
unable to circumvent the deed. and Dawes
offer was quite reasonable, 1t was accepted
Judge Davis drew up cast-iron contract
in which he had so much faith that lie
promised Dave to defend 1t for him at any
time free of cost. AS the company was
dc sirous of getting to work, 1T was signed
at once thereby placing Dave and his
newly acquired family beyond the posi-
biity of any other condition than that of
affiuence.
Under the new conditions the wel-to-do
young fellows in Melton suddenly discov-
cred that Dawes stepdaughter was a very
charming and handsome girl. Although the
family remained in the old homestead, they
had it ct atty improved, and more stylish
buggies than any belonging on the ridge
were frequently seen standing all the even
ing at it's door.
Although Carrie was as friendly as ever,
when we met-which was at more and more
infrequent Intervals was conscious that,
in contrast with her city callers, 1 cut but
a poor figure. so, to avoid meeting them
q said to myself, I gradually stopped go
ing there She asked me couple of times
when | met her after church why l had
become such a stranger all at once, but,
as she was surrounded by her new friends,
| could not explain, and. besides, fancled
she only asked out of polfteness, anyway.
It was a sore experience to- ME, and cast
shadow on my other trfunnphs, but L
wouldn't let on that | cared.
The very day that Dave got his contract
he called on father Jim, Said he, its
not much use for an old raiirGader to take
up farming till he has to. I shall want
two good men to run the limited express
on this division inside of three months.
and one side of it is yours If you want it.
Father thanked him heartily and said
that. while farming was all right for
man who had a good farm and knew how,
there wasn't a hundred a month in it, so
he accepted So. if / got my dad out of
his job in Belleville 1 was instrumental in
getting him a better one here.
Dave said he was entitled to chief
clerk, and though he didn't really need
one just yet. he proposed to have all the
trimmings belonging to his position, be-
sides, he wanted his clerk to grow up with
the road. SO as to be, perfectly famlilar
with all the details, so he appointed me at
a salary of so Il month and made Tommy
timekeeper at $50. Under the new admin
istraticn, and with plenty of capital, the
h r1tch Ha mr.
house and machine shop were completed.
the brandnew locomotives and shop ma
chinery We're arriving daily and the foot
of the ridge was transformed into a scene
of busting activity. The work continued
during the winter. and by spring the road
was completed to fifty miles beyond Mel
ton.
One day in the latter part of May Dave
or, as | must now call him, Mr.. Willough-
by-said to me:
There's to be a grand opening of this
division on the 1st of June, Frank, and l
propose that you and open the road; what
do you say?"
open the road, sir; how?'
1.-The president and board Of directors
will ride over it in the first train. and |
expect therell be quite time. I'm going
to run the engine; don't you want to fire
it?'
"oh, yes. indeed.' replied, II should be
delighted
VERY well, then, we'll take "a She's in
pretty good shape, been hauling gravel
long enough to be pretty well broken in.
I'll put her in the house, get her cleaned
up and give her coat of Varnish and you
can get her ready"
Twerty-four was one of the new hard
coal passenger engines, magnificent ma
chine, though from having worked month
on construction she was pretty dirty. They
knocked her fire out blew the water out
of her and turned on the hose The paint
ers scrubbed and vanished her, while I
took two men and cleaned up my part
When we were all through she looked fine
enough for a mantel ornament.
Wednesday night we took her and dead
headed down to the city-140 miles. 1t
my first experience in main line railroading
and / felt a bit skttish when Mr.. Will
loughby ran slap around the curves with
ont being able to see what was on the
other side of them. l marveled to see him
blow for road crossings before the whis-
ting post came in sight but he had help
cd build the road and knew every inch of
those 40 miles as vel 1 knew the way
from our house to the barn. 1t took us
from o'clock in the evening till next
morning, and l was pretty tired when
arrived
Mr.. Wiloughby told the hostler to get
her ready to return as quickly as possible.
We went to the hotel. had light lunch and
went to bed. When l woke the sun was
shining brightly in at the window and Mr..
Willoughby was gone. / hustled out of bed,
swa lowed my breakfast whole and ran all
the way to the yard.
Mr.. Willoughby was under her, poking wool
waste into her cellars. I asked If l could
help him.
No." said he; I'm only doing this for
prevention. She came down all right, but
l want to be sure not to have any hot
boxes going back. with all the big boys on
the train. You go ahead and tend to your
own work. We've got to get out O here in
a couple of hours. and you won't have any
too much time
The conductor, radiant In anew blue suit,
decorated with brass buttons and gold
braid. gave me the signal. / sung out "All
right to Mr.. Willoughby, and we were Off
The ride of the night before Eas nothing to
this I expected her toeleaye the track at
every curve-yes, and between curves, too.
l wondered that the president didn't send
the conductor ahead to tell h n to take 1t a
little easier. l wshedS- he would, but he
didn't. 1t was fortunate for me that we
had hard coaler. l could sit in the cab
and ride. l never would have been able to
fire soft coal, the way she was bouncing
around. I would have been thrown out the
gangway.
When we came to steep hill, where
expected him to shut off, he merely cut her
back a notch, and she few down there like
a hungry hawk after chicken. Rattlety
bang. she went. round severe curve half
way down, and still on. without bit of let
up, to the bottom. and away across coun-
try. When was becoming reconeiled to it,
he told me to open the furnace door, as he