Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-06
CHAPTER II.

blre0uy, ana engine io0, waiting mt the
junction with her snovpiow set, was
kissing and rumbling impatiently. The
big brown building, embracing hotel
and waiting rooms, ticket and station
masters Office, doomed up against the
star dotted sky. The switch lights
cleaned in crimson, green and dazzling
white here, there and everywhere along
the glinting rails. Bleary lamps were
burning in frost covered windows, and
tiny sparks huttered from the pipe of
the solitary biped on the platform, a
burly man i'll the toll stained garb Of u
locomotive engineer, Il sturdy fellow
who limped as he stamped up and down
the creakinE planks Of the platform, his
hands in his pockets, his eyes every
where. To him came forth his fireman.
splitting his mouth with wedge of
bilious looking pound cake. He strove
to spenk. but, finding articulation i'm
possible, jorked backward his head and
pantomimed the process of serving him
self with cup Of comforting drink
coffee, presumably - for he was fresh
from the lunch counter.
Come swallow the rest of that grub,
now, aud be lively with your oil can
We can wait two minutes after she
once gets in. No" he continued as the
younger repeated his persuasive panto-
mime, Il had my tea ut home, and
that's enough. You'll die of overeating,
first thing you know Do your best now.
We've got an extra Pullman and car
load of greenhorns to haul up to Butte
this night of all others, and I'm betting
it's showing in the mountains now.
So saying, the engineer turned and
Eazed anXiously westward, where even
the stars seemed blotted from sight,
then quickly whirled about and bent
his ear.
Coming at last" he muttered.
That's old Coyotes yelp for the cross
roads. ID little wind for wits.
Ting has she left either. No wonder No.
3s late, with nothing better than that
limping carcass to drag it. She ought
TO be in the boneyard-ought to "a been
there a year ago. But here S the beau
ty, said he to himself, as he turned
and laid Il loving hand on the massive
driving rod of the huge machine.
"Lively, Scut," he added. "Three's
coming"
Scut was descending from the cab as
a cat comes down tree backward.
"What'n ell they takin recruits to
Ransom for now" he asked. 1.-The
wars over.
Its to fill the gaps made when tho
war wasn't over, young man, and
mighty hard they'll find it to fill some
Of 'em too. Jim Strang, that was killed
at Cave Springs, was corporal with me
in Bates troop eight years ago, and
there WASH "A better sergeant in all the
cavalry. Lo loves a shining mark, or
I'd never got hit twice in one day"
"Would you 90 back to soldierin if
you could, Mr.. Long, asked the fire
man, fitting up his long necked can as
he thrust the nozzle deep in between
the spokes of massive driver.
81: Give me back the legs had be-
fore the Sioux made sieve of my skin,
and it isn't the rail Id be riding but
the best sorrcl in Billy Rays troop, and
with the best office in it, and that 5
first sergeant
1T S takin chances to be in the caval-
~ these days" said he of the oil can,
listening to tho low, faraway rumble
of the coming train. "Do you see her
headlight yeti"
"She isn't through the cut" was
Longs answer. "As to taking chances,
they've done nothing but take chances
IN that regiment ever since the war
yet there isn't day of our lives we
Son't take chances, and bigger chances,
Night here on this mountain division. !"
A tall young fellow III travelling cap
md ulster had come out from the lunch
room and was strolling over toward the
Missing engine. He stopped and listened
rs Long spoke, then seemed to be pom
herlng over the words and looking to
the engine man for explanation.
'How do you meant" asked Scut,
pausing i'll his work and looking up
we haven't had hold up on the
road for over year.
Neither have we had head on col
lision, nor spreading rails, nor plunge
from trestle, but they are only three
of the things likely to occur any min
nte, especially when trains arc running
behind as we are tonight-all Oh ac-
count OF that one eyed coyote that S
peeping at you down yonder."
1t was the headlight of No. 3, Just
dawning on the view at Mile End Cross
ing, to which the engineer referred.
"Watch how slowly she comes, " he
added, "TEo old maid is about worn
out. Here's the girl that can shake that
train up grade as though twas made of
bandboxes. I'll bet you we make Butte
by o'clock "
"l'll bet you don't, if you'll let me
in, was the cool intersection of the
young man ulster clad; "for Butto's my
objective point"
"What do You know about it, OF
about railroadingE' asked Long suspi.
ciously.
AS much as you did when you quit
soldering, and no more, wherein we
have much in common, Mr.. Long, but
here's where the difference comes in.
You quit soldering to take to the rail
road; quit the road to take to soldier.
ing"
"Oh, / see. Then, you're an officer?"
queried Long, his accustomed lips fran.
ing tho little word sir" and almost
resenting his enforced omission of the
once familiar monosyllable. Long said
'sir" to no one under the division su.
perintendent now.
81! Devil bit " was the Laughing
answer. "Im not even a lance-not