Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
A Railroad Story.

air. and we both did justice to Mr.. Hume
wells thoughtfulness When we had fin
Now Frank while 1 oil, you get up there
and load her for bear again" And l did.
l piled In every bit of coal she would hold.
When we left here ! had become suffi-
cien.y accustomed TO the fast riding to en-
JOY 1t. She didn't steam quite as freely as
before. because the fire was getting dirty,
but Mr.. Willoughby said she would hold out
till we got in all right, though he had
been hauling trains over the road for years.
We found an engine in a siding that
knew we had left in Melton the day before,
and 1 wondered what she was doing away
down here. Before l had time to ask Mr.
Willoughby blew a long blast on the whis-
tie, we rounded curve and there were the
roundhOuse and shop.
Al! the engines. including the shop, sa-
luted us with their whistles. We rolled
rapidly into the tunnel. AS we emerged
from the other end the station came into
view. go COR decorated with flags and
streamers, and crowded with people A
strong hand gripped my collar, and Mr..
Willoughby hauled me across the big
boiler to his side.
Here said he, as he stepped back,
bring this train into the station. It's
a little down grade here; get 'em pretty
nearly stopped, and let 'em roll in slow.
SOS to give the folks lots of time to holier.''
lump in my throat prevented me thank
ing him for this act of extreme kindness.
l took the seat he had vacated. leaned I'M
concernedly on the arm rest and with the
great engine as thoroughly under control
as well-broken colt, 1 rolled majestically
in.
When I stopped the Melton band struck
up Hail to the Chief" The crowd waved
flags, hats and handkerchief and yelled
to their hearts content. Ed. Dennison and
couple of other fellows, who We're work
ing in the machine shop, had three loaded
anVils on the bank back of the station. At
the first lull in the noise they fired them
in oyNi1 h. Ill
again.
The president. followed by the board of
directors. left the train, raising their hats
and bowling continually to the crowd, who
cheered them to the echo. Judge Davis
and the reception committee escorted them
to the spacious waiting room by one door,
while the crowd poured in at the other. 1
had not seen Carrie for nearly month,
but l saw her now. She was hanging on
the arm of Arthur Squires. son of the
cashier of the First National Bank in Mel
ton She was looking my way and waving
her fan. 1t was a drop Of honey in a cup
of gall.
Tommy got on the engine and asked, with
eyes bullying. if l had run her all the way.
When | told him had only taken her after
she came out of the tunnel he seemed to
feel relieved. l was giving him an account
of the trip, when Judge Davis came out
and said:
Il want you two young gentlemen
Tommy was dressed in his best clothes,
but l had my overalls on. and they, well
myself, were pretty dirty. l started to
take them off, but the judge said: Here.
here, don't take them off; leave 'em on,
and come along"
He took one of us on each arm and led
us right into the waiting room. l Won
dered if the people could see me blush
through the coal dust as they broke into
wild cheer at our entrance. The judge es
corted us, with the grace of a chevaler.
to seats each side of the president. L
heartily wished myself back on the engine.
in the round house. anywhere but there. 1
felt and | know / looked like fool.
Two-thirds of the great waiting room had
been fitted with benches, which rose in
tiers like the seats in theater. They
were filled to their utmost capacity by the
solid citizens of Melton their wives and
blooming daughters. At the opposite side.
on a raised platform; chairs had been
placed for the guests of honor-the presi-
dent, board of directors, Tommy Wood
ruff and I. Judge Davis stood in the open
space between, facing the audience.
When quiet was restored he began to
speak. This was the hour of his triumph,
and if ever there was IAN old man elo-
quent" 1t was he. With no trace of bitter
ness for those who had so cruelty maligned
him he gave a brief history of the strug-
gle which had eliminated in the present
victorious celebration.
He then led us forward. and holding the
croquet ball aloft, said: MY friends. l
take pleasure in introducing to you the
fateful trio, who, under providence. have
been instrumental in bringing about this
suspicious event. Two boys and a croquet
ll''-applause-"nay. I'll not belittle them
by the unworthy title of boys. They are
young men-young heroes. for Peace hath
it's victories, no less than war
ITO those who have not the pleasure of
a personal acquaintance with my young
friends. ! will introduce them" He led
Tommy pace to the front, and, resting
his hand affectionately on his shoulder,
continued:
Master Tommy Woodruff, the only son
of his mother and she widow But I
have hesitation, knowing the sterling
qualities of my young friend as l do, in
predicting that in him she will have an I'M
falling source of pride and joy, and a re-
liable staff for her declining years..
Amid the cheering that saluted this eu
logy. the judge led me to the center. Rails
ing his hand for silence he said: This is
Master Frank Odell, born railroader.
1T is in his blood. He drank in his love
for the iron horse with his mothers milk
His father was one of the best and bravest
locomotive engineers In this country, years
before he loved and welded my young
friends mother. and you will see him at
the throttle on one of our fastest trains.
Master Frank can no more evade his
manifest destiny than the lark can disre-
gard the rising sun or the bee turn from
the Towering shrub This celebration is
held here today, instead of at Greytown.
because of the fortunate combination of
these two young gentlemen and this GRO
quet ball Here he was interrupted by
shouts Of laughter. He waited patiently
until they had their laugh out, and then
rapidly outlined the method by which
Tommy and l had made our discoveries.
concluding with:
The envious may claim that the achieve
ments of these two youths was due merely
to fortunate accdent-luck.- Not So as
sure you. While We, their seniors, who
would have derided a proposition to consult
them. gave up in despair and acknowledged
defeat, they. unostentatiously, consulting
no one, risked personal injury by entering
the Greytown tunnel. There they discoy-
cred the secret which was the complement
of the one they already knew, the whole
forming key to no less a problem than
the salvation of our beloved city from ex-
tincton.
"Hooray for Frank and Tommy" shout
ed Ed Dennison through an open window.
The spell was broken. Again the rafters
rang with the applause that was so sweet
to US two boys. Once more the judg. raised
his hand for silence. II will only trespass
on your patience moment longer" said
he You all know what matter Of vital
Importance this success is to me personally
Many unpleasant things have been said of
me by those whom 1 considered my stanch-
est friends. Therefore l wish to prove to
you today that am rot destitute, at least
of the virtue of gratitude.
Frank Odell and Thomas Woodford. I
beg you to accept these certified checks for
81 600 each. in commemoration of the fact
that l now acknowledge you, in the pres