The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-24
Purposing to Remind the Wich-
itan i'm Comfort of the Han in the
Cab This Christmas Day and His
llI-Luck.

his fire tonight on Christmas eve, think
ing OF youth and its fancies Of elves and
Santa Claus, of brownies and pixies. he
will probably never give a thought 10 the
man in the engine cab. as he hears its
whistle go singing down the valley, nor
| will his mind grasp the vexation then Of
the man at the throttle who has been IN
! fortunate enough 70 be "oalled out" for
| Christmas run. Fancy this:
Hello, BILL" shouted the caller; extra
south at 1:5O o'clock. There's no time to
lose: you are the fourth man I've called.
! Come on
"Oh, go on" cried Bill Hawkins, an old
| Santa Fe engineer. as he slowly Chamber
/ ed out of bed at Newton and shook him
| self like a dog emerging from bath.
You young imp OF Satan, if 1 had you
where 1 could put my hand on You, 1
would cuff your ears. The idea of calling
| a man 10 go out with drag-out (empty
| cars early on Christmas morning"
| Growing to himself and applying any
! thing but approving epithets to the other
| engineers, who had managed TO escape
| duty by playing sick. Hawkins dressed
! himself and slowly made his way to the
! roundhouse.
! Just look at that board" he muttered
| when he reached the foreman's office.
| when I went home l was the tenth out
| according TO the board and here I am
| first out with the prospect of long hard
run before me on Christmas. 1t is enough
| to make a Saint swear.
| "Why, hello. Henry" he called out,
| turning TO find Henry jameson, his fire.
man. coming up; reused you up to. did
! they? I'll be blessed if I like this
| idea of taking out an extra on Christmas
morning It make me feel creepy, and
besides 1 wanted to stay home with my
wife and the kids
What crew is with us?" asked Jane
son suddenly.
Il don't know" replied Hawkins, and
turning to the caller who was standing
near, he said: "Weu, you young devil,
who is going out with US today?"
Charley Jones is the car captain, and
Jim Mosely is the Shack, replied the
boy, dropping into the vernacuiar for
terms applying to conductor and brake
| man.
In a few minutes Hawkins and Jameson
had their engine. the 232 out of the house
and were steaming up the yards to the
track upon which the yard foreman, with
the aid of putting little switch engine
was making up the train.
Hello, eagle eye" replied Jones few
minutes later, as he came to the engine
with the train orders. How are you and
that dough-faced tallow-pot Of yours.
Seems to me that Henry is getting more
lily-white every day."
"Oh, climb a tree" growled the fire
man. "You only wish you had my come
plexion."
with an impatient gesture Hawkins
tried the air, and then at a shout Of 'aI
right" from the conductor pulled out the
throttle and the old 90 slowly moved out
of the yards. Jameson swore under his
breath as he fed the engine small shovels
of coal and ursed the alread good fire.
The run was comparatively easy one.
The train was made up of empties which
were being sent to a southern point
which needed cars badly. Stops were few
and Hawkins shook up the "old girl as
he lovingly called the engine. and several
times plugged" her hard on an upgrade,
until the fireman growled about him
throwing all the coal out of the smoke
stack He passed Wichita and went on,
resigned to his fate.
With swift rush, the extra swooDed
into Mulvane and the engine stood pant
ing near the station, like a great animal,
which was winded after hard run.
Come on, Henry" said Hawkins;
Tets go over to Jake's and get something
to eat; I am hungry as a wolf"
After all had eaten they stood around
the cigar case and for several minutes
shook dice for the cigars. Hawkins was
unlucky, and before they left had been
stuck" for s2.20 worth Of cigars.
''Just my Internal luck" he muttered
as he made his way back to the train.
Now when get TO Arkansas City Will
have to buy my wife and the kids some
thing for Christmas. Hope We get there
in time so I can catch and ge, home
for dinner"
Say. Bill" said Jones, the conductor, |
when later the train pulled into Winfield,
have you anything against me or jim?
Seems to me you are just hitting the high
places this morning. You are pounding
her so hard that the wind singes the |
whLskers off a fellow when he has to
You take care Of yourself" grunted /
Hawkins. Il amt going to miss my
Christmas dinner II l have to burn all (
the coal the company has between here /
and Purcell I am going TO get there N /
time to catch 6, you hear me2'
Not long afterward the extra shot into (
Arkansas City. The run had been a fast /
one. There were few trains on the road 4
and the extra has had practically a clear I
track With a long drawn hiss the -
stopped near the roEndhouse and after she 4
was uncoupIed Hawkins quickly ran he- I
into the house
Take your old wreck" cried ne to the /
foreman Henry and are going 70 /
deadhead back on e.
\ few minutes later the entire crew .
were on and were on their way home /
10 a Christmas dinner"
Seems 70 me" said Jones. when they
we're comfortably settled in their seats 4
and were playing a hand Of pitch, that F.
the company takes q delight IN sending .
Us out JUST when any sensible man wants .
70 stay at home"
Here we are" said jim well. good (
bye. boys. HOPE you don't have 10 q +
OFT again before supper. I tell you one (
thing. I an supposed 20 be dead for the +
next tweEty-fOur hours. They don't get i
ne ont on the road before.
Hump" said Bill counting his money I
Z made $sz2 on that run spent forty (
I've cents for Breakfast, lost *-8 shak- +
ing dice and just Ss-59 playing plJch- Has 4
10 get up at an unreasonable hour In ne .
morning. lose ha-f Christmas day AID 4
then am SIS behind after az ~ work
Wen darn my luck. anyway"