Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-31
THE DUDE ENGINEER.
BY 81. QUAD.

i~talist, and good fellow generally, by
the family physician who %overhauled
him, and it was advice to be needed.
The candidate for collegiate honors had
studied hard and faithfully and the re-
suit was a diploma and a call on the
doctor.
Bob Mason had a fad and it was
steam. He had studied the latter as a
side issue, and had the theoretical
knowledge at his fingers ends. The
master mechanic of the /. & P. Road
looked at him in contempt, almost, as
he boldly entered the Office and ap-
piled for a situation. The young man
was thin and pale, and looked as if
an hours work would break him dow q
completely. In a talk OF ten minutes,
however, backed by certain letters he
had brought along with him, Bob sat
isfied the official that it didn't need a
giant in strength to fire an engine, and
he was given a place On a yard en-
CINE.
Sent ms a dude, eh?" growled the
engineer. well sissy, I'll give you
just one day to get sick of your job"
But Bob was there for months, and
after the first week the engineer was
his friend and spoke loudly in his
praise. In six months he seemed to
know almost as much about the engine
as the man who had run one for five
years. The master mechanic had kept
an eye on 'the dude" He called him
in ne day and gave him a hurry CALI
to make a trip on a freight.
Sent you to me, eh?" sneered the
engineer as the new hand reported.
Men must have grown scare around
here all at once! Can you do anything
besides fold your hands and look
purty?"
When the run vas finished he chang
ed his mind about "the dude" He re-
ported better time than he had made
before for a year, with less fuel con-
sGmed to make it, and was generous
to give his new fireman all the credit.
That made Bob solid in his place on
the freight, and he served for five
or six months without a black mark
against his record. Then, on one of his
"off days" the master mechanic sent for
him and said:
There's been a devil of a collision
down the road, and I've got to send
out a wrecking train. Wha1 with spe-
Gals and sickness and lay-offs / haven't
got an engineer to spare. You ought
this time"
Il do" replied Bob.
well, it's neck or nothing with both
of us. The train must go, and if you
make a muss Of things we'll both get
the sack. Pull 'er through all right and
III have you on the drivers seat on a
freight within a month"
The wrecking train made a fast and
smooth run of it, and the master me-
ehanic was as good as his word. at the
end of a year Bob had a passenger ran,
and for four weeks all went well with
him. Then, one evening he made a call
at the house of Superintendent An
thony and asked for a word with that
functionary. The superintendent enter
ed the parlor to find a good-looking
young man in evening dress, and to
glance from the card in his hand which
bore the name: "Mr. Bob Mason"
to the caller.
"You are Mr.. Mascn?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir, I have known your daugh-
ter Rose for several months. In fact,
/ am in love with her, and I believe she
is not Indifferent to me. I have called
to ask your permission to make her
my wife"
"But-who are your stammered the
official.
Bob Mason-engineer on your road"
What! You an engineer and dare
love my daughter. There is the door,
sir."
And Bob went out. He had been
running on the road not for the sake
of employment, but for the benefit of
his health. When on his engine he
was a railroad man. When off it he
cultivated society, and was welcomed
in the highest circles, and he had at
tended more than one party at which
his superior was present. Rose An
thony knew him for what he was, and
had rather encouraged his attentions;
the father simply thought of the gulf
between Superintendent and engineer
and became so hot that five minutes
after the young mans disappearance he
was telephoning to the master me-
chanic to give the impudent engineer
the bounce. Bob Mason knew why
things were thus. but it was his secret,
and he drsv tha hala4ce Of his months