The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-04-01

TT Was hot, blistering murder
ously hot, and I was in my very
ugliest humor. When stepped up in
the tender, after oiling, there sat a
woman on the freman's seat.
= Strange how some women are al
ways polsing into places where they
have no business. Where in thunder
did she come from, wondered. was
obliged to acknowledge that she was
fair to look upon, but in my present
mood didn't want her there.
On the railroad we become accus-
toned to the chronometer-like regu-
iarity of our work, and dislike to have
it disturbed.
The slightest change-be, it ever so
trivial-in the monotonous repetition
of our daily routine, irritates and
throws us out of balance for the entire
trip.
On the last trip a set-screw had
dropped out of the go-ahead eccentric
on the left side. I reported it, and
when I asked Saunders-the round
house PERMANENTLY he hadn't put one
in, he answered, very cavalierly, that
there was no need of it; one would hold
as good as a-dozen, if the eccentric was
; keyed on, anyhow, and besides, he had
no time He added, superciliously:
IF you fellers would get under your
engines once in awhile with a wrench,
you wouldn't be droppin' nuts and
lo1fc oil o,,a,r I, a wood
That was the rasp got for starter.
Then my fireman failedto show'up, and
Saunders sent me the one extra man
that he knew 1 particularly disliked
to have work for me.
He was great, gawky, ignorant,
red-headed know-it-all, who satisfied
himself, before he had been three
months at the business, that he was
the smartest man on the road. He
would contradict and argue with any
body, from the master mechanic down
or up, either.
When told to do thing, he never
failed to offer suggestion as to how
it should be done, and would enter into
a long explanation as to why his way
was superior to yours. When you got
mad and perelnptorily ordered him to
do as he was told, he would reply, with
deprecatory smirk, as of one. who
submitted under protest:
ooh, of course. if you say so, I'll do
it your way; you're the boss"
had crawled under her and replaced
the set-screw myself 1 was dirty,
drenched with perspiration and thor
= oughly eNasperated with myself,
3 Saunders, the fireman and everybody
else. And now, here was that woman,
looking as calm and as sweetly con-
tent as though life We're one long sum-
mer holiday, as no. doubt it was in
her case. Where was the fireman? No
doubt he had invited her to ride; his
assurance was equal to it. But I'd soon
get rid of her! 300
I'm going to ride with you, engi-
neer,' said she, with pleasant smile.
"You'll have to get pass to ride on
the engine I replied, wiping the oil
can industriously in order to avoid
meeting the gaze of those all-conquer-
ing eyes, of hers.
81 have a pass" she answered, quiet
ly.
"Let me see it, please" said.
She handed me the bit of cardboard,
which 1 wilfully disfgured with greasy
finger-marks as I read to my discom-
future an order to conductors and en-
gineers to allow the bearer to ride on
all trains and engincs-signed by the
general manager. ~,
d. SIS that all right?" she asked, in, I
thought. rather tiippant tone.
, eyes," said 1; "you can ride"
as The fireman returned with a piece
Ut ice. He looked surprised; he blushed
and bowed. She returned his salute
q. with well-bred ease. They were stran-
gers; I was conscious Of feeling of
relief. He fixed up the cooler and Of
) fered her a drink with the air of
Chevalier Bayard (who would have
dreamed of him as lady-killerD.
She drank from our battered and
rusty tin cup as though it had been
silver fagon. He struck up con-
versation with her at once. Though
disdaining to listen, overhea ard enough
10 learn that ne was dllatlng on his
own Importance and the perils to which
his calling subjected him. She was
taking it all in and tickling his self
,conceit with ordinations of surprise
and admiration.
1t was disgusting! They were gig
Cling and snickering and enjoying
q themselves over there exactly like a
couple of fools. 4
You'd better hook up your fire."
said I.
ooh, that's all right. Joe," he replied,
with nonchalant gesture; "my fire is
we'll coked; l can hook it up after you
pull out"
:=:.st' - ss.:=%-S:-=:%= GS-=---~--
John ]. McHale and Ace P. Abel,
lawyers, 3oI-3o2 Bank OF Commerce
Building.