The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-03-27
BENTON LOUISIANA THURSDAY, MARCH p, 1902

was over, for the cleaners took the |
engine then, cleaned and polished her,
and laid the fire all ready to start the |
mex; morning.
Well, as 1 said, hung on to my lob, |
hoping that something would turn up
that would give me a lift, till one day
in August.
The whole summer had been uncom-
mon hot, but that day went ahead of
anything l ever saw. OF course, while
we were running we had a breeze, but
the minute we stopped it seemed as if
we were in furnace, and, naturally,
working near hot fire didn't improve
things.
On the home trip Bob was taken
sick, and had all he could do to hold
out till we got to the home station,
when he got home as soon as possible.
After the train was emptied I ran
the engine to the roundhouse, expect
ing to go straight home and wash up.
But when l ran the engine in the
| first thing l saw was my two cleaners
laid out on heap of ashes, dead
| drunk.
Here was pretty mess, for it would
certainly take me until midnight to
get the machine in proper trim for the
next days run; and a hot, greasy job
it was in any weather, but on such
night as that it was frightful to think
of it. However, there was no help for
1t, and I started in.
l had barely made beginning when
| heard some one coming in at the
door. Looking up, l saw it was Billy
Thedford. In very excited voice he
asked where Hunter was.
Home" said, land so sick he can't
hold his head up"
Heavens" said he; 81 shall be
ruined!"
Then he went on to say that, if he
wasn't in Chicago the next day, some
deal, | think he called it, would fall
through, and it would cost him quar-
ter of million.
There's train goes through juno
tion City at 1905 that will get you to
Chicago on time," saysI I.
what goodIl that do me?" says he.
"I've been away for two days, and
only just now got the telegram. Ii
Hunter was here he might get me
down; but, as it is, I may as we'll go
home and let the money CO."
"Mr. Thedford," said l, Bob is sick,
but can run this machine to Junction
City in time to connect with the trair
you want; but you will have to fire for
ine, as the two cleaners are drunk, as
you see, and there isn't another man in
lhis village knows the engine from the
> tender hardly"
, hope that have been forgiven thai
lie, for there were two or three meI
that could have fired all right, but i
. struck me all of sudden that herr
, was fine chance to get even will
:. Billy, and let lsm see whether it tool
' any knowhow to fire an engine for ;
110-miles run.
1t SO happened that we had just wood
ed up on the home trip at a little sta
,, tion three miles from Georgetown, 81
We had plenty Of fuel aboard to max
the run with.
), ''Can you do it?" says he. "Remem
Der, it is ITO miles, and it is s: 80 now
o so you have only two and half hour
to make the run that generally take
double that time"
Il can do it," says !. "if you will jun
,, aboard, pull off your coat and do jus
g as tell YOU"
= No sooner said than done, and in te
minutes we had the old engine on th
- turntable, turned her around an
were off.
If the road was rough when we ra
> al our usual speed, that night, maxim
- double time, it was just awful. AS "
- flew around the curves it seemed as
. we should lose the track at every tur
:. of the drivers, and the poor old mi
- chine rocked and swayed so that, use
as l was TO it, could hardly keep G
, my seat by the lever.
II it was hard on me, what must
~, ~, have been to poor old Billy? l cou
hardly keep from laughing in his fa'
as I watched him and heard hi