Middletown transcript., 1902-03-01

hope that have Deen forgiven III
lie. for there were two or three me
that could have fired all right, but
struck me all of a sudden that hel
was fine chance to get even wit
4 Billy, and let him see whether it toe
any knowhow to fire an engine for
110-lniles run.
| 1t SO happened that We had just woode
! up on the home trip at little static
three miles from Georgetown, SO "
had plenty Of fuel aboard to make til
run with.
"Can you do it2' says he. "Remen
Der, it is ITO miles, and it is $50 now
SO you have only two and half hour
to make the run that generally take
double that time"
81 can do it," says /, ''if you will iuml
aboard, pull off your coat and do jus
as tell you"
No sooner said than done, and in tel
minutes we had the old engine on th'
turntable, turned her around and wer,
off.
Ii the road was rough when we raj
at onr usual speed, that night, making
double time, it was just awful. As w
flew around the curves it seemed as i
we should lose the track at every turn
of the drivers, and the poor old ma
chine rocked and swayed so that, used
as / was to it, I could hardly keep on
my seat by the lever.
If it was hard on me, what must il
have been to poor old Billy? | could
hardly keep from laughing in his face
as l watched him and heard him groan
as he handled the heavy sticks we
used for fuel.
The heat of the weather, added to
that of the furnace and the unusual
work, make him look as if he was in a
Turkish bath. The water ran down
his face, his stiff white collar hung
down on his shoulders like wet rag
and his beautiful smooth shirt bosom
looked as if some one had thrown a
pail of dirty water over him.
His hands were torn and cut from
handling the wood, and take it alto
gether he was the most unlikely-look-
ing railway president ever saw. Once
in awhile 1 had to shout at him to
lay the wood even in the furnace, and
would tell him he would get the knack
Of it in time.
Whenever he tried to rest l told him
we were losing steam, and if he wanted
TO catch that train he mustn't idle over
The work.
If 1 had thought to hitch cat on
when we started we should have run
much smoother; but it was too late to
;hink of that now, and so on we rushed,
now through woodlands, now past grain
ields, lurching first to one side and
hen to the other, until I expected
,very minute to land wrong side up in
he ditch.
However, luck was with US that night,
md we pulled up at Junction City at
ust IL. Poor old Billy could hardly
limb down from the engine, but he
managed to gasp out:
"Come to my Office at two o'clock
lext Saturday"
I learned afterward that, finding the |
chicago train was behind time, he
hunted up clothing store and rugged |
himself out so as to look like civilized
nan, which he didn't when he left me.
l managed to find fireman who was
Wiling to make the run back with me,
nd finally got home at three o'clock,
nd, finding the cleaners little So
'ered up, got to bed as soon as possi-
lie, for | was clean played out.
I told Bob about my trip next day,
nd thought he would die laughing to
hink of old Billy playing fireman. But
IL he said was:
'Im afraid that'll settle your hash,
i'm, for he will find out that you
7orked him more than was needed"
The next Saturday at two o'clock I
eported at the presidents Office, won
ering whether was going to be re-
'arded for my extra work or get kicked
ut for my impudence.
When I entered the Office there sat
le old man, spick and span as ever,
nd showing no signs of his hard work.
"Well, young man." says he, 'fyou
elped NE out the other night, but I
ould not 60 through the same expert
nee again for $4,000. At the same
me | think you were trying to get
yen with me for not doing what you
'ked about your salary, and I have
that this line can dispense
ith your services"
At this my heart went down into my
BOTS, for I can tell you it isn't an easy
ling to get new job when You can't
ring recommendation from your last
ace. Then he went on to say:
Il have letter here from the super
tendent of the Chicago & Western,
king if I can recommend TO them an
lgineer who has a sharp eye and cool
cad to run their new fast night ex-
'ess. have written iu reply that
IN recommend such man, one James
artin, who will report for service the
t Of September. The pay will be 500
month. may add to you privately
lat l shall never apply to you for the
'sition of fireman. Good day, SIR"
That's all there is to my story.
oily and were married and went to
hicago to live. I took the new train.
I'd have brought her in on time every
lp I've run, SO you can see I've
city good record with the company.
I've never seen Billy since, and / don't
'leve he wants to see me; for Bob
ID me the last time I saw him that
ey called the old man Martins fire.
an" that be knew it, and naturally
dn't like it. There's my mate sig :
aling for me now, sir, and must CO.
. Y. Daily Nescs.