The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-01-07

IL.
watching a freight train moving out
OF new town. over new track. A
pinch-bar, left carelessly by II section
gang, was picked up by the pilot of
the locomotive. 1t was caught In the
cylinder-cock rigging with the result
that it wrecked it.
Mutterlng softly the driver climbed
down and began the difficult task of
disconnectlng the disabled machinery.
He was not a machinist Not all en-
CINE drivers can put n locomotive to-
gether; in fact. the best runners are
just runners The Engllshman stood
by and when he saw the man tumble
his wrenches offered hand. The
driver. with some hesitation. gave him
the tools. In Il few minutes the crip-
pied rigging was taken down. nuts
were replaced, and the discarded
metal was tossed by the fireman on
the rear of the tank.
Are YOU 4 machinist?" asked the
driver.
Yes. sir" said the Enclishman.
who lowered Mt least n foot above the
engineer There's n job for me M thl
road if l can get there"
And you're ont of 'tallowT"
The Englishman was not quite sure.
but he guessed that "tallow" was n
United States term for money. and
said that he was short
"All right" said the engine driver.
"climb on"
The fireman was Teuton named
Martin, who proceeded 10 make The
Englishman comfortable hut the LAT
ter wanted to work He asked to be
allowed to help fire the engine. and
Martin showed him how To do it.
When they pulled into the little town
of E, the Englishmau went over
to the roundhouse. where man was
wanted. The foreman asked him 81
he had ever "railroaded it," He said
he had not, but that he was machin-
list. We'll, l don't want YOU" said
the foreman. DiSheartened the Eng
liShman went across TO little eating
stand where the trainmen were hay
ing dinner. Martin moved aside ana
made room for the stranger between
himself and his engineer
Later. the engineer dropped a little
oil here and there for another dash:
the Englishman came up TO the Ell
CINE. He could not bring himself to
ask the driver 70" another ride. and
he wasn't Obliged TO. The engineer
gave him n lift in the caD after the
hearty fashion OF railroaGers. despite
the risk he ran even in those easy
going days.
In a little while they pullcd MO
NJ City, Iowa, at the crossing Of
the Wisconsin Central Railroad. There
the Englishman had to change cars
W, his destination. was on The
crossroad. eighteen miles away. The
agent wrote on a small piece OF paper.
folded it carefully and gave it to the
Englishman. GIVE that to the con
ductor," said he BE quick-thty'rc
pulling Out-Tun" Painting the Enc
lshman threw himself into way-car
that was already making ten miles
an hour. The conductor unfoldcd the
paper, read it, looked the Engiish@an
over and said "-All right"
1t was nearly night when the train
arrived at W and the dCadheal
followed the train crew into an un-
painted hotel, where all hands fell
eagerly to eating supper a man stood
behind a narrow. high desk, % the
door taking money but when the
Englishman offered to pay De said.
Yours is paid fer"
"Not mine: nobody knows me here"
"Well," said tie landlord Someone
pinted to YOU and said Il pay fer
HIM 1t amt q thing 10 make "a noise
about; it don't make no difference TO-
me whether it's Tom or Jerry that
pays, so long as everybody is repre-
Sented