The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-28
"a nasty night, Haskell. i"

stepped down from my seat in
the cab of No. 81. and. with some NUT
tered reply to the greeting of the round
house foreman. passed out into the
yard, thoroughly tired, hungry and ir-
ritable after my one hundred and TWEEN
ty miles run in the cab of the limited
express.
1t was one Of those wild nights we
sometimes. but not often, get during
the month of November. A night of
the blacklist darkness, filled with driv-
ing rain and frozen sleet; night of
washouts, doubtful roadbeds, delays
and loss of time. to be followed by a
fve-minute interview with the division
Superintendent. a man of few words
and much less consideration.
1 had just brought in the limited
express some twenty minutes late,
owing to the icy condition of the rails,
and l knew what to expect.
1 hurried along through the wind
and rain. eagar to get to my boarding
house where warm supper and dry
clothes awaited me.
L
heard the sounds of hurried steps
coming down the street after me. I
turned and glanced carelessly over my
shoulders and saw. by the pickering
light on the opposite corner, that it
was Nick, my fireman.
We're in for it this time, / guess
he exclaimed abruptly, as he came up
the steps after me.
why, what's the trouble now?"
Ia 7 1,al
idea of what was coming.
"The 'old mans down at the yard,
and he's cussing like a trooper because
you went off before he got a chance
to see you"
1--WE lost twenty minutes on that
grade: / suppose that is what it
means" 1 answered. WELL never
mind. I'll be right down as soon as
I eat my supper and get into some
dry clothes. I'm drenched."
mo, 1t amt that replied Nick
quickly. 1.-The deuce is to pay some
where. We've got to pull out again
and catch the 9;45 into Hampton, and
she's gone nearly ten minutes now.
I've got 81 out and fired up. She'll
be blowing by the time we get back.
Come on
I will not state that 1 did not say
anything out of the way. But supper
or no supper, together we hurried
back down to the yard, where 1 found
Henderson pacing up and down in the
storm and growing like a hungry
dog.
Can you catch that GAS before she
gets into Hampton" he asked, as soon
as ! came in sight.
IT'S doubtful" / answered shortly.
She's been gone ten minutes already"
ooh, yes, you can" he insisted per-
-. x1fe1
you-you have got a clear track until
midnight"
why don't you telegraph" 1 ask
ed wonderingly.
That's the trouble" he snarled.
THE wires are all down; 1 can't"
We'll, I'll try it. What are the or
ders?"
I knew that, If we were to overtake
the 9:45, there was no time to be lost
in asking idle questions. Besides,
was not in very good humor at the
sudden change from a warm supper,
| dry clothes and shelter to wild night
| ride over an uncertain road in the
| storm; and, moreover, / had no very
sincere liking for Jacob Henderson,
Esq.
Il want you to catch the 9;45 before
| insistently. You can do it, if you
| open her up and let her go. When you
| overtake her, give this note to Con-
| ductor Davis, and if he gives you any
| thing to bring back, take it, no mat
| ter what it is. I'll wait here for you.
| How quick can you start?"
/ thought that there was something
| rather unusual about all this, but it
was not for me to question orders.
I'm about two minutes l said
| promptly; Just as soon as l can take
| in a little water. The tank is almost
| empty"
Never mind the water" cried the
old man. impatiently. Il want you to
| get started. You have got enough to
run down with. You can take some
| coming back"
This thoughtlessness on his part
| nettled me little and l retorted rath-
| er sharply:
| I'm running this engine, Mr.. Hen
| derson. If you want me to overtake
| the 9:45, ii will take speed, and speed
| takes steam and l cannot make steam
| without water. If you can, just step
up and take my place and do it,"
He made no reply, but turned away
| with something that sounded very
| much like an oath, and 1 felt that my
hasty reply had cost me my position,
| for Henderson was a man that took
no words from any man on the road,
big or little.
With some regret 1 backed No q up
beside the tank, and just as 1 stopped