Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-03-12

was over, for the cleaners took the
engine then, cleaned and polished her,
and laid the fire all ready to start the
next morning.
Well, as l said, hung on to my job,
hoping that something would turn up
that would give me lift, till one day
in August.
The whole summer had been uncom-
mon hot, but that day went ahead of
anything 1 ever saw Of course, while
we were running we had breeze, but
the minute we stopped it seemed as if
we were in a 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 dis soon as possible.
After the train was emptied / ran
the engine to the roundhouse, expect
ing to go straight home and wash up.
But when I ran the engine in the
first thing I 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 hot, greasy Job
it was in any weather, but on such
night as that it was frightful to think
OF 1T. However, there was no help for
it, and I started in.
had barely made a beginning when
heard some one coming in at the
door. Looking up, 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" tH
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 a million.
There's a train goes through juno
ton City at 11:o5 that will get you to
Chicago on time," says l.
What good'll that do me?" SAYS he.
I've been away for two days, and
only just now got the telegram. If
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.
put can run this machine to Junction
City In time to connect with the train
you want; but you will have to fire for
me, as the two cleaners are drunk, as
you see, and there isn't another man in
this village knows the engine from the
tender hardly"
hope that have been forgiven that
ue' Tor there were two or three men
mat could have fired all right, but it
struck me all of a sudden that here
was hne chance to get even with
Dliiy, and let him see whether it took
any knowhow to fire an engine for a
110-miles run.
- SO happened that we had just wood
ca up on the home trip at little sta
tlon three miles from Georgetown. so
we had plenty of fuel aboard to make
the run with.
Can you do it?" says he. "Remem-
per- II IS ITO miles. and it is $3.50 now,
so you have only two and half hours
10 make the run that generally takes
double that time
can DO 1t, says [, eff you will jump
aboard, pull off your coat and do just
as tell you"
NO sooner said than done, and in ten
minutes we had the old engine on the
turntable. turned her around and
were off.
Ii the road was rough when we ran
at our usual speed. that night, making
double time, it was just awful. AS we
new around the curves it seemed a if
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, could hardly keep on
my seat by the lever.
Ii 1t was hard on me, what must it
have been to poor old Billy? l could
hardly keep from laughing in his face
as l watched him and heard him