The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-07-24
RUNAWAY ON
THE A. AND B.
By JAMES fDMUO DUNNs6. .....

Copyright. 1909. bg T. C. Mcclure
NwwTwTmTww~rrwW-wwrUwTe
The G. p. A. put his head into the
general superintendent doorway and
said:
"old Tympan's out there again, 1
see, Palmer"
"No use." replied the general super
intendent. His name came in two
hours ago. I told him to report here
next time he got drunk. This finishes
him."
Five minutes later old Tympan, aft
er forty years of service for the A and
B., went tumbling down the stairs be-
cause he was drunk at the Hancock
street switch the day the directors
went up the line. Palmer had given
him a pass home, eighty miles up the
road, and then fired him with ten Of
the words Palmer wasn't accustomed
to using on ordinary jobs.
Train No. 8 pulled in while Tympan
fumbled the pass on the platform, and
he climbed in and found a double seat
in the smoker. He knew only that he
was out Of a job, with a full pint In
to take him up home, where he could
camp down for the winter with the
boys. He had threatened that many
times. They deserved 1t for letting
him work for a living.
taking vacation, Tympan" asked
Hennessy of No. when he came
through for tickets. Tympan admitted
he was of for a bit of time I'D the
road.
Guess you amt coming back right
on" taunted Hennessy. 'The return
sight. Long lay of, eh. Tympanw
Tympan sat up, pulling his hat over
his eyes.
"Dick Hennessy," he said, you 60
slow on yer kiddin' r I'll roast you one
O. these days fr bein' SO smart. They've
fired me. you en- bet-yes. they have:
fred me good, but I'm next to Palmer
yet. An / heard what Palmer told
the G. p. A. this mornin' about your
runnin' over orders twice last week
know somethin'. an don't you kid me
| no morew
Train No. SIS conductor ignored the
challenge, partly because he dared do
no more. He knew the whole operat-
ing department had been knocking ev-
erybody In sight because old Tympan.
invariably drunk and disorderly, held
his job while better and younger and
sober men were overhauled In Palmer's
office for nothing more than leaving
stations half a minute ahead Of or
ders or failing to wise the annual of
some OF the spying directors who went
up and down. r. II. Palmer got a
master tongue lashing those days from
the rank and file and now that the
dismissal had really come Hennessy
was no more skeptical than any Of the
others concerning the general superin-
tendent's honest intention Of keeping
Tympan out Of service.
Hennessy tried to conciliate Tympan
on his next trip through. but the old
man lay with his hat over his face,
;teaming with rage. too angry even to
.urse. No. S was making beautiful
work. and Hennessy felt better than
lsual. He had eight cars with a big
Dad OF women and kids and wanted to
| le on time anyway because 1t was his
| .ay of that Saturday and there was ar
all night game in the club" at home.
At Inchburg Hennessy got his usua
orders. everything all straight. and left
on time. The rear brakeman found hin
Just afterward and said:
Hear about the wild freight wen
up ahead OF us? She's big one, ant
it wouldn't surprise me il she go
stuck on the Long Misery and held u.
at Lyshon."
Hennessy knew his man was right
Lyshon station is at the foot of ;
thirteen mile grade known for goot
reasons as 1.-The Long Misery" Ii :
freight got hung there ahead of No.
it meant everything balled up. for tn
A. and II. is a single line. and the di
rectors won't stand for siding be
tween Lyshon and Oldtown. the sta
ton at the crest OF the Long Misery.
Hennessy took the platform at Ly
shon before No. SIS brakes held her an,
sought the dispatcher in the dingy sta
ton.
wild freight" echoed the telegra
pher. Yes, went up an hour ago. Bii
train? Yes, big train. but she's got !
, good rail, and l don't believe she'l
hold you a minute"
Hennessy went out and looked in tn
} book by the station door. He foun
where the wild freight had reporte
and saw with satisfaction that she wa
| In charge of Bitters. one of the rim
and sure to do his best TO get tina
heavy train out of the way long befor
| Hennessy came along.
Lyshon was on the card for onl
/ thirty seconds but Hennessy risked
| trifiing delay and went back to the OF
, | orator:
Cant ycu ask Oldtown, just for
. chance. II that freight's showed u
yet?'' he asked.
Wild freight 543 started over th
e | Long Misery i'm good order that Satu
3 day and made excellent time for eigf
: miles or more. Then she was stoppe
a by a shaky injector in the mogul. Bi
tiers left his caboose and ran up ahea
!. i'm time to see his redheaded enginet
grab up the wrenches and start frol
8 his seat.
$50 ahead lively as you can, Mike
+ he shouted.