The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-30

NAAN AA-AZA-A,Jk--sA-k AA1kJ M n 49, 1N-
On the night OF the 10th i was oiling
around my Black Maria to take out
after dark, when q tall, slim old gentle
man stepped up to me and asked ii was
the engineer. don't suppose / looked
like the president. j. confessed. and held
up my torch. so could see his tace-a
pretty tough looking face. Ihe white
mustache was one Of that military kind.
reinforced with WhisKers on, the right and
left flank of the mustache proper. He
wore glasses, and one OF the lights was
ground glass. The right cheek bone was
crushed N, and a red scar extended across
the eye and cheek; the scar looked blue
around the red line because OF the cold.
Il used to be an engineer before the
war, :" said he. do you go to Boston?"
No, to M
M. l thought that was on a branch
1T is. but it's now important man
ufacturing Loint, with regular trains from
there to each end OF the main line
When can ! get to Boston?n
Not till Monday now; we run no thru
Sunday trains You can go to M with
me tonight and catch local to Boston
in the morning.
He thought a minute, and then said,
for rider
Good; just tell the conductor that 1
told yon to get on. =
solder who used to run up in this
country, y said the stranger musine ..Ioil-
lon; that's it. Dillon
r. knew him we'll, . said /. II want to
hear about him.
Queer man" said he, and noticed he
was cycling me pretty. sharp
"A good engineer
Perhaps said. he,
| coaxed the old veteran to ride on the
engine-the first coal-burner T had had.
He seemed more than glad to comply. Ed
was as black as negro and swearing
about coal-burners in general and this
one in particular, and made SO much
that the old man came over and sat be-
hind me, to be able to talk.
The first time / looked around after
getting out Of the yard. / noticed his
long, slim hand on the top of the reverse
lever. Did you ever notice how it seems
more satished-ta. get his hand on a re-
verse lever and feel the e-throbs of
the great giant under him? Why, his
hand goes there by instinct just as an
ambulance surgeon will feel for the heart
of the boy with a broken leg.
asked the. stranger to s.'give her a
whirl," and noticed with what eager joy
he took hold Of her. I also observed
with surprise that he seemed to know all
mem got stuck He campht ~ 1nol 1
at his fare. and touching tho $40 No.
81 i.to 80, IN ottts Wy scdi ~
Inarkeu: = Mttie i9se pal, Win the com
pliete % Saaa ps e,,h;s men we
pretty we'll acquainted before we were
over the division, but at last we seemed
talked out.
. 81 +he strangerl, slnn,,v aftar !. +,,,aa
nd said e.
He nearly jumped off the box "M?
thought + was Rostonr,
.Moyed to NJ
..o Mnat . io Farm there,
"Ch. 1 see; married again?"
mo"
"No!" III
..Widow thought too much Of Jim for
that
No.
Yes.
| "Er-What became of the young man
! that Observation-Disclosures Z
at ives with ,ero vet ),
"so?,
Just then we struck the suburbs .o1
NJ, and, as we passed the cemetery
pointed to a high shaft and said: Dill
! Inns monument - s.: J.
1 nyUhv how,s thatar
oKilled at Five Forks. Widow nut Ut
1 nr,onl1ment. , "a - ID
He shaded his ewes with his hand a,ne
neered thru the moonlight for Al Minute
s.That.s clever, was all he.sa1d .sz
insisted that, he 60 home with me. &c
4 took the Black Maria to 1.-THE house ant
we took the street cars for IT to the end o.
1 the line and then walked. AS we cleaned
orr feet at the door / said "Iet me see
7 did not hear your name?''
James" said he, Mr.. James. :"
I opened the sitting room door and ush
4 cred the stranger In. =
"Well, boys, said mother slowly get
/ ting up from before the fire and hurriedl,
/ taking a few extra stitches In her knit
ting before laying 1t down to look up q
lus. YOU'RE early
i She looked up, not ten feet from tn,
stranger, as he took Oft his slouched ha
and brushed back the white hair. In an
1 other rnin,1te her arms were around hi
neck and she was murmuring James
in his ear and I, like dumb fool, won
dered who told her his name.
/ Wen, to make a long story short. it va!
James Dllon n,hsen, anu "a. hs.s us.usi ~
came IN ana Ed came, anu petWee.l ~ !,
three they nearly smothered Inc oid lei
low.
You may think it funny ne dldn' know
me, but don't forget that had been run
ming Tor three years-tnat taAes ,ne 20
Oft g. fellow: then When idu VIC eyp1iui
my hair laid off and was never Ielnsta IS 9
and when ! got Well the WhlsKers-t q
had always refused to groW-came on
. with a rush and they We're red' An 7,