Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-05-12

general superintendent doorway an,
said:
"Old Tympan's out there again,
see, Palmer"
NO USE replied the general super
intendent. His name came in tw,
hours ago. told him to report her,
next time he got drunk. This finishe:
him.
Five minutes later old Tympan, aft
er forty years of service for the A. ant
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 giver
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. s pulled in while Tympar
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 mint lii
his coat and Palmer's transportation
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 living.
Taking vacation, Tympan?" asked
Hennessy Of No when he came
through for tickets. Tympan admitted
he was off for bit of time up the
road.
Guess you amt coming back right
off," tainted Henncssy. 1.-The return
check on your pass don't seem to be in
sight. Leng lay off, eh, Tympanl"
Tympan sat Up, pulling his hat over
his eyes.
'Dick Hennessy." he said, syou go
slow On yer kiddin' r I'll roast you one
o these days FIR hein' so smart. They've
fired me, You en- bet-yes, they have;
fired me good. but I'm next to Palmer
yet. An | heard what Palmer told
the G. T. A. this mornin' about your
runnin' over orders twice last week.
know somethin', an don't you kid me
no moran'
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 overhauied In palmcr's
Office for nothing mere 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. Il. III. Palmer got a
master tongue flashing 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-
tendents 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,
steaming with rage, too angry even to
curse. No. was making beautiful
work. and Hennessy felt better than
usual. He had eight cars with big
load of women and kids and wanted to
be ON time anyway because it was his
lay off that Saturday and there was an
all night game in the club" at home.
At Inehburg Hennessy got his usual
orders, everything all straight. and left
on time. The rear brakeman found him
just afterward and said:
Hear about the wild freight went
up ahead of us? She's big one, and
it wouldn't surprise me If she got
stuck on the Long Misery and held us
at Lyshon."
Hennessy knew his man was right
Lyshon station Is ut the foot of a
thirteen mile grade known for good
reasons as "the Long Misery If al
freight got hung there ahead Of No. s,
it meant everything balled up, for the
A. and r. is a single line, and the d.
rectors won't stand fer a siding be-
tween T.yshon 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 and
sought the dispatcher In the dingy sta
ton.
wild freight.' echoed the telegra-
pher Yes. went Up an hour ago. Big
train? YES. big train. but she's got a
good rail, and | don't believe she'll
hold you minute"
Hennessy went out and looked in the
book By the station door He found
where the Wild freight had reported
and saw with satisfaction that she was
in charge of Bisters, one Of the ring
and srTe to DO his best to get thar
heavy train out of the way long before
came along.
Lyshon was on the card for only
thirty seconds, but Hennessy risked
trifiing delay and went back to the OPP
crater:
Cant you ask Oldtown. just for
chance. if that freight's showed up
yet?' he asked
Wild freight 543 started over the
Long Misery in good order that Satur-
day and made excellent time for eight
miles or more Then she was stopped
by shaky injector in the moguI Bit
ters left his caboose and ran up ahead
IN time TO see his redheaded engineer
grab up the wrenches and start from
his seat
Go ahead lively as you can, Mike
be shouted.
Mike gave the mogul sand and steam /
She strained for a moment while her
hard that Mike bounced out Of his seat I
The train had broken apart seven cars
down, leaving thirty-three detached.