The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-01

fore, there was n painful sensation-the SEN
sation OF good men who see q disaster they
are powerless to avert. Nor did Soda
Springs know how desperate the wiper's eX-
tremity had become. Not even the Strug-
Cling steel foreman knew that with Soda
Springs passing like films of a
graph, and two more miles OF down grade
ahead. the last cupful OF sand was trickling
from the wiper's tank. Aloysius at that
moment wouldn't have given the odd
change on u pay check for all the chances
Extra 24O and he himself had left. He
stuck to his lever merely because there was
no particular reason for letting go. 1t was
only u question OF how Il man wanted TO
take the rocks. Yet. with all his figuring.
Aloysius had lost sight of his only saliva
! ton, maybe because it was quite out of his
power TO effect it himself. But in making
the run up TO Soda Springs No. IL had al
ready sanded the rails below.
He could feel the help the minute the
tires ground into the grit. They began to
smoke. and Aloysius perceived the grade
was easing somewhat. Even the dazed
foreman, looking back, saw an improve
ment in the lurches of the caboose. There
was one more hair-raise ahead-tie appaii-
| Ing curve ut the forks Of the Goose. But.
instead of being hurled over the elevation.
they found themselves around it and on the
bridge with only o vicious slew. Aioysius's
hair began TO lie down and MS heart 10
rise up. He had her checked-eVen the
hoboes knew it-aud a mile further Win
the danger past. they took new ones py
| dropping or the hind end.
AT the second bend below the Goose A!oy-
sius made a stop and began 10 breathe. A
box was blazing on the tender truck, ana.
with his handy fireman. he got down at
| once to doctor II. The wnol@ thihS shiIteu
| so mortally quick from danger 10 safety
that the two men never St"ppeo 70 al
=. sz-~.. t1.,- C1,rnri tn have
vanished with the frost thar !ured them TO
! destruction. They jumped together into the
cab. and. whistling at the la5orers. struck
| back along the right-oi-wdy- Extra ~
! West began backing plucktlY uphiii L" soua
| Springs. The first man who ;tprroacheu the
cab as they slowed down lor tNt ptatiut m
in fact. people rather stood back Tor I'm
was Bucks. superintendent of the DIVISION
his car had come in attached TO NO 10.
How did your train get away from you
he asked Aloysius: there was neither spec
ulation nor sympathy in his manner anu iHs
words were bitten with frost
at didn't get away from me-. retor,ed
,,ovsine who had never before in his life
econ the man and was not aware that he
owed him any money. But the operator at
tho Strings. who knew Aloysius ana the
superintendent both. was standihs oeiihu
the latter doing q pantomime that wouiu
shame a medicine man. ~
'f(nIicE talking VIII 10 ~ 49,
smart talking" replied the superintendent
cr;snIy you'll never get a better chance
while You're working for this company 10
explain yourself
Aloysius himself began TO thinK So lor
the mods and winks of the operator We're
bcwilderine. He tried to speak up. but the
foreman of the steel gang put IN: see
here. sport he snapped. irreverently, at
the angry official. WHY don't you cool
yonr hat before you jump a fellow like
that"
what business is it of Yours how l jump
n fellow%' returned the superintendent
sharply. WHO are your
Pm only foreman of this steel gang. my
friend: and 1 don't take any back talk from
anybody"
vet sarcasm. perhaps yon VIII explain
things. I'm only superintendent OF TINS di-
vision: but it's customary 10 inquire INTO
q matter of this kind"
Aloysius ut the words nearly, sank to the
platform; but the master of the hoooes'
who had all the facts. went at the big man
as il he had been one OF the gang. and did
not falter till he had covered the perspiring
wiper with glory. .
work?' asked the superintendent. turning.
without when the track layer and
finished. to Aloysius.
II haven't had time to find out. SIR
Find out and report TO me What your
Nance" 3
'McGrath."
"NIcGraw. eh? Well. McGraw. look close
into the air. There may be something in
il for vcu. You did the frins?" he added.
turning short again on the unabashed steel
foreman.
''What there was done"
'Til do a little now. myself. I'll fire you
right here and now for impertinence."
sT c,,npnsa ,-ou'pa the hpsS rasppDlp5
the man of ties, impertmbably. "When !
made the crack I'd made II harder IL l
had known who you were"
You know now, don't you"
Il guess So
Very good" said Bucks In his mildest
tones. II you VII report to me at Medi-
cine Bend this afternoon I'll see whether
We can't find something better FOR your !
manners than cUrsing hoboes. You can ride
down in my car, sport. What do YOU say?
That Will save you transportation"
1t brought a yell from the railroad men |
.crowding around. for that was Bucks's way
of doing things; and the men liked Bucks
and his way. The ex-captain of the dagOeS
tried to look cool, hut in point Of fact went
very sheepish at his honors.
Followed by a mob. eager to see the I'M
ish. Slperintende n Bucks made his way
up the track along the construction train
to where -Aloysius and the engineer of No.
IL Were examining the alr. 1Hey found 1t
frozen between the first and second car.
Bucks heard it all-heard the whole story.
Then he turned 10 his clerk.
Discharge both crews of Extra 40. Fire
Johnnie Horigan.'
Yes, sir"
"McGrath. run your train back to Wind
River behind US. Wen scare up u con-
here somewhere; If We can't I'll be
your conductor. Make your report to Med
icine Bend" Bucks added. speaking to the
and without further talk walke
back to his car.
AS he turned away the engineer of No. 16
Aloys!us on the back:
Kid. why the blazAs didn't you thank
Who
What for?'
What for? Jimmey Christmas, What
Didn't he just say. Run your train hack |
behind US TO Windy River?"
My train?''
Sure. your train. Do you think Bucks
says a thing like that without mean
Ing It? You bet not
Bucks's clerk. too. was a little uncertain
about the promotion. II suppose he's COM
petent to. run the train back, isn't hep" he
asked of Bucks. suggestively.
Bucks was scrawling a message.
"A mar that could hold a train from
Wind River here on whiskers. with nothing
but a thankful of sand and Il hobo fireman,
be likely to fall off the right OF
way running back he returned dryly.
He's been firing for years, hasn't he? We