The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-26
ra1qE uRnY ,sp1 80 1908
FRANK H. SPEARMAN'S
RAILROAD STORIES


that was before they found that aho
thing tougher than steel do out Moreover
then good way from civilization, and If dis
patcher took sick there filling in it
was just double best you could
One lad in the office days every body loved
Norman He off the Burlington A kid of fellow who
looked more like choir boy than dispatcher But
he was all lightning laughing restless artess boy
as pook ana quck as current There was better re-
son STILL tho, why they loved Fred consump
ton; that's why he out in the mountains, and his
mother in Detroit asking him. and
she used to send all things flesh
as ana as PINK as mountain snow and ne had brown
reckon they all did Fred brought with him.
the first in Medicine Bend and before he had
been playing hour he had Neighbor big grizzly and
Callahan, with pipe in hand tennis guide in the
other chasing all balls HALEY trying
to figure forty love- while Fred taught Bucks the Lawford
drive don't what he to only that he taught
all knew will know about handling trains;
and tho carrying then and he signing
orders, really like kids together
Fred for long time had trick. He at
in the morning and caught most of the thru freghts that
got from the River behind the trains There
trying night trick Between
the stocks trains easbound and the bot-way passenger
trains wesbound freight caught in the mountains at
night the might well standing in the house
ing fuethere wasn't time to get from siding to
other Norman freights they and
he handled them like ringmaster when Fred's whip
train right along, grade
grade them the rights they had the rest
to business do with the superintendent with
Doubleday, Neighbours assistant in the motive power
only tendency in Fred Nornan's dis
that could criticize seemed after
handling trains the plains appreciate what
his pretty close together bothered him
to handle traffic; would the business thru
sion; but occasionally there hair-curling
periences the freghts Normans trick trying to
keep tails. One night in July there
great moving eight nine trains Of Montana
the main line some kind OF time contract
giving stockmen the earth then. Everybody
prodding the DIVISION of stuff in
late on Blackburn and part Of early on Fred who was al
every morning. at4 o'clock took the steers and sent
them train after train thru the Rat River country like
bullets out Of Maxim It was hot work, and before
he had sat in an hour there was stumble the engineer OF
big wheeler pulling twenty-five of steers had been
pushing hard the of the set his air
quick he Of the driver shoes and the main rod hit
great doubled up like with cramp.
showing daylight; they made stop and quick
It, tagged ways section
crowdng the right behind they close
together to it. The hind section
split standing knife into sand
witch. It made wreck-and worse, it made lot of
hard feeling at the Wickiup.
When the investigation it pretty to
Fred Norman right from the knew it. But
Blackburn, shielded him when he could just all the
dispatchers did, because boy-and sick among
men-tried to part
it, Blackburn; hadn't
much as y-speck on his book looked pretty grave
the evidence all in. and around the second floor
they that meant something for Norman Fred him
compicate things the engi
Doubleday limited quietly
that the trouble in the first place from Doubedays
idea of putting the driver shoes behind instead
the wheels Then the fat in the fire. Fred
got it, likesore his share in the
trouble and exasperaed by something Doubleday was re-
ported said about him the house-ighted
Doubleday about the engine failure
Doubleday right in his Device time has proved;
unheard of then and the assistant
mechanic criticism time fearful
against
They went at each other like sparks
and Doubleday who had hard mouth began cursing
Fred poor little dispatcher ranking with the trouble
anyway sick, all pieces flew at the big
fellow like a sparrow wicked left into
the mechanic before Doubleday could lift guard
But Walter Doubleday he couldn't strike Fred
He caught up boys pushed strug
Cling adl against the wall to slap his face, when
roth blood stained Freds lips and he I'll fanting just
a minute Blackburn stepped into the
It wasn't the kind Of tmethey weren't the kind of
men-to volunteer explanations Blackburn was
Doubleday wink Walter could right himself
night dispatcher had thrown him headong the
operators rushed in Blackburn and the tall
each other in silent fury. No
where 1t might have ended had not Fred Nor
between them with his hands upbut the
blood gushing from his mouth
It pretty serious business They caught him as he
and the boy lay Backburns arm limp dead wire
after they that hemorrhage that he