The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-03-21
IA NASTY night, Haskell,

mutJereu reply 10 the greeting Of
the round house foreman, passed out
into the yard, thoroughly tired,
hungry and irritable after my 100
mile run in the cab of the limited ex-
press.
1t was one of those wild nights
we sometimes, but not often, get
dSTing TIE month of November. A
ut of the blacklist darkness, filled
N driving rain and frozen sleet;
.Mt of washouts, doubtful road
delays and loss of time, TO be
WED by "A fiyc-minute interview
the division superintendent,
H1Ayh of few words and much less con
Jsideration.
i had just brought in the limited
express some 20 minutes late, owing
TO the icy condition of the rails, and
i knew what to expect
/ hurried along through the wind
and rain, eager TO get TO my board
ing house where n warm supper and
dry clothes awaited me.
L had just reached the house when
i heard the sounds of hurried steps
coming down the street after me.
| turned and glanced carelessly over
my shoulder and saw, by the flicker
ing light on the opposite corners,
that it was Nick, my fireman.
We're in for it this time, guess
he exclaimed abruptly, as he came
Up the steps after me.
''Why, what's the trouble now?"
asked, although / had pretty
good idea of what was coming.
"The old mans down at the yard,
and he's cussing like a trooper be-
cause you went off before he got a
chance TO see YOU"
1--WE lost 20 minutes on that grade;
Isuppose that is what il MEANS"
answered "Well, never mind. I'll
be right down as soon as | eat my
supper and get into some dry clothes.
I'm drenched"
.No, il amt that" replied Nick
quickly. THE deuce is to pay some
where. We've got to pull out again
and catch the 9:45 into Hampton, and
she's gone nearly ten minutes now.
I've got p out and fred up. She'll
he blowing by the time we get back.
Come on"
! will not state that / did not say
anything out of the way. But sup
per or no supper, together we hur-
ried back down to the yard, where |
found Henderson pacing up and down
in the storm and growing like a
hungry dog.
"Can YOU catch that 9:45 before she
gets into Hampton" he asked, as
soon as / came in sight.
ats doubtful" / answered shortly.
"She's been gone ten minutes al
ready"
''Oh yes, you can" he insisted per-
sistently. "There's nothing ahead OF
you-you have got clear track un-
Gil midnight"
"Why don't you telegraph"
asked, wonderingly.
That's the trouble" Ire snarled
"The wires are all down; ] can't"
"Well, I'll try it. What arc the or
ders?"
/ knew that If we were TO overtake
take the 9:45, there was no time To
be lost in asking idle questions. Be
sides, l was not in very good humoI
W lnt Suhdtil iApih - W. -
supper, dry clothes and shelter TO q
wild night ride over an uncertain
road in the storm; and moreover,
had no very sincere liking for jacob
Henderson, Esq.
II want you to catch the 9:45 be
fore she gets into Hampton" he re
peated insistently. You can do IL, ii
you open her up and let her go
When you overtake her give this not,
TO Conductor Davis, and il he give,
you anything TO bring back, take il
no matter what il is. I'll wait here
for you. How quick can you start?"
thought that there was some
thing rather unusual about all this
but IL was not for me to question or
ders.
''In about two minutes" | said
promptly; Just as soon as i cal
take in little water. The tank is al
most empty"
"Never mind the water" cried tn
old man. impatiently. IL want you {
get started. You have got enoug
to run down with. You can TAX
some coming back
A'his thoughtlessness on his par
ktled me a little and / retorte
sJEther sharply:
" "I'm running this engine, Mr.. Her
derson. II you want me To oyertak
the 0;45 it will take speed, and spec
takes stcnm and cannot make steaI
without water. II you can, just ste
up and take my place and do IL.
- He made no reply, but turned ava
with. something that sounded yer
much like an oath, and felt that m
hasty reply had cost me my position
for Henderson was "A man that too
no words from any man on the ron,
big or little.
With some regret l backed No.
mp beside the tank, and just as
stopped under the pipe | saw SON