The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
| w

much. hear men rave over horses
and marvel at II when I think or
the iron horse. I hear them chat
ter Of distance and my mind turns TO the
annihiIator. / hear them brag OF ships.
and I think OF the ship that ploughs the
mountains and rivers and plains. And when
they talk OF speed-what can think OF but
her? AS the new engine rolled into the
yards my heart beat quicker. Her lines
were too imposing to call strong; they were
massive yet so simple you could draw them.
like the needle snout OF a collie, TO very
point Every bearing looked precise, every
Joint looked supple, as she swept masnih-
Gently up and checked herself, painting, in
front OF us. Foley was in the cab He had
been East on a lay-on and so happened, to
bring in the new monster, wild. from the
river shops
she was built In Pennsylvania, but the
fellows on the Missouri end Of our line
thought nothing could ever safely be put
into our hands until they had stopped it en-
route and looked IL over.
How does she run. Foley?" asked Neigh
Dor. gloating silently over the toy.
Cool as an ice-box." said Foley. swing
ing down. shes regular summer resort
Little stiff on the hills yet"
Al
Neighbor, climbing into the cab TO look her
over. Boys, this is UP In balloon" he adj
ded. pushing his big head through the cab
window and peering at the ninety-inch
drivers under him
..I grew dizzy once or twice looking for
the ponies" declared Foley, biting on a
piece of tobacco as he hitched at his over
ais. she looms like a skyscraper Say,
Neighbor. I'm to get her myself, amt 1?'
asked Foley, with his usual nerve.
sswhen McNeal gets through with her,
yes" returned Neighbor grufhy, giving her
thinble OF steam and trying the air.
WHAT cried Foley. affecting surprise.
rYou are going to give her to the kid?"
"I am" returned the master mechanic
unfeelingly, and he kept his word.
George McNeal. just reporting for work
after the session in his cab with the loose
end OF a connecting rod. was invited to
take out the Skyscraper-4SS, Class Has
she was listed. and Dad Hamilton. OF
course, took the scoop to fire her.
They get everything good that's going. "
grumbled Foley.
They are good people," retorted Neigh
Dor. He also assigned helper to the old
fireman It was a new thing with us then
fellow with slice-bar to tickle the CRATE,
and Dad. OF course. kicked. He always
kicked. II they had raised his salary he
would have kicked Neighbor wasted no
words. He simply sent the helper back to
wiping until the old fireman should cry
enough.
Very likely you know that a new en-
CINE must be regularly broken, as a horse
IS broken. before IL is ready for steady
hard work And as George McNeal was
ctr he Al 60
do the breaking.
For two months 1t was picnic. Light
runs and easy lay-overs. After the smash
at the Narrows Hamilton had sort of taken
the kid engineer under his wing; and it
was pretty generally understood that any
one who elbowed George McNeal must
reckon with his doughty old fireman So
the two used to march up and down the
street together, as much like chums as a
very young engineer and very old fire.
man could possibly be. They talked to-
gether. walked together and ate together.
Foley was as Jealous as a cat OF Hamilton,
because he had brought George out West.
and he felt sort OF guardian interest in
that quarter himself. Really, anybody
would love George McNeal: old Dad Ham,
lton was proof enough of that.
One evening just after pay day saw the
pair IN the possofice lobby getting their
checks cashed. Presently the two stepped
over to the money order window; a mo-
msnt later each came away with a money
order.
rs that whore you leave your wealth
Georgier" asked. as he came up to speak
TO me-
Part Of It goes there every month, Mr.
Reed" he smiled Checks are running
light, too. now-eh. dad?''
"a young fellow like you ought to be
Putting money away In the bank" said L
WELL you see have bank back In
Penfpsylvania-a bank that is now sixty
years old. and getting gray-headed.
haven't sent her much since I've been or
the relief. 20 I'm trying to make up q little
now for my old mammie."
Where does yours go. dad?" I asked.
'MeY" answered the old man, eyasiyely
tive got a boy back East; getting to be g
big one, too. He's in school. When are YOU
going to give US passenger run with the
sfy-scraper. Neighbour asked Hamilton
turning TO the master mechanic.
Soon as we get this wheat up on the
high line out OF the way" replied Neigh.
Dor. I'VE haven't half engines enough Il
move 1t. and get a wire about every ST,
hours to move II faster. Every siding
blocked. clear to Belgrade. How many Of
those OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES cars can yor
take over Beverly hill with your sky.
scraperT'
He was asking both men. The enginee,
looked at his chum.
81 reckon maybe thirty-nve or forty
said McNeal. En-. dad?'
Maybe. son." growled Hamilton: "ant
break my back doing it?"
81 gave you helper once and you kicket
him on the tender" retorted Neighbor.
Don't want anybody raking ashes 70,
me-not while I'm drawing full time" dae
frowned.
But the upshot o. II was that we put tn,
skyscraper at hauling wheat, and within {
week she was doing the work OF a double
header.
II was May. and a thousand miles east O.
US. IN Chicago, there was trouble in tn,
wheat pit on the Board OF Trade. Yo,
would hardly suspect what queer thing.
that wheat scramble gave rise to, affectin,
Georgia McNeal and old man Hamilton an<
Ii - <.fr~