The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-15

run up to Soda Springs No. 10 had al.
ready sanded the rails below
He could feel the help tho minute tho
tires ground into tho grit. Thoy began
TO smoke, and Augustus perceived tho
grade was easing somewhat. Evon tho
dazed foreman, looking back, saw an
Improvement In the lurches Of tho CO.
boose. There was one more hnir.rnlso
ahead-the appalling curve ut tho forks
OF tho Goose. But, instead OF being
hurled over the elevation. they found
themselves around It and on tho bridge
with only vicious slew. Aloysius' hair
began to lie down and his hoart to
rise up. He had her checked-even the
hoboes knew it--and q milo further. with
the danger past they took now onos by
dropping Oil tho hind end
At the second bend below the Goose
Aloyslus made n stop and began to
breathe. A box WIS blazing on the ten
der struck. and. with his handy fireman.
he got down at once to doctor 1t. Tho
whole thing shifted so mortally quick
from danger to safety that the two men
never stopped to inventory their fears;
they seemed to have vanished with tho
frost that lured them to, destruction
They jumped together into the cab, and
whistling at the laborers. struck back
along the right Of way Extra 24o West
began backing pluckily up hill to Soda
Springs. The first man who approach
ed the cab as they slowed down for the
plntfornl-ln fact people rather stood
back for hinl--was Bucks, superintend-
ent of the division; his car had come in.
attached to No. 49,
How did your train get away from
your he asked Aloyslus; there was
neither speculation nor sympathy In his
manner and ...s words wero bitten with
frost.
ut didn't get away from me- retorted
Aloysius, who had never before In his
life seen the man, and was not aware
that he owed him any money. But the
operator at the, Springs. who knew Alloy
sius and the superintendent both, was
standing behind the latter doing pan
tomime that would shame q medicine
mans
Quick talking will do more for you
than smart talking" replied the SUPER
intendent, crisply. You'll never get a
better chance while you're working for
this company to explain yourself"
Aloysius himself began to think SO,
for the mods and winks Of the operator
were bewilderlng. He tried to speak up:
but the foreman of the steel gang put
in: ''se here. sport no snapped. irrev-
erently. at the angry official Why
don't you cool your hat before you Jump
fellow like that?"
What business is 1t Of yours how
jump fellow7' returned the superin-
tendent. sharply. who are your"
I'm only foreman Of this steel gang,
my friend; and don't take any back
talk from anybody"
I'm that case" responded Bucks with
velvet sarcasm, perhaps you will ex-
plain things I'm only superintendent OF
this division: but It's customary to In
quire into a matter OF this kind
Aloyslus at the words nearly sank to
the PLATFORM but the master OF the no.
boes. who had all the facts. went at the
big man as II he had been one Of the
gang, and did not falter TIL he had COW
cred the pcrsplring wiper with glory.
What's the reason the air wouldn't
work. asked the superintendent. turn
ing, without comment, when the track
layer had finished, to Aloysius.
II haven't had time to find out, SIR
Find out and report to me. What's
your name?"
"McGrath."
!McGraw. Ell? Well, McGraw, look
close into the air. There may be some
thing In 1t for you. You did tho firtng7'
he added, turning short again on the un-
abashed steel foreman.
What there was done.''
I'll do little now. myself I'll fire
You right here and now for imperti-
nence"
Il suppose you're the boss" responded
the man of ties, imperturbably. when
I made the crack, Id made 1t harder II
I had known who you WERE"
II guess So"
Very good" said Bucks in his mlldest
tones 1T you will report to me at Medl-
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 mar car, Sport. What do
You say? That will save you transporta-
tion."
It brought yell from the railroad men
crcwding around, for the men liked Buck,
and his way The ex-captain OF the da-
goes tried to look cool, but in point of
fact went very sheepish at his honors.
Followed by a mob. eager to see the
finish, Superintendent Bucks made his
way up the track along the construction
train to where Aloysius and the engineer
OF NO. 10 were examlng tho air They
found 1t frozen between the first and Sec
ond car. Bucks heard It all-heard the
whole story. Then he turned to his clerk.
Discharge both crews Of Extra 24O.
Fire Johnny Hor:gan"
YES sir.''
'McGrnth run your train back TO Wind
River behind US. Well scare up a. con.
ductor here somewhere; II we cant Til be
your conductor. Make your report to
Medicine Bend" Bucks added, speaking
to the operator, and without further talk
Walked back to his car.
AS he turned away the engineer OF No.
16 slapped Aloysus on the back:
KID why tho blazcs don't you thank
him." :
"Who?"
what for?"
What for? Jlmmoy Christmas! What
for? Didn't no just make you mn onrI.
neer? Didn't he just say. Run your train
back behind us to Wind River7"
My traln?"
sure, your train. Do you think Buck.
ever says thing like that without mean.
Ing It? You bet not"
Bucks clerk, too. was a little nncor-
tain about the promotion. ~ s,,nnoso
he's competent to run the train ha oT
~. ''sse''''Vo-
Bucks was scrawlng a messapo
"A man that could hold n train rro,,
Wind River here on whskers, with moth.
'Hs out thankful OF sand and n ho1,o fro-