Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-08-17
IkllhIIllshN khlli1 EAsAll
RUNlWAY ON
N TIE A. AND B.
By JtHs tDYUND DUNNO.
r,pnrirht. fqts. BIZ Il. q afrcfitrs
By JtHs tDYUND DUNNO.
Copyright, iaos, oy r. c. ,fecr,rs

general superintendent doorway and
said.
"old Tympan's out there again, /
see. Palmer"
NO use" replied the general super
intendent. Ills name came in two
hours ago. told him to report here
next time he got drunk. This finishes
him"
Five minutes later old Tympan, aft
err forty years of service for the A. and
b.. went tumbling down the stairs be-
cause he was drunk at the Hancock
street switch the day the directors
went up the line. Palmer had given
him pass home. eighty miles up the
road. and then fired him with ten Of
the words Palmer wasn't accustomed
to using on ordinary Jobs.
Train No. S pulled in Willie Tympan
fumhled the pass on the platform. and
he climbed in and found double seat
In the smoker. He knew only that he
was out Of a job, with fun pint in
his coat aud PaImer's transportation
to take him up home where he could
camp down for the winter with the
boys He had thren eucd that many
times. They deserved It for letting
him work for living.
Taking vacation, Tympan?" asked
Hennessy of No. when he came
through for tickets. Tympan admitted
he was of for bit of time up the
road
Guess you amt coming back right
or" tainted HennesSy "The return
check on your pass don't seem 10 be in
sight Loug lay off, eli, Tympan"
Tympan sat up, pulling his bat over
his eyes
"Dlck Hennessy," he said. "you go
slow on yer kiddIn' r I'll roast you one
o. these days FIR bein' SO smart They've
fired me. you en- bet-yes. they have:
fred me good, but I'm next TO Palmer
yet An | heard what Palmer told
the G.. 7. 4. this mornin' about your
runnin' over orders twice last week. |
know somethin', an don't you kid me
no morem
Train No. SIS conductor ignored the
challenge. partly because he dared do
no more. He knew the whole operIt-
Ing department had been knocking ey-
erybody in sight because old Tympan,
invariably drunk and disorderly. held
his job while better and younger and
sober men were overhauled in Palmer's
office for nothing more than leaving
stations half n minute ahead of or
ders or failing to wise the annual of
some of the spying directors who went
up and dewa H. FL. Palmer got II
master tongue lashing those days from
the rank aud file. and now that the
dismissal had really come Hennessy
was no moro skeptical than sAy Of the
others concerning the general superin-
tendent's honest intention OF keeping
Tympnn out OF service.
Hennessy tried to conciliate Tympan
on his next trip through, but the old
man lay with his hat over his face,
steaming with rage. too angry even TO
curse. No. s was making beautiful
work. and Hennessy felt better than
usual. He had eight cars with big
load OF women and kids and wanted TO
be on time anyway because it was his
lay Off that Saturday and there was an
all night game in the club" at home.
At Inchburg Hennessy got his usual
orders, every thing all straight. and left
on time. The rear brakeman found him
just afterward and said:
AHear about the wild freight went
up ahead of us? She's big one. and
1t wouldn't surprise me II she got
stuck on the Long Misery and held us
at Lyshon."
Hennessy knew his man was right
Lyshon station is at the foot of a
thirteen mile grade known for good
reasons as the Long Misery" If a
freight got hung there ahead of No. s,
it meant everything balled up. for the
A. and r. is Il single line, and the di
rectors won't stand for siding be
tween Lyshon and Oldtown, the sta
ton at the crest of the Long Misery.
Hennessy took the platform at Ly
shon before No. SIS brakes held her and
sought the dispatcher in the dingy sta
ton.
wild freightY' echoed the telegra
pher. Yes, went up an hour ago. Big
train? Yes, big train, but she's got a
good rail, and / don't believe shell
hold you a minute"
Hennessy went out and looked in the
book by the station door. He founo
where the wild freight had reported
and saw with satisfaction that she was
in charge of Bitters, one of the ring
and sure TO do his best to get that
heavy train out of the way long before
Hennessy came along.
Lyshon was on ~the card for only
thirty seconds, but Hennessy risked
trifing delay and went back to the OF
srator:
cant you ask Oldtown, just for
chance. II that freights showed up
YETI" he asked.
Wild freight 543 started over the
Long Misery in good order that Satur-
day and made excellent time for eight