The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04
ssThe foot braces against the
boiler head and the
lever Iatches in the last back
ward notch"

sonalIy conducted Italian excursion-At-
tila-the heavy numbering shoulders and
sullen. determined face reminded me of
those freight engines; low, but strong
in the momentum of mighty force If
stalled suddenly taking the slack again
and again until the caboose moved or
drawhead pulls out. But there is the
fireman lighting the headlight on that
head engine: let's go over and hit him..
The pair moved across the track.
DO you go nortn?' asked Howe of the
fireman
Yes" answered the big, frank-faced
young man pleasantly. Want to go up
well, can't carry you on the engine,
and as for asking the conductor. it's
like this: We have a fellow on the rear
who mas just go. back from a long sus-
pension and a frst-class jacking UP. I'd
rather not ask him. It's warm weather,
try side-door sleeper. can queer .he
brakeman. Come up. When we go up
in the yard I'll show you the train.
Then big burly fellow crowded into
the cab, silently raised his seat box lid,
after carefully depositing his lunch bas-
ket and coat, took out a greasy suit of
overalls and still preserving a surly
silence proceeded. to put them An
equally dfngy cap being dug UP he put
It on the back of his head, took torch.
jerked the firebox door open-banging
Johns leg as he did so--thrust it down
against the fire. withdrew it lighted,
reached a long spouted oil can and
with preparatory fiirt agai--st the coal
boards grimiy crawled down to "oil
around
who is that?" asked John, ruefully
rubbing his bruised leg. THE King Of the
Cannibal Islands, / reckon"
"Only old Jack, my side partner
answered the fireman. 1T always makes
his hair pub to get out this time in the
morning. He's all right"
That's nothing, John,',' said Howe.
"The pilot of an incoming steamer and
locomotive engineer cultivate that
manner-it's the unwritten law of their
profession.
The subject of their remarks crawled
up on the opposite side, blew out his
torch. replaced the can on the boiler
head, then throwing his reverse lever
ahead growled to his associate, Sand
and water all right?"
Both full to the neck, responded the
fireman.
"An right, we will go up in the yard,
we ought to have a good run-got
peach special
Settling himself on the seat box he
added: What are you trying to do.
turn the cab into stock carp
"Yes," answered Howe. quickly. be-
fore the firemen could speak, and a
rt,o
sheep on the lower. deck"
The engineer said nothing, but reach
ing his torch showed it into the gauge
lamp and then under the flare surveyed
Howe keenly.
..All right. my boy. see what you
are now, thought you a pair of young
hobos. Crawl up on the box and make
yourselves to home. You can ride here
until daylight. anyhow"
AS they passed through the yard the
fireman standing in the gangway
touched Howe's shoulder.
you certainly killed him-you are
the irst man he ever carried a train
length
soon they backed against train
"The tail lights seem comfortably
close" said the fireman. An exchange
OF orders. 'go ahead, indicated by a
hirt of a lamp, then they pulled easily
OH. Jonns enjoyed 1t uuSSiy-tne mol
low roar in the fire-box, rising and fall
ing with the swing of the door, the
broad back diving continually between
it and coal board. flirting the heaping
shovel Of coal deftly into corner and
sides; the heavy figure slouching care
iessly on the right seat box, the quiet
eyes resting ever on the rails. the great
hand on the throttIe-made wide con-
trast to the old life.
Judging from the way he is running
her he must have had a train of peaches
spoil on his hands some time" re-
marked Howe to the fireman as that
worthy Strengthened himself for brief
survey of the steam gauge, his only an
swer an appreciatiye grin.
Dawn was breaking. John put his
head out in the keen rush of the morn
ing wind and was taking in this
strange northIand, and as his eyes fell
over the broad, black river, now family
white-lined fnA dashing ripple, white
sprayed rocks or stretching In long,
silent reaches between low blue mist
fecked mountains, sweetly strange
thoughts ran across his mind. Again
he heard Madge Deans low, sweet voice