The Port Gibson reveille., 1905-07-13

nremau WAS 9 new nauus 40Ax06
RugeIes, who had put recently come
on the road. He was o young fel-
low, bright looking and good tenn
pered, but, as yet. none of the boys had
made much headway In getting &C
quainted with him, though all felt
kindly to him. and were disposed TO
be friends. It was rumored that ne
was the sole support OF a widowed
mother, who was consumptive sent
10 Colorado for health. When 1t was
, made known to the men that he was
to be engineer on No. lat cry of
dismay went up from one and all.
"Oh, me bly," said old Mike, ''what
are ye thlnkin' ofP"
Thinking OF the big wages" said
Charlie. 'sand the comforts can buy
for the little mother. "
"0h, wirra. wirra. let her alone.
Have nothing to do with her. She's a
murtherin' villain. that's what she Is. "
Mike meant 1T, not Charles moth
or.
"Why, Mike, you can't really think
the engine Ia TO be blamed because
people got on the track before herP"
said Charlie.
''It's her luck thin. It's all the same.
She'A bring throuble to any one who
has aught 10 do wild her. Let her
alone, me by"
Nov, Nike said Charlie, II take
1t we're all In the hands OF the Lord,
wherever we are | am as much In
His care on No. 147 as am standing
here talking to you / don't believe
He gives q locomotive power to hurt
His creatures, and do believe 1t 10 my
duty 10 take this chance, and do ths
best can"
This was o new view of the matter,
and the men were silenced. Ii not con-
vinced. No one opposed Charlie Rug
giles decision, and In day or two he
entered upon his new duties.
He was sent into the mountain re-
gions to help take trains over the
highest passes in the State. Until one
has crossed the Rocky Mountains by
rail it Is impossible to form an idea Of
the awfulness of these passes. The
train creeps slowly up the mountain,
with labored breath, giving one SEN
sation OF painful exertion. The road
winds about to find the easiest grades,
now zigzagging back and forth, now
crossing itself by means Of trestle
work, or tunneling under, but always
going upward, slowly but surely.
As the train climbs higher, far be.
low in some abyss may be seen the
track already passed, while high
above tower rows of snow sheds yet
to be gone through. In the higher
altitude the solitude and stiffness be-
come oppressive. One seems lost ira
sea OF mountain peaks, while above
all tower mightier SUBMITS, eternally
snow clad. where foot Of man has
never yet trod.
In the heat OF midsummer below, II
Is always winter In these passes.
Huge icicles hang upon the roofs OF
these snow sheds, and deep snow lies
on the ground It was at the entrance
to such pass that Charlie and No.
147 were stationed. When the through
express camer-dailv. IL was divided
into two sections, and each section
was given two engines to pull 1t up
the steep grade. But at the top 1t was
coupled together again, one locomo
time being quite enough to take itover
the down grade, and the remaining
three were sent back again to help
bring the next train up.
Well up In the pass stood 3 little
cabin, where o few of the section
hands had their home. There were
two little children, boy and girl
In this family, to whom Charlie be-
came much attached. They were
pretty little creatures, but Il seemed a
lonely life for them, isolated entirely
from playmates, from school and all
the pleasant things which children
love. A water-tank stood near the
cabin, where the locomotives stopped
to take In water, and In summer the
children ran through the cars while
they waited selling bunches Of the
beautiful Colorado wild flowers which
blossom In spite OF Encouragement
under the shadows Of the everlasting
snow banks
This was their only diversion
and Charlie learned to watch
for them as the prettiest Incl
dent OF the trip. He always
had q pleasant word and smile for
them. and often something more. An
apple or an orange, q pretty card,
which, small as 1t was, went far 10
brighten the childrens' day.
No. 147 behaved herself perfectly.
As week after week and month aftep
month slipped by, and she did not
even kill sheep, the train men began
to breathe freer, and even Charlie was
conscious OF sense OF relief It was
generally believed that the overhaul
Ing In the repair shops had changed
her disposition. Only old Mike was
skeptical.
There's no good In her." he said
"She's only biding her time, an she'll
do worse than she ever dhramed OF
before wan OF these days.
But the other men laughed and
called him q bird OF Ill omen.
One warm. sunny day. Ia early july
- IL