Middletown transcript., 1905-10-21

der, alter oiIing, there sat a woman o.
the fireman's seat.
Strange how some woman are alway'
poking into places where they have NJ
business. Where in thunder did sh'
come from, / wondered. was obliged
To acknowledge that she was fair to lool
upon, but in my present mood didn'
want her there.
On the railroad we become accustomed
to the chronometer-like regularity OF ou
work, and dislike to have it disturbed.
The slightest change,-be it ever s.
trivial, lin the monotonous repetition Q
our daily routine, irritates, and throws
us out Of balance for the entire trip.
On the last trip set-screw had dropped
out OF the go-ahead eccentric on the LEI
side. ! reported it, and when ! asked
Saunders, the round-house foreman,-
why he hadn't put one in, he answered
very cavalierly, that there was no neet
of it one would hold as good as dozen
if the eccentric was keyed on, anyhow
and besides, he had no time. lie added
superciliously:
IF you fellers would get under YOU
engines once in While With wrench
you wouldn't be droppin' nuts and bolt
and set-screws all over the road
That was the rasp got for starter
Then my fireman failed TO show up, ant
Saunders sent me the one extra man tia
he knew I particularly disliked to have
work for me.
He was great, gswky, ignorant, red
headed know -it-a!l, who satisfied himself
before he had been three months at ths
business, that lie was the sinaitest mar
on the road. lie would contradict ano
argue with anybody, from the master
mechanic down,-or up, either.
When told to do thing, lie never
failed to offer a suggestion as to how il
should be done, and would enter into q
long explanation as to Why his way Mas
superior to yours. When You got mad,
and peremptorily ordered him to do as
he was told, lie would reply, with de
predatory smirk, as Of one who submitted
under protest
sob, of course, if you say 50, I'll DO it
your way you're the boss"
I had erawled under her and replaced
the set-screw myself. ! was dirty.
drenched with perspiration, and thor
oughly exasperated with myself, Saun-
ders, the fireman, and every body else.
And now, here was that woman, looking
as calm and as sweetly content as though
life were one long summer holiday, as no
doubt it was in her case. Where was he
fireman? No doubt he had invited her
to ride !; his assurance was equal to it.
But I'd soon get rid Of her
"I'm going to ride with YOU, Eigi-
neer, 'ssaid she, with pleasant smile.
you'll have to get pass t" ride on
the engine" replied, wiping the oil
can industriously in order to avoid meet
ing the gaze of those all conquering e.
of hers.
II have pass" she answered quietly.
Let me see it, please" | said.
She handed me the bit Of cardb, asd,
which | wilfully disfgured with greasy
as read TO my discon future
an order to conductors and engineers 10
allow the bearer to ride Oh all trains and
engines, signed by the General Manager.
rs that all right?" slie asked, in. !
thought, rather fiippant tone.
eyes" said 'you can ride"
The fireman returned with piece oil
ice. He looked surprised lie bIushed
and bowed. She returned his salute With
well-bred ease. They we're strangers !
was conscious OF feeling Of relief. lie
fixed up the cooler, and offered her
drink with the air Of a Chevalier Bay ard
(who would have dreamed Of him as a
Iady-killer y.
She drank from our battered and rusty
tin cup as though it had been a silver
aagon. He struck up conversation
with her at once. Though disdaining to
listen, overheard enough to learn that
he was dilating on his own importance
and the perils to which lis calling SUBJ
ected him. She was taking it all in and
tickling his self-conceit with EXPLANATIONS
Of surprise and admiration.
1t was disgusting They wero giggiing
ind sniekering, srd enjoying themselves
over there exactly like a couple OF fools.
"You'd better hook up your fire." said |
"Oh, that's all right, joe" lie replied,
With nonchaant gesture "my fire is
veil coked can hook it up after YOU
,ull out"
Never mind about me pullin' out !;
look up pour fire now, an put on the |
blower an let Ter warm up a bit want |
ONE steam"
"All right, Joe, jess as you say" lie
eplied with an air of condescension that
made me feel like wringing his neck.
But instead Of going at it, he commenced
0 explain to the passenger what lie was
DING to do.
She seemed greatly interested. Before
le got through the conductor gave me a
ignal. yanked the bill rope, and slip
ed her so that his fire was pretty we'll
looked up before lie could ct tile door
pen. For the next half hour kept him
0 busy baling coal into her that lie did
lot have much time to talk to anybody.
About as fss. as he threw it into tile fire.
Ok threw it out the stack.
He. adjusted the front window 50 she
ould get air without being blown off tie
eat, or burned up by the shower Of hot
inders pouring from the stack. She
banked him SO gracionsly that | hated
i'm worse than ever.
Every time the steam went down
ound l growled at him, but his good
hers-was in,incible. When
YER | yentured to steal glance across y
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