Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-22
(coNrINUED.l

"Wcll. what's the racket anyhow
Chris:' demanded Shockley lazily after
Cross Eyes, trying to get rid Of the
invitation to the festivities, had sput'
tered switch English five minutes al
him.
I've got Chrismus by u.s." explained
Chris desperately.
christmas" repeated Shockey grim
ly. christmas. Why, man. Christ
mas don't come nowhere on earth In
January. You want to wind up your
calendar Where'd you get them
shOesi'
DOLLAR sefenty-vife."
"Where?"
"Rubedo."
"Aud don't you know switchman
Oughtn't to put his feet in fiatboats
Don't you know some day you'll get
your foot stuck in a tongue or guard
Then where'll you be. Dutch, with a
string of fats rolling down on. you,
eh?"
However, Chris stuck for his request
He wouldn't take no for an answer.
Next day he tired Shockley out.
"Well. for Gods sake let up, Chris, u
said the yardmaster at last. "Ill come
down awhile after % comes in. Get
back early after supper, and We'll
make up 90 and let the rest Co."
1t was pretty night; pretty enough
over the yard for anybody's Christmas
Julian or Gregorian-no snow, but q
moon. and Il full one, rising early OveI
the Arkarce bluffs and frost that bl:
and sparkied and the north wind asleep
in the sand hills.
Shockley after supper, snug in pea
jacket and storm cap. rode with tbs
switch engine down from the round
house. Chris, In his astrakhan reefel
and turban. walking over from the dug.
out In Rubedo's new shoes. tipped the
foOtboard at the stOckyard with almost
.he roll of Shockley himself.
Happily for Christmas In Little Rus.
sia % pulled In on time. but 1t was long
und heavy that night. 1t brought COIL
and ties and the stuff for the Fort
Rawlins depot and batch of bridge
steel they had been waiting two week!
for, mostly Cherry Creek stuff. clever
cars Of 1t.
The minute the tired engine was cut
off the long train up ran the little
switch engine and snapped at the head
less monster like coyote.
Out came the coal with clatter
out came the depot stuff with sheet
Of flame through the goats fiucs. shot
here, shot there, shot yOnder, flying
down this spur and down that and the
other, like stones from a catapult. and
the tough connected, smut faced. blear
eyed yard engine coughed and snorted
and spit shower Of sparks and SCOT
and cinders up into the Christmas air.
She darted and lodged and jerked and
backed up and down and across the
lead and never for a fraction of sec.
ond took her eye of Shockley's lamp
thivering and changing and bucking
with steam and bell and air, but al
ways with one smoky eye on Shockley's
lamp. until % was wrecked clean to the
caboose, and the switch engine shot
down tile main line with the battered
way car in her claws like hawk with
Il prairie dog.
Then there was only the westbound
freight. 81, to make up with the Fort
Eawlins stuff and the Cherry Creek
steel, which was "rush," and few
cars of lies flung OH behind Oh general
principles. 1t was quick work now
sorting and moving the bridge steel
half an hour for an hours work, with
the north wind waking at the clatter
ana sweeping bank Of cloud and sand
across the valley. Shocklcy and Chris
ard the goat crew put at it like black
ants. There was releasing and setting
and kicking and splitting, and once in
awhile flying switch dead against the
rubrics, and ut last the whole train Of
steel was in line, clean as the links OF
a sprocket and ready to run IN on tht'
house track for the caboose.
For that run Chris set the east house
track switch, crossed the track and
swung u great circle With his lamp for
tie back. TO get over to the switch
again he STATED to recross the track.
In tie t.aik his ankle turned OH lump
Of coal. lie recovered lightly. but the
nisstep sent his other foot wide. and
with bit of jolt Rubedo's new shoe
slipped into the frog.
Up the track he heard roll Of
stormy coughs from the engine gather
ing push to shove the string of flats
down. They were coming toward him.
over the spot where he stood, on his
signal. and he quietly tried to loosen
his heel.
The engines drivers let 60. and she
roared steaming oath, and Chris
could hear it, but he was glad, for bis
heel would not work quietly out Of the
frog; it stuck. Then the engineer. un:
ruffied. pulled ut his sand lever, and
his engine snorted again. and her driv-