Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-31
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Copyright, 1900. bu S. s.
Mcclure Co.

ton yard was Ike smoking celluloid
pipe-you never could tell when It
would go of.
Cowboys shot away the lamps faster
than acquisitions could be drawn for
new ones. They shot the signals of
the switches and the lights from the
tops of moving trains. Whenever a
brakeman showed a flicker two cow
boys stood waiting 10 SNUFF IL. II they
missed the lamp. they winged the
brakeman. 10 compelled Bucks after
awhile 10 run trains through Benkle-
ton without showing ever light This.
though tough. could be managed. but
to shunt flats I'm the yard at night with
no light or TO get a switchman willing
TO play young Tell 20 Peg Leg Reynolds
William for any length OF time was
impossible. At last Bucks. on whom
the worry reelected at headquarters
sworc he would fight them with fire.
and he sent Sl1ockley. Callahan EtiH
sat specializing on what he would be
up against when Shockley arrived
The impression Bucks letter gave
him, knowing Bucks 10 be frugal Of
words. was that Shockley would rise
up with cartridges ina his ears and
bowie knives dangling from his watch
chain. To live in fear of the cowboys
was one thing but 10 live in fear Of
the cowboys on the one hand and in
terror of yardmaster on the other
seemed. an things considered. confus-
ing. particularly if the new ally got to
drinking and his fire scattered. Just
then train 30 whistled. Pat Barlie's
corner began TO sputter it's salute. Cal
lahau shifted around behind his bomb
proof DC his powderhorn aud. looking
down the line. wondered whether
Shockley might Doe on that train.
1t was not till the next night, though.
that tail. thinniSh chap. without visi-
bic reasons Tor alightiug. got or 80 and
walked tentatively down the platform.
At the ticket office he asked FOR the as
sistnnt superintendent
"Out there ou the platform talking
70 the conductor"
The thin fellow emerged and headed
for Callahan. Callahan noticed only
his light springy amble and his Ratchet
face.
'Mr. CanahauY"
s'Yes.~
Bucks sent me up 20 take the yard"
whats your manner
"Shockley."
"Step upstairs. I'll be up In a min.
ute"
Shockley walked back into the depot.
but be left the copper haired assistant
superintendent uncertain as 20 whether
II was really over. whether Shockley
had actually arrived or not As Cal
lahau studied the ciaiLanrs luoneu-
sive appearance walking away be rath-
or Thought DO couldn't Doe over or that
Bucks was mistaken. But Bucks new
or made mistake
Next morning at 9 the new yardras-
ter took hold Callahan had lntimat "A
that the night air Boa the yard. il being
low land. was miusmatic and that
Shockiey had maybe better try for
awhile 90 Go his switching ian the day
time. Just before the appointed hour
In the morning the assistant had look
cd ont on his unucky yard lie thought
Go himself that IL that yard didn't drive
a man Co drink nothing ever would
Piled shanty high with "a bewlldering
array 90 material 10 was enough TO
take the heart out OF a Denver switch
ing crew
While he stood at the window be saw
their plug switch engine that bad been
kicked out Of every other yard on the
system wheeze out OF the roundhouse.
saw the new yardmaster dirt his hand
at the engineer and swing up on the
footbOard. but the swing-it made Cal
lahan's heart warm 10 him. Not the
lubberly jump OF the hObOes that had
worried the life out OF him all summer.
even when the cattlemen didn't bother.
II was the swing OF the sailor into the
shrOuds. OF the COssack into the saddle.
OF the yacht into the wind IL was like
falling down or falling up or falling on
the grace OF a mastery or gravitatlou
that was Shockley's swing on the
footbOard OF the yard engine as II shot
snOrting past him
Hes all right" muttered Callahan
IL was enough
A man who dipped tender Ike that
was not Ike TO go very wrong even In
that chaos OF rails and ties and string
ers and coal
Nov" continued Callahan to him
self. timidly hopeful. ~ the cuss only
doesn't get 90 drinking" He watched
approximately. dreading the first time
he shoV.d see him entering Pat Barlie's
place. but Shockley didn't appear to
know Pat had . place. The cowboys.
too. watched him. waiting for his lamp
TO CLEAN at night down In the yard.
but their patience was strained for a
long time. Shockley got all his work
done by daylight
To the surprise OF Callahan, and
probably on the principle OF the watch
ed pot, the whole winter went without
e brush between Shockley and the cow
boys. Even Peg Leg Reynolds let him
alone. He's the luckiest fellow on
earth" remarked Callahan one day at
McCloud in reply to a question from