Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-16
hes old-fashioned.

she's old-fashioned."
He turned to his work again, rubbing
more vigorously than ever as If relieved by
this brief defence Of his favorite. No
housewife could have kept her domicile
tidier than this man kept his locomotive
The name front on the nose Of the mon
ster was as brassy and as sparkling as the
big brass plates that adorned the doors Of
our grandfathers, the glass on the great
round headlight was speckless, while the
hand railing about the cab was shining so
extravagantly that If It had been little
larger it might readily have been used as q
mirror for my lady's boudoir.
The fireman kept rubbing away at the
brass work, as if by some miracle Of chance
he might find a spot that had not been pol
ished. The fires were up and the glisten-
ing sparks were being hurled out of the
throat of tine enormous smokestack and
each separate puff seemed to say Hurry
Hurry! Hurry!!"' Finally the fireman
tossed his cotton waste aside, and. rushing
10 the front of the locomotive, made a
hasty test Of the strength of the cow
catcher.
The prospective passengers exchanged
glances.
1--WE have the right of way" he said
grimly; 1T will be bad for anything that
attempts to dispute it."
The two passengers moved closer TO the
engine On the little platform, talking to
the engineer. was a modest hammered man
in overalls and blue jumper.
Hello, Mac" said the station master,
I'm going to give you two passengers
You'll have to act as conductor and collect
their tickets"
Barnes and his assistant were hurriedly
presented to MacWilliams and scarcely
had time TO shake his grimy hand when
the shill Shrek OF the whistle and a cry
of "An aboardr made them jump on the
train. No. gave a final snort and
pulled out with a shrek that sounded like
a challenge. The chief and Clancy ran to
the back platform Of the car just in time
to get last glimpse of the snappy little
station master. who lifted his soft hat and
waved 1t at them, disclosing his bald pate,
as he exclaimed incisively:
Good luck, boysl''
Ginicuddy, the engineer, put steam on,
and before the train had been going twenty
minutes it was making sixty miles an hour.
Barnes sat IN the cab with Gillicuddy.
watching the iron monster as it forged
ahead. There was something fascinating
about this terrible thing OF iron and steel
which had the strength OF thousands OF
human beings, which went on its way so
surely and so remorselessly, and yet could
be so quickly controlled by the power that
rested in the wrist OF one unassuming,
smutty-faced man.
The engineer was pleased at the interest
the chief displayed In the machine and
cheerfully answered all OF his questions.
Gilncuddy looked on his engine with all
the affection that another would bestow
on something that had human life and
sensibihties- Indeed, the love that GILL;
cuddy had for mo. g. was akin 70 the
feeling that a mother oherishes toward her
child
AIaeWilliams was the most unobtrusive
man in the party. He cuddled himself Up
in a corner Of the car and studied plans
the he had prepared for repairing the
break IN the road Barnes wondered what
need there was for tagging a day coach
on 70 the engine, but when he looked into
the baggage compartment and saw the
piles Of picks, shovels. jacks and other inn
plements his curiosity was amply salts
ned. Albany was lO5 miles from the start
ing point. and under the schedule the pur-
sueFs were booked 70 reach there IA three