Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-31

"Why? Because you and will
touch. head on. IL you don't"
Smith said nothing. He was used to
that sort The next time Bucks was
Up his assistant told him of the Incl
dcrt
"if ho hothers Shockley." Bucks said.
"vcJ gel his scalp. that's ALL He'd
better lock after his conductors and
leave o"y men alone"
q n1i.ce Shocklcy isn't keeping his
froG .5okcd" continued Bucks. re-
yerung 60 other matters. THAT won't
do want every frog in the yard
blocked, anu kept blocked, and tell him
said SO
But the frog blocking was not what
worried Shockloy His push was to
keep the yard clean. for the month OF
December brought more stun twice
over than was ever poured into the
front end yard before. Chris. though.
had developed into a great switchman.
and the two never let the work get
ahead
So u came that Little Russia honored
Chris aud his big pay check above
most men. Shocllley stood first in
Little Russia. then the car, then Chris.
then Callahan. Queen Victoria and
Bismarck might have admirers. but
they were not In it under the bench
When the Russian holidays came.
down below. Chris concluded that the
celebration would be merely hollow
without ShOckley. for was not the very
existence OF Little Russia due TO him?
All the growth all the prosperity
what was II due 10? Protection What
was the protection? Shocl5ley. There
were brakemen who argued that pro-
lection came from the tariff. but they
never made any converts i'm Little Rus
STA, where the inhabitants could be in
Guced 10 vote for president only on the
assurance that ShOclllcy was running.
well. what's the racket anyhow.
Chris;" demanded Shockley lazily after
Cross Eyes. trying 90 get rid OF the
invitation 90 the festivities. had sput-
tered switch English five minutes at
him.
we got Chrismus 10y u.s." explained
Chris desperately.
christmas" repeated ShoclSley grim
". Christmas. Why. man. Christ
mas don't come nowhere on earth I'm
January. You want TO wind up your
calendar. Where'd you get them
shoesf'
Dollar sefenty-vife."
"WhereT
"Rubedo."
"And don't YOU know a switchmnn
oughtn't 10 put his feet in aatboatse
Don't YOU know some day you'll get
your foot stuck I'm tongue or a guard
Then where'u you be. Dutch. with
string of fats rolling down on you.
chr"
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"
said The yardmaster at last. "IH come
down awhile after p comes in. Get
back early after supper. and wen
make up % and let the rest go"
IL was pretty night: pretty enough
over the yard For anybody's Christmas
Julian or Gregorian-no snow. but
moon and full one. rising early over
the Arikarec bluns and q frost that bit
and sparkied and the north wind asleep
In the sand hills
Shockiey after supper. snug in n pea
Jacket and &c storm cap. rode with the
switch engine down from the round
house Chris. Il hls astrakhan REFER
and turhan walking over from the dug
out In Rubedo's new shoes. ninpcd the
footboard at the stockyard with almost
the roll OF Shocklcy himself
Happily FOR Christmas in Little Rus
STA p pulled IN on time. but IL was long
and heavy that night II brought coal
and ties and the stun for the Fort
Rawllns depot and a batch OF bridge
steel they had been waiting two weeks
for. mostly Cherry Creek stun. eleven
cars OF IL.
The minute the tired engine was cut
on the long train up ran the little
switch engine and snapped at the head
less monster ike a coyote.
Out came the coal with a cIatter.
out came the depot stun with a sheet
OF flame through the goats fiues, shot
here. shot there. shot yonder. dying
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 a shower OF sparks and SCOT
and cinders up into the Christmas air.
She darted and lodged and Jerzed and
backed up and down and across the
lead and never FOR fraction OF a sec
Ond took her eye or ShOckley's lamp
shivering aud changing and bucklng
with steam and bell and air. but al
ways with one smoky eye on ShockIey's
lamp, until 23 was wrecked clean to the
caboose, and the switch engine shot
down the main line with the battered
way car in her claws Ike hawk with
a prairie dog.
Then there was only the westbound
freight %. 10 make up with the Fort
Rawlins stun and the Cherry Greek
steel. which, was rush." and a few
cars OF ties flung on behind on general
principles Ii was quick work now
SnrftnU and panUfnry tho lrt4..a