West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-06-21

prodding the Mountain division. apo
part OF the stun came in late on Black
burn and part OF it early ON Fred, who
was almost coughing his head or about
that time. getting up at $50 every
morning.
Fred at 4 O'Clock took the steers and
sent them train after train through
the Rat river country like bullets out
OF n Maxim gun. IL was hot work,
and before he had sat in an hour there
was n stumble. The engineer OF a big
ten wheeler pulling twenty five cars OF
steers had been pushing hard and at
the entrance OF the canyon set his air
SO quick he sprung one OF the driver
shoes. and the main rod hit IL. The
great steel bar doubled up like n man
with cramp. II was showing day
light. They made a stop and. quick as
men could do il. Tagged both ways.
But the last section was crowding
Into the canyon right behind They
We're too close together; that was all
there was 20 IL. The hind section split
into the standing train like butcher
knife into sandwich. IL made
mean wreck. and. worse, Il made
lot of hard feeling at the wickiup.
When the investigation came IL was
pretty near up TO Fred Norman eight
from the start, aud he knew Il. But
Blackburn, who shielded him when he
could, just MS all the dispatchers did,
because he was boy, and n sick one
among men. tried 20 take part OF the
blame himself. He could afford IL.
Blackburn. His shoulders were broad.
and he hadn't SO much as n fly speck
on his book. Bucks looked pretty
grave when the evidence was all In. and
around the second floor they guessed
That meant something for Norman.
Fred himself couldn't sleep over Il,
and 10 complicate things the engineer
or the stalled train, who hated Double
day, limited quietly that the trouble
came In the first place from Double
days ncwfangled idea of putting the
driver shoes behind instead OF I'm front
OF tho wheels. Then the fat was IN the
fire. Fred got hold OF II and, boylIke,
sore over his own share In the trouble
and exasperatcd by something Double
day was reported 10 have said about
him over at the house. lighted into
@NNpNNH' Hb'hN Aut tiiktllt iulluft.
Doubleday was right I'm his device. az
time has proved. but It was unheard OF
then, and, moreover, tho assistant mas
ter mechanic, sensitive TO criticism nc
any time. was a fearful man TO run
against Sunday morning lie and Nor
man met In the trainmaster's Office.
They went at ench other like sparks,
and when Doubleday who had hard
mouth, began cursing Fred the poor
little dispatcher, ranking with the
trouble, anyway half sick, went all to
pieces and few at the big fellow like
sparrowhawk. He threw wicked left
Into the master mechanic before Dou-
bleday could lift n guard. but Walter
Doubleday, angry MS he was, couldn't
strike Fred. He caught up both the
boys hands and pushed him. struggling
madly back against the wall to slap
his face when n froth OF blood stained
Fred's lips, and he fell falnting. Just
mt that minute Blackburn stepped into
the room.
Ii wasn't the kind OF a time-they
weren't the kind OF men-to ask or
volunteer explanations. Blackburn was
Oh Doubleday I'm a wink. and before
Walter could right himself the night
dispatcher had thrown him headlong
across the room. As the operators
rushed I'm Blackburn and the tall mas