The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-02-09
THE
SWitchman's Story
By FRANK II. SPEARMAN.
Continued From Page p


December brought more stuff twice
over than was ever poured into the
front end yard before. Chris, though,
had developed into \ great switchman,
and the two never let the work get
ahead.
So it came that Little Russia honored
Chris and his big pay check above
most men. Shocklcy stood first in
Little Russia, then the ear, 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 Shocklcy. for was not the very
existence of Little Russia due to him?
All the growth all the prosperity
what was it due to? Protection. What
was the protection! Shockley. There
were brakemen who argued that pro
lection came from the tariff, but they
never made any converts in Little Rus
STA, where the inhabitants could be in
duced to vote for president only on the
assurance that Shockley was running
"Wel, 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 at
him.
We got Chrismus by u.s." explained
Chris desperately.
"Christmas," repeated Shockley grim
". 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
shoes
Dollar sefenty-vife."
"Where?"
"Rubedo"
"And don't you know a switchman
oughtnt to put his feet in natboats?
Don't you know some day you'll get
your foot stuck in a tongue or a 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 ShocllIey out
"Well. for Gods sake let up, Chris"
said the yardmaster at last. III come
down awhile after % comes in. Get
back early after supper. and we'll
make up 30 and let the rest go"
1t was a pretty night; pretty enough
over the yard for anyb0dy's Christmas.
Julian or Grcgorian-no snow, but a
moon. and full one, rising early over
the Arikaree bluffs and frost that bit
and Sparkled and the north wind asleep
in the sand bills
Shocltey after supper, snug in a pea
jacket and 4 storm cap. rode with The
switch engine down from the round
house Chris, in his astrakhan REFER
and turban, walking over from the dug
out in Rubedo's new shoes, tipped the
footboard at the stockyard with almost
the roll of Shockloy himself.
Happily for Christmas in Little Rus
STA % pulled in Oh time, but it was long
and heavy that night 1t brought coal
and ties and the stuff for the Fort
Rawlns depot and a batch of bridge
steel they had been waiting two weeks
for. mostly Cherry Creek stuff, eleven
cars of it,
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 n coyote.
Out came the coal with a clatter,
out came the depot stuff with a sheet
of flame through the goats flues, 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 Il shower of sparks and sUot
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 off Shockley's lamp
shiyering 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 the main line with the battered
way car in her claws like hawk with
prairie dog.
Then there was only the westbound
freight, 80, to make up with the Fort
Rawlins stuff and the Cherry Creek
steel, which was 'rush," and a few
cars of ties flung on behind on 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
and sweeping bank of cloud and sand
across the valley. Shockey and Chris
and the goat crew put at it like black
ants There was releasing and setting
and kicking and splitting, and once in
awhile a flying switch dead against the
rubrics, and at last the whole train of
steel was in line, clean as the links of
sprocket and ready to run in on the
house track for the caboose.
For that run Chris set the east house
track switch, crossed the track and
swung great circle with his lamp for
the back. To get over to the switch
again he started to recross the track.
In the dark his ankle turned on lump
OF coal. He recovered lightly, but the
mlsstep sent his other foot wide, and
with bit of jolt Rubedo's new shoe
slipped into the frog.